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David Bowie on 'Soul Train'
Many of us woke up this morning to the absolutely stunning news that Don Cornelius, the bass-voiced host and creator of the U.S. music program Soul Train, had died in an apparent suicide at age 75. Black America’s alternative to American Bandstand in the ’70s, Soul Train was a cultural institution that crossed color lines and international boundaries, welcoming the British likes of David Bowie, Elton John, Sting, Spandau Ballet, and Soul II Soul to its glittering stage.
Elton, Bowie, and Scottish group Average White Band all appeared in 1975, making them among the first white acts to perform on the show. Here are those performances, via that great cultural aggregator, YouTube:
David Bowie – “Golden Years”
David Bowie – “Fame”
Elton John – “Philadelphia Freedom”
Elton John – “Bennie and the Jets”
Average White Band – “Cut The Cake”
Average White Band – “School Boy Crush”
Average White Band – “Person to Person”
Any Soul Train memories to share? Tell us below:
4 Comments
This is soo Sad. One cannot know what made him do what he did, or Why he did it in such a horrid way( I think that it would have been less painful , if he had overdosed–. ( for his family to deal with ) . His story is such a interesting one , the fact that he put up His Own Money to produce the show , something that you Never hear of Now–it’s always “what company or big-wig is producing . There Definitely has to be a Bio-pic made of ths man’s life story ! So many people do not know of his life, except that he hosted the show .
So many wonderful memories of Soul Train growing up. Saturday morning was dedicated to sitting in front of the television watching Soul Train as my mother braided mine and my sisters hair. We would all attempt to imitate the dances and songs in front of a floor length mirror, and failing miserably too. Don apparently was sick and broke and so for him death was his way out of self-imprisonment. He will be missed sorely.
Who knows what makes one do the things they do. Only GOD, we will all be
Thankful for your talent that u gave us. Missed and Remembered
Thanks and may GOD Bless.