#Last soul train show series#

By 1970, it was carried by 72 public television stations. While the show aired locally when it started, it soon spread across the country. (Poet Nikki Giovanni was also a frequent host.) Haizlip became the showвЂ™s sole host on Dec. Ellis Haizlip replaced Poussaint as co-host on Oct.

The original co-hosts on that premier show were Alvin Poussaint, the noted Harvard psychologist, and educator Loretta Long, who one year later assumed the role of Susan Robinson on Sesame Street. Non-musicians who appeared on the program included heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali, Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan, minister-turned-politician Jesse Jackson, actor Sidney Poitier, and activist Kathleen Cleaver, wife of Eldridge Cleaver, an early leader of the Black Panther Party. While both shows presented top Black music acts, Soul! also presented figures from the worlds of poetry, literature and the Black Arts Movement. That was three years before Don CorneliusвЂ™ Soul Train launched in syndication (on Oct. Soul! premiered on WNDT (later known as WNET), the NET and PBS outlet in New York, on Sept. Ellis Haizlip died of cancer in 1991, at age 61. Underwood provided the voice of Ellis Haizlip, reading from interviews, news articles, correspondence and journal entries.

#Last soul train show series#

Haizlip also thanked three of her executive producers вЂ“ producer and director Stan Lathan, who took over as director of the series in 1970 attorney Chaz Ebert and actor Blair Underwood. Now more than ever, we need a voice like Ellis Haizlip to help restore the soul of a nation.вЂќ вЂњвЂ¦ Soul! is a love letter to Black culture, to Black love, to Black joy and to Black lives. вЂњEllis Haizlip was an extraordinary producer, always pushing the culture forward with light and love and we wanted to do the same thing with this film,вЂќ she said, in a virtual acceptance. The O'Jays' honors include a BET Lifetime Achievement Award, and induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the NAACP Image Awards Hall of Fame.В Their greatest hits include 'Love Train,' 'Backstabbers,' and 'For The Love of Money.Haizlip, the documentaryвЂ™s producer, writer and director, dedicated the award to her uncle, Ellis Haizlip, who was the original showвЂ™s creator, producer and host. When Best departed in 1995, he was replaced by Eric Nolan Grant. Strain left The O'Jays in 1992 and was replaced by Nathaniel Best. Powell left the group in 1976 and was replaced by Sammy Strain from Little Anthony and the Imperials. Massey and Isles left the group, and as a trio, The O'Jays achieved their greatest success after signing with Philadelphia International Records in 1972. The group began as a quintet consisting of lead singer Eddle Levert, Walter Williams, William Powell, Bobby Massey, and Bill Isles. Five of their albums have reached number one on the Billboard R&B chart. In 1997, the group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.ДЇormed in Canton, Ohio in 1958, The O'Jays have recorded ten number one Billboard R&B hits with five platinum and four gold albums. In 1984, The Jacksons (the name was legally changed from The Jackson 5) made history with their Victory tour, performing 55 shows in stadiums for nearly 3 million people.

In 1976, the group left Motown to sign with Epic Records, and Randy Jackson replaced Jermaine Jackson who remained at Motown as a solo artist. The Jackson 5 made history inВ 1970В as theВ first recording act to reach the top of the Billboard Hot 100 with their first four singles:В 'I Want You Back', 'ABC', 'The Love You Save' and 'I'll Be There'. Their debut album was titled Diana Ross Presents The Jackson Five. Their first official concert for Motown was on August 16, 1968, as the opening act for Diana Ross at the Forum in Los Angeles. Originally made up of brothers Michael, Jermaine, Jackie, Tito, and Marlon Jackson, The Jackson 5 from Gary, Indiana launched their historic recording career on Motown RecordsВ in 1968.