Image via Wikipedia
07/06/2011
For all those who have soul, yearned for soul or appreciated those that embodied it – soon the Smithsonian will have something for you to boogie down too.
That’s right – we aren’t talking Dick Clark’s American Bandstand here, folks – this is all about the short shorts, platforms and Afros brought to us via Don Cornelius‘ Soul Train.
Soul Train chugged its way into American homes during the 1970′s letting folks know how Black America really got down. After all, one glimpse at the famed Soul Train dance line probably let everyone know that not all dances were created equal. At the same time, with the dancing being one of the most memorable aspects of the show; it would be hard to discount all the classic R&B acts that graced the stage as well. Music icons such as: James Brown, the Jackson Five, Patti LaBelle and Aretha Franklin all had their time on the Cornelius’ stage letting everyone know that this is where the real soul was cementing Soul Train’s rightful place in music history.
Donated pieces for the exhibit include: the 10-foot-wide Soul Train sign, the silver African heads from the awards shows, both the Applause and “Soul Train Awards” signs are also available, along with the Scramble Board.
The artifacts were donated to Washington D.C.’s National Museum of African-American History and Culture (which won’t even begin construction until 2012). However, until its completion the Soul Train artifacts will be located at the National Museum of History.