TV See Photos of Soul Train Through the Years By Madeline Boardman Madeline Boardman Madeline Boardman is a former digital features director at Entertainment Weekly. She left EW in 2017. EW's editorial guidelines Published on January 5, 2017 01:06PM EST 01 of 33 The Evolution of Soul Train Tribune Entertainment/Getty Images More than 45 years ago, Soul Train made its small-screen debut. Hosted by Don Cornelius, the musical variety show kicked off in the early 1970s and spent decades on air under subsequent hosts including Mystro Clark, Shemar Moore, and Dorian Gregory. Until its wrap in 2006, the beloved program saw appearances from The Jackson Five (pictured here), Diana Ross, Luther Vandross, Tina Turner, Stevie Wonder, Aaliyah, and Destiny's Child, among hundreds of others. See photos of Soul Train through the years, ahead. 02 of 33 Don Cornelius in the 1970s Courtesy Everett Collection 03 of 33 James Brown in 1971 04 of 33 The Whispers in 1974 Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images 05 of 33 The Jackson Five in 1975 Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images 06 of 33 The Gap Band in 1975 07 of 33 The Jackson Five in August 1975 08 of 33 The Emotions in August 1977 09 of 33 Don Cornelius in the 1970s Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images 10 of 33 Donald Byrd and The Blackbyrds in 1977 ngeles, California. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images 11 of 33 Soul Train Dancers in the 1970s Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images 12 of 33 Don Cornelius in 1977 Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images 13 of 33 Soul Train Dancers in the 1970s Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images 14 of 33 Aretha Franklin and Don Cornelius in the 1970s 15 of 33 Soul Train Dancers in the 1970s Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images 16 of 33 Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes in the 1970s CSU Archives/Everett Collection 17 of 33 Soul Train Dancers in the 1970s Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images 18 of 33 Edwin Starr in the 1970s 19 of 33 Don Cornelius in the 1980s Tribune Entertainment/ Courtesy Everett Collection 20 of 33 Soul Train Dancers in the 1980s Courtesy Everett Collection 21 of 33 Full Force in the 1980s Courtesy Everett Collection 22 of 33 Soul Train Dancers in the 1980s 23 of 33 Diana Ross and Don Cornelius in the 1980s 24 of 33 Sting and Don Cornelius in 1987 25 of 33 Soul Train Dancers in the 1980s Courtesy Everett Collection 26 of 33 Chuck Brown and the Soul Searchers in 1988 Afro American Newspapers/Gado/Getty Images 27 of 33 Calloway and Don Cornelius in March 1990 28 of 33 Soul Train Dancers in 1990 Tribune Entertainment/Courtesy Everett Collection. 29 of 33 Soul Train Dancers in 1990 Tribune Entertainment/Courtesy Everett Collection. 30 of 33 Soul Train Dancers in 1991 Tribune Entertainment/Courtesy Everett Collection 31 of 33 Stevie Wonder in 1991 Courtesy Everett Collection 32 of 33 Soul Train Dancers in 1992 Tribune Entertainment/Courtesy Everett Collection. 33 of 33 The Isley Brothers in 2003 Close