American Soul: Everything we know about BET's upcoming show exploring the legacy of 'Soul Train'

'American Soul' will narrate the story of Don Cornelius, the visionary behind one of America's longest running TV shows

PUBLISHED FEB 3, 2019

The BET’s highly-anticipated new series, 'American Soul,' is slated to premiere on February 5, and while the buzz is about its star-studded cast, there's an eager curiosity among the audience to know the real story of how Don Cornelius created the cultural phenomenon, 'Soul Train.'

Producer Don Cornelius attends the 18th Annual Soul Train Music Awards 2004 nominations at Spago's Restaurant on February 19, 2004 in Beverly Hills, California. The 18th Annual Soul Train Music Awards will be broadcast live on March 20, 2004 from the International Cultural Center, in Los Angeles, California.

'Soul Train' was a 35-year-running music-dance television program which first aired on October 2, 1971 with R&B and soul performances by various artists.

As the program became a cultural sensation, dance/pop and hip hop artists, as well as jazz, disco, and gospel artists appeared on the show, echoing "Soooooouuuuuuul Traaaaaain," on Saturday mornings. The show not only promoted but revolutionized the music and the dance culture, especially of the African-American community and the world loved it for almost over three decades.