Soul Train originated in Chicago, Illinois and first aired on October 17, 1970, A creation of its host Don Cornelius.  UCIU tv channel 26 is where it was broadcast from and was a strong proponent of independent programming that supported local communities and cultures. Soon after the show was moved to WBBM TV channel 2 between the times 1:30pm and 2pm. In 1977 WGN TV channel 9 in Chicago carried the weekly show Saturdays at 11am 12:30pm and 4pm depending on the year. 

Soul Train was an alternative to the commercial show American Band Stand hosted by Dick Clark and unlike ABS, Soul Train focused on Black music, dance cultures and education. Some of the shows famous features. Were guest artist, The Soul Train Line and the Scramble Board. The show was enormously popular in Chicago and rapidly grew into a nation wide sensation after syndication and a move to its new location, Los Angeles. The Soul Train Music Awards show was born due to the lack of recognition of Black music in other awards shows such as the American Music Awards and the Grammys and gave Black and Brown America their very own Awards show that reflected Black culture and excellence. 

~DJ Darryl Awesome Owens

This year’s Soul Train Awards are coming back home to Chicago, with the ceremony taking place at the Harris Theater in Millennium Park.

The annual awards show will air at 7 p.m. Nov. 27 on BET and will be simulcast on CBS for the first time.

According to an announcement from BET, the awards show will be “taped in the city where Don Cornelius launched the original ‘Soul Train’ more than 50 years ago,” as a Chicago-born television show that celebrated Black music, dance and style.

~Chicago Tribute