The National Association of Recording Merchandisers (NARM) is pleased to announce that Soul Train creator and executive producer Don Cornelius will receive NARM's 2007 Presidential Award for Sustained Executive Achievement. NARM President Jim Donio will present the Award to Cornelius during InSights & Sounds.07, NARM's Annual Convention to be held Sunday, April 29, through Wednesday, May 2 at the Hilton Chicago.
“NARM welcomes the chance to applaud the invaluable contributions Don Cornelius has made to our industry for nearly four decades as a broadcaster, producer and visionary entertainment impresario," said Donio. “Cornelius, who has been on the cutting edge of Soul music for over 30 years, joins an esteemed list of former recipients that includes such music industry luminaries as Clive Davis, Berry Gordy Jr., Dick Clark, Casey Kasem, Russ Solomon, Paul Smith, and Henry Droz, among others."
Following his dream of becoming a radio announcer, Cornelius enrolled in a Chicago broadcasting school in the spring of 1966. Upon completion of the course, he was offered a part-time position as a news announcer on Chicago radio station WVON, one of Chicago's most popular Black-oriented stations. It was there that Cornelius got the idea for a Black-oriented dance show and at his own expense produced a pilot for the show.
WCUI-TV began airing the original version of Soul Train as a five-day-a-week afternoon strip on August 17, 1970. Soul Train became an instant success throughout Chicago.
An advertising partnership with the Johnson Products Company took Soul Train to national syndication on October 2, 1971. Soul Train currently reaches 85% of U.S. Television households through station clearances in 105 cities, including all major markets. The show continues to perform well in all ratings research categories, and has long been established as one of America's most successful programs in first-run syndication. As the longest running TV program of any genre in the history of first-run syndication in America, Soul Train has inspired music aficionados with its hip dancing and exciting performances by top R&B, Hip Hop, Gospel and Jazz superstars including Michael Jackson, Prince, Elton John, Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder, Whitney Houston, Luther Vandross, Dionne Warwick, Public Enemy, R. Kelly, Boyz II Men, Jennifer Lopez, Justin Timberlake, and many others.
In 1987, Don Cornelius Productions, Inc., with the help of the Tribune Entertainment Company, the exclusive distributor/syndicator of Soul Trian, launched the Soul Train Music Awards, a live, two-hour television special presented annually in prime time syndication.
Cornelius's achievements and influences have been recognized by Hollywood and the broadcasting community alike, with a “Star" on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and his 1995 induction into the Broadcasting and Cable Hall of Fame.
“NARM welcomes the chance to applaud the invaluable contributions Don Cornelius has made to our industry for nearly four decades as a broadcaster, producer and visionary entertainment impresario," said Donio. “Cornelius, who has been on the cutting edge of Soul music for over 30 years, joins an esteemed list of former recipients that includes such music industry luminaries as Clive Davis, Berry Gordy Jr., Dick Clark, Casey Kasem, Russ Solomon, Paul Smith, and Henry Droz, among others."
Following his dream of becoming a radio announcer, Cornelius enrolled in a Chicago broadcasting school in the spring of 1966. Upon completion of the course, he was offered a part-time position as a news announcer on Chicago radio station WVON, one of Chicago's most popular Black-oriented stations. It was there that Cornelius got the idea for a Black-oriented dance show and at his own expense produced a pilot for the show.
WCUI-TV began airing the original version of Soul Train as a five-day-a-week afternoon strip on August 17, 1970. Soul Train became an instant success throughout Chicago.
An advertising partnership with the Johnson Products Company took Soul Train to national syndication on October 2, 1971. Soul Train currently reaches 85% of U.S. Television households through station clearances in 105 cities, including all major markets. The show continues to perform well in all ratings research categories, and has long been established as one of America's most successful programs in first-run syndication. As the longest running TV program of any genre in the history of first-run syndication in America, Soul Train has inspired music aficionados with its hip dancing and exciting performances by top R&B, Hip Hop, Gospel and Jazz superstars including Michael Jackson, Prince, Elton John, Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder, Whitney Houston, Luther Vandross, Dionne Warwick, Public Enemy, R. Kelly, Boyz II Men, Jennifer Lopez, Justin Timberlake, and many others.
In 1987, Don Cornelius Productions, Inc., with the help of the Tribune Entertainment Company, the exclusive distributor/syndicator of Soul Trian, launched the Soul Train Music Awards, a live, two-hour television special presented annually in prime time syndication.
Cornelius's achievements and influences have been recognized by Hollywood and the broadcasting community alike, with a “Star" on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and his 1995 induction into the Broadcasting and Cable Hall of Fame.
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