The SOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUL Hearse!

(Kudos to Terry Walsh)

Or
Soulless Train
(Props to Monty)
Don Cornelius, who introduced blacks to white America, has opted out at the age of 75. Cornelius employed a silky baritone and Fletch-esque afro as the host of African-American Bandstand, aka Soul Train. The show helped build bridges between whites and blacks by giving wide exposure to musicians like James Brown, Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye and Michael Jackson. White stars like Elton John and David Bowie also appeared to reach black audiences with the bastardized versions of music that had been stolen without compensation from their forebears. During performances, singers were backed by black teens who were putting the latest urban dance moves on display, dispelling the idea that all black kids did was steal cars, spray graffiti and sell drugs on street corners. Soul Train launched locally in Chicago in 1970 (hardly the easiest time to mend racial divides), then went into national syndication in 1971, starting a 35-year run, the longest of any first-run syndicated program in history. In lieu of pallbearers, Cornelius’ casket will be passed hand over hand by two rows of gyrating teens.