10 Soul Train Performances You’ll Never Forget — #1 Changed Everything

Soul Train wasn't just a television show — it became one of the most important stages in the history of Black music. From Michael Jackson's legendary dancing to Run-DMC's arrival on the scene, Teena Marie's unforgettable reveal, D'Angelo's neo-soul era, and the performances that helped connect R&B, funk, soul and hip-hop, these are 10 Soul Train performances that helped shape the sound and culture of American music. In this countdown, we revisit the performances, artists and moments that made Soul Train such an influential part of R&B history — and the story behind the broadcast that helped launch Don Cornelius's national vision. 00:00 Intro — The Show That Changed R&B 00:30 #10 — The Jacksons: Shake Your Body 02:45 #9 — The Jackson 5: Dancing Machine 05:00 #8 — James Brown: Get Up Offa That Thing 07:15 #7 — Teena Marie: I'm a Sucker for Your Love 09:35 #6 — Rick James: Super Freak 11:50 #5 — Run-DMC: Rock Box 14:10 #4 — Chaka Khan: I'm Every Woman 16:30 #3 — Milli Vanilli: Girl You Know It's True 18:50 #2 — D'Angelo: Untitled (How Does It Feel) 21:20 #1 — Gladys Knight & The Pips: Friendship Train 25:00 Outro — What Would R&B Look Like Without Soul Train? Which Soul Train performance do you think deserves to be on this list? And which one would YOU put at #1? Drop your answer in the comments. Subscribe to R&B Vault for more documentaries about the artists, songs and moments that shaped R&B and soul music. #SoulTrain #RnB #DonCornelius #MichaelJackson #BlackMusic