Don Cornelius, the Soul Train founder dead at 75.

Don Cornelius (1936-2012, age 75), Soul Train host 1973 1991. Cause of death : suicide.
35 Years of new weekly programming.
New singing groups lip-sync-ed their hit records to the dancing studio audience.
He was…Part “Soul Man” , part “Trouble Man” and part “Say It Loud, I’m Black and Proud”.
“The Line” was the best part.
The program ended by Cornelius or the later hosts “wishing you….Love, Peace and Soul.
Classic Soul Train theme : TSOP(The Sound Of Philedelphia) by MFSB

From my MusicNotes: Dick Clark. “The most popular feature in the show was the Soul Train “Line”, where two rows/lines of dancers separated by the “briefly” featured dancer, who would put on an dancin’ exhibition … for a few seconds. Then, the “line” moved up and the next dancer, in that line, did their moves.
The Diamonds had a 1957 hit record called, “The Stroll” which pre-dates “the line”. The difference is “The Stroll” was set up the same way but had repeating dance steps, a routine, where the Soul Train line encouraged free-style moves.”

Dancers on Soul Train (2 Soul Train dancers eventually form the group: Shalamar)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6jBoVGRKQ4&feature=related
Jackson Five on Soul Train (Dancing Machine)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kqdKvlLD_H0&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL
Don Cornelius getting “the Line” started. Go to 1:50.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJ5iuWotw3M&feature=fvst
Soul Train “One Nation Under A Groove”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4supWXaFgbc&feature=related