Since the beginning of time there has been some type of beat, rhythm or flow that people listen to. The art of making music is complex and requires many different components in order to produce what we listen to.
In 1965 a show called “The Soul Train” was introduced to WCIU-TV which began airing two youth-oriented dance programs: Kiddie-a-Go-Go and Red Hot and Blues. But it wasn’t till 1970 that Don Cornelius put his idea on the television.
These two programs set the stage for what was to come to the station several years later. Don Cornelius was hired in 1967 by WCIU as a news and sports reporter. He was also promoting and emceeing a touring series of concerts featuring local talent at Chicago-area high schools, calling his traveling caravan of shows “The Soul Train”.
On Wednesday, Feb. 10, Cecil L. Shaw Jr. hosted the “Soul Train Nite” in the Memorial Student Center second floor.
Shaw is a second generation music composer, writer, artist, producer and publisher. He learned the music industry from his father Cecil L. Shaw, a gospel legend, writer, artist composer and producer with the Duke & Peacock Label Don Robey owner. Stage Presence Music Publishing Company, the song “Think Positive” performed by The Main Ingredient, written by Shaw Jr. and La Marco Nesbitt.
Shaw performed on Soul Train in 1974, and also hosted The Annual Motown Show “Dancin In The Street” Bace Productions at Miller Outdoor Theatre in Houston, Texas. He produced Big Walter Price the Thunderbird Blues Legend and the owner of Chameleon Publishing.