Soul Train Records

Soul Train Records was an American independent record label established in Los Angeles in 1975 by music-business entrepreneur Dick Griffey and Don Cornelius, the creator and host of the nationally influential television program Soul Train. The label was created to connect the television show's cultural platform with a recording operation focused on Black popular music, particularly soul, funk, disco and rhythm and blues. Its first major project was the Soul Train Gang, a vocal group assembled in association with the television program. The group recorded and performed Soul Train themes, including “Soul Train '75,” and released Don Cornelius Presents The Soul Train Gang in 1975. A second album, The Soul Train Gang, followed in 1976 and was produced by Philadelphia-based musician and arranger Norman Harris. The group subsequently disbanded, but its recordings established the label's initial identity and demonstrated the promotional relationship between Soul Train's broadcast audience and the record business. The label's roster and activities expanded beyond the Soul Train Gang. In 1977 it released the self-titled album by Sunbear, a Los Angeles soul and funk duo formed by Arnie Oliver and Werner “Bear” Schuchner. Soul Train Records also became associated with the development of Shalamar. Dick Griffey had helped create the recording project “Uptown Festival,” a disco medley of Motown songs, and then worked with Cornelius to turn its success into a performing group. Jody Watley, Jeffrey Daniel and former Soul Train Gang member Gerald Brown were recruited for the early lineup; Howard Hewett later replaced Brown and became one of the group's best-known singers. By the late 1970s, Cornelius wanted to concentrate on Soul Train's television operations. Griffey acquired Cornelius's interest for $300,000, according to the historical account associated with the label's successor, and reorganized the business as SOLAR Records. The transformation occurred around 1977–1978, meaning that Soul Train Records had only a brief independent existence. RCA Records distributed the label during its short run and continued distributing the successor during its early period. Although the Soul Train Records name ceased to function as the principal active label, its importance lies in the infrastructure and creative relationships that carried into SOLAR. SOLAR developed a recognizable collective sound combining soul, funk, disco and sophisticated dance production. Its later roster included Shalamar, the Whispers, Lakeside, Dynasty, Midnight Star, Klymaxx, Carrie Lucas, Calloway and the Deele, the group that introduced Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds and Antonio “L.A.” Reid. Leon F. Sylvers III became a central producer and helped define the label's musical character. The close relationship with the Soul Train television program also continued, giving SOLAR artists valuable exposure. Soul Train Records is therefore best understood as the formative predecessor to SOLAR rather than as a long-running standalone label. Its releases and artist-development work helped convert the cultural influence of Soul Train into a broader recorded-music enterprise. Later licensing and catalog activity associated with SOLAR has also incorporated the Soul Train Records name and historical repertoire, but the original label itself is defunct.

Soul Train Records emerged in Los Angeles in 1975 from a partnership between Dick Griffey and Don Cornelius. Cornelius had created and hosted Soul Train, a television program that became a major national showcase for Black recording artists, dancers and popular music. Griffey brought music-industry and production experience to the venture, while Cornelius supplied the program's cultural profile and promotional reach. The label was intended to turn the Soul Train platform into a source of recorded music and artist development. The first act associated with the label was the Soul Train Gang, a vocal group connected to the television show's performers. Its early members included Gerald Brown, Terry Brown, Judy Jones and Patricia Williamson, with Denise Smith later associated with the lineup. The group performed Soul Train themes, including “Soul Train '75.” Its first album, Don Cornelius Presents The Soul Train Gang, appeared in 1975. The following year brought The Soul Train Gang, produced by Norman Harris, a Philadelphia musician and producer known for his work in soul and disco. The group broke up in 1977, but its recordings remain the clearest expression of the label's original concept. Soul Train Records also released music outside the television ensemble. Sunbear, a soul and funk duo consisting of Arnie Oliver and Werner “Bear” Schuchner, recorded a self-titled album for the label in 1977. Their music reflected the influence of Earth, Wind & Fire, Tower of Power and El Chicano. The duo did not record a second album for the label, although both members continued working in the broader R&B and session-music community. The most consequential development involved Shalamar. Griffey had assembled “Uptown Festival,” a disco-length medley of early Motown songs, and its success encouraged the creation of a permanent performing group. In 1977, Soul Train dancers Jody Watley and Jeffrey Daniel joined former Soul Train Gang member Gerald Brown. Howard Hewett later replaced Brown. Shalamar became the central act in the transition from Soul Train Records to SOLAR and later developed into one of the best-known groups associated with the successor label. Cornelius eventually decided that the television show required his full attention. He wished to leave the record-label operation, and Griffey paid $300,000 for his interests, according to the historical account of the successor company. Griffey then reorganized the label as SOLAR Records in late 1977 or around 1978. RCA Records had distributed Soul Train Records and initially distributed SOLAR as well. The change ended Soul Train Records as an independent operating label, but the relationship between the recording company and the television program continued. SOLAR expanded into a major independent R&B operation. Its collective approach encouraged artists, producers and writers to contribute across sessions. Leon F. Sylvers III became an important in-house producer and helped shape a sound built from funk bass, soul harmonies, disco rhythms and polished dance arrangements. The label's later artists included the Whispers, Dynasty, Lakeside, Midnight Star, Klymaxx, Carrie Lucas, Calloway and the Deele. The Deele connected the SOLAR network to Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds and Antonio “L.A.” Reid, while other writers and producers such as Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis, Reggie Calloway and Vincent Calloway were associated with its wider creative community. The original Soul Train Records label therefore had a short life, but its importance was disproportionate to its duration. It provided the institutional bridge between Soul Train's television identity and SOLAR's recorded-music business. SOLAR's commercial fortunes weakened from the late 1980s as lineup changes, especially within Shalamar, and shifts in R&B and popular music reduced the label's momentum. The successor's later catalog was distributed through several major companies and parts were licensed or sold in different territories. Later SOLAR-related brand activity has continued to reference Soul Train Records, including UK relaunch and licensing initiatives, but these developments concern the historical brand family rather than a confirmed revival of the original label as an independent recording company.

• 1977

  Sunbear records for the label

  [1]SOLAR Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  The Los Angeles soul-funk duo Sunbear releases its self-titled album through Soul Train Records.

• 1977

  Shalamar is assembled

  [1]SOLAR Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Jody Watley, Jeffrey Daniel and Gerald Brown are recruited in connection with the successful Uptown Festival project; Howard Hewett later replaces Brown.

• 1977

  The label is reorganized as SOLAR Records

  [1]SOLAR Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Following Cornelius's departure from the recording venture and Griffey's acquisition of his interest, Soul Train Records is reorganized as SOLAR Records.

• 1976

  Second Soul Train Gang album appears

  [1]SOLAR Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  The Soul Train Gang is released with production by Norman Harris.

• 1975

  Soul Train Records is founded

  [1]SOLAR Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Dick Griffey and Don Cornelius establish the label in Los Angeles as a recording extension of the Soul Train television brand.

• 1975

  The Soul Train Gang releases its debut album

  [1]SOLAR Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Don Cornelius Presents The Soul Train Gang becomes the label's first album release and introduces the group's connection to Soul Train themes and performances.

A television-linked independent label designed to develop and promote soul, funk, disco and R&B artists through the audience and cultural influence of Soul Train.

• Album · 1975

  Don Cornelius Presents The Soul Train Gang

  The debut album by the Soul Train Gang and the first major release associated with Soul Train Records. It presented the vocal group as a recording act linked directly to the Soul Train television program and its musical themes.

• Album · 1976

  The Soul Train Gang

  The group's second album, released in 1976 and produced by Norman Harris. It continued the label's initial focus on ensemble soul vocals and music closely associated with the Soul Train performance world.

• Television theme recording · 1975

  Soul Train '75

  A Soul Train theme performed by the Soul Train Gang. The recording illustrates how the label used the television program's identity as a bridge between broadcast exposure and commercial music releases.

• Album · 1977

  Sunbear

  The self-titled 1977 album by Arnie Oliver and Werner “Bear” Schuchner. Its soul and funk arrangements reflected contemporary West Coast influences, including elements associated with Earth, Wind & Fire, Tower of Power and El Chicano.

• 1977

  Reorganization into SOLAR RecordsStrategy

  Background

  Don Cornelius chose to concentrate on operating Soul Train as a television program, while Dick Griffey continued pursuing the recording business.

  Action taken

  Griffey acquired Cornelius's interest for $300,000, according to the historical account, and reorganized Soul Train Records under the SOLAR Records name.

  Aftermath

  The Soul Train Records name ceased to be the main operating label, while its artist-development model and relationship with the television program carried into SOLAR.

  Acquisition payment for Cornelius's interest. $300,000 (1977)

  Source

1. 1SOLAR Recordsen.wikipedia.org