Magic Johnson to Bring SOUL TRAIN to Broadway?

According to EW.com, Soul Train, the popular musical variety show that ran in syndication from October 1971 to March 2006, may be getting Broadway treatment, thanks to Magic Johnson.  The former NBA star-turned-entrepreneur purchased the Soul Train brand in 2011 and has been considering reviving it via TV, print and stage outlets, among other ideas.  

EW states: "Soul Train Holdings LLC, the entity created by NBA legend and entrepreneur Earvin “Magic” Johnson when he bought the Soul Train library and brand last year, has a lot of ideas. Among them are bringing a Soul Train variety show back to television, CEO Kenard Gibbs told The Associated Press. There have been discussions with writers about taking Soul Train to Broadway, Gibbs said, and also in the works are film opportunities, potential book deals and, in 2013, the first Soul Train cruise."

Gibbs explains to EW: “The brand itself, we believe, has far, far other entertainment-based tentacles we can stretch.” 

For the full report on EW.com, click here.

In its 35-year history, the Soul Train primarily featured performances by R&B, soul, and hip hop artists, along with funk, jazz, disco, and gospel artists. Over 1,100 episodes were produced from the show's debut through the 2005-06 season.

This resurrgence of the Soul Train brand comes on the heels of death of Soul Train creator, Don Cornelius on February 1, 2012.  Cornelius, who also served as its first host and executive producer, of the show died of an alleged suicide via a self-inflicted gunshot to the head. Cornelius stopped hosting the show in 1993 and had reportedly been involved in a movie project involving the brand from 2010.