Launched on August 17, 1970 and syndicated in October 1971, Soul Train was an hourlong musical variety show hosted by creator (and former radio DJ and news reporter) Don Cornelius. Featuring shots of the dancers as well as performers (like Aretha Franklin, pictured above with Cornelius) Soul Train helped launch the careers of many R&B and soul artists and offered a prominent platform to music coming out of the African-American community.