The Train Is Still Moving: Tony Cornelius Brings Soul Train’s Legacy Into the 2026 Spotlight

Photo credit: Valerie Goodloe

Son of Soul Train Creator Don Cornelius Hosted the Bakewell Media Presents Sounds of the Soul Stage and Offered an Exclusive Look at His Vision for the Next Chapter of the Soul Train Legacy

Tony Cornelius, veteran television producer and executive and son of the late Don Cornelius, creator of Soul Train, brought the legacy of one of television’s most influential music and dance programs to the forefront at the 21st Annual Taste of Soul Family Festival on Saturday, October 17, 2026, in Los Angeles.

Serving as host of the Bakewell Media Presents Sounds of the Soul Stage, sponsored by Chevrolet, Cornelius helped lead a dynamic musical celebration featuring Faleisha Reese, Coline Creuzot, Thelma Houston, Brothers Igniting a Groove (B.I.G.), Rob McDonald & Friends, Switch and Midnight Star. 

The lineup brought together an exciting mix of R&B, soul and funk, reflecting the musical traditions that have long shaped Black entertainment and culture.

A standout moment of the festival was a high-energy, reimagined Soul Traindance experience curated by Cornelius, featuring veteran dancers from the iconic television franchise alongside younger dancers. 

The presentation offered an exclusive look at Cornelius’ vision for the next chapter of the Soul Train legacy, bringing the generations together on one stage.

The veteran dancers shared a space with the younger dancers. 

It wasn’t about the music or the television show, it’s really about bringing the spirit to life and passing the inspiration along, creating new forms of expression.

The powerful exchange between generations transformed the presentation into more than a tribute. It became a live experience demonstrating how the spirit of Soul Train can continue to evolve through movement, creativity and the inspiration passed from one generation to the next.

More Than a Tribute, A Live Experience

The “A Taste of Soul Train” presentation brought the signature style, synchronized moves and infectious energy associated with Soul Train to the Taste of Soul stage in a fresh, dynamic format.

For Cornelius, the experience was not simply about recreating a moment from television history.

 It was about exploring how the energy and spirit that made Soul Train meaningful can continue to inspire artists and dancers today.

The interaction between the veteran and younger dancers offered a glimpse into what the next chapter could look like when the history of Soul Train becomes a source of inspiration for new forms of expression.

Honoring a Father, Carrying a Legacy Forward

As the son of Don Cornelius, Tony has a unique perspective on the Soul Train legacy.

He witnessed the franchise from inside the production environment, learning the television business from the ground up and ultimately advancing into executive leadership at Don Cornelius Productions.

Tony’s relationship to Soul Train is personal, professional and deeply connected to the history he experienced firsthand.

He has often emphasized that his responsibility is not to become his father, but to respect the foundation Don Cornelius created while finding his own path forward.

“My father created Soul Train for his generation. We have to continue finding ways for that legacy to speak to new generations.”

That philosophy was visible on the Taste of Soul stage as veteran and younger dancers shared the spotlight, creating a bridge between the history of Soul Train and the possibilities ahead.

Tony Cornelius Steps Forward

Tony’s role at Taste of Soul extended beyond serving as host. 

He used the Bakewell Media stage as a platform to introduce an experience that reflected his personal perspective on where the Soul Train legacy can go next.

The Bakewell Media Presents Sounds of the Soul Stage, sponsored by Chevrolet, featured performances by Faleisha Reese, Coline Creuzot, Thelma Houston, Brothers Igniting a Groove (B.I.G.), Rob McDonald & Friends, Switch and Midnight Star.

Cornelius also introduced Midnight Star, bringing together the sounds of R&B, soul and funk with the dance traditions that have long been connected to the Soul Train experience.

His presence on the stage reflected the evolution of his own role within the Soul Train story. 

He is not simply preserving a family legacy. 

He is using his experience, relationships and firsthand knowledge to explore what that legacy can mean in the years ahead.

The Next Generation of Soul Train?

The interaction between the veteran dancers and younger performers raised a larger question: What could the next generation of Soul Train look like?

Cornelius’ vision points toward an experience that can bring generations together rather than separating the past from the present.

The veteran dancers represent the history. 

The younger dancers represent possibility. 

Together, they demonstrate how inspiration can be passed from one generation to another while allowing each generation to develop its own voice, movement and expression.

It is a continuation of what Soul Train has always represented at its best: a platform for people to express themselves through music, dance, fashion and culture.

The Legacy Is Established, The Opportunity Is to Keep Moving

Don Cornelius created Soul Train at a time when Black artists and performers were not receiving the representation and visibility they deserved on mainstream television.

The program changed that landscape, becoming a cultural touchstone that influenced music, dance, fashion and entertainment.

Tony Cornelius understands the significance of that history because he lived it.

His career included working his way through Don Cornelius Productions, beginning in production and advancing through positions including Associate Producer, Executive Producer and Senior Vice President/General Manager. 

He learned the business from the ground up, gaining an understanding of the creative and operational elements that helped make Soul Train successful.

Today, Tony continues to build on that foundation through his work in television and entertainment, the Soul Train Cruise, Soul Train Cruise 2.0 and other initiatives focused on creating opportunities for artists, audiences and industry professionals.

The Taste of Soul presentation offered a glimpse into that next chapter.

The photographs from the stage capture more than a performance. 

They capture a moment when the past and future of Soul Train occupied the same space, with veteran dancers standing alongside a younger generation inspired by the movement they helped create.

That is the story Tony Cornelius wants to continue telling.

Not simply what Soul Train was.

But what it can become.

A Legacy That Lives on Through Movement

The 21st Annual Taste of Soul Family Festival, founded by Danny Bakewell Sr., brought music, entertainment, food, businesses and community resources to nearly three miles of Crenshaw Boulevard, from Obama Boulevard to Stocker Street.

For Cornelius, the opportunity to host the Bakewell Media stage and introduce this next-generation Soul Train experience provided a fitting setting for a vision centered on community, culture and connection.

The train is still moving.

And Tony Cornelius intends to help determine where it goes next.

About Tony Cornelius

Tony Cornelius is a veteran television producer and executive with more than three decades of experience in television production, including network, cable, commercial and first-run syndicated programming. 

The son of Soul Train creator Don Cornelius, Tony spent decades at Don Cornelius Productions, advancing from production positions to executive leadership, including Executive Producer and Senior Vice President/General Manager. 

His career includes extensive work with the Soul Train franchise, television specials, Soul Train: The Musical, the television series American Soul and the Soul Train Cruise, where he continues to serve as a host and representative of the Soul Train legacy.

Tony is also President and Founder of the Don Cornelius Foundation, which focuses on suicide prevention awareness and community outreach.

Wishing you Love, Peace & Soul