If Berry Gordy Jr. can hit Broadway, why not Don Cornelius?
Gordy, as The Post reported last month, is developing a Broadway show based on his life and the story of Motown.
Now I hear through my friends over at the BET network that a consortium of investors, including Magic Johnson, is putting together a musical about Cornelius and his groundbreaking television show “Soul Train,” which ran from 1971 to 2006.
Johnson and his business partners bought the rights to “Soul Train” last year for several million dollars.
I must confess that I wasn’t a “Soul Train” watcher as a kid. “The Lawrence Welk Show” was more my speed until I hit my rebellious teen years and switched over to “Solid Gold” — during its glory seasons, first hosted by Dionne Warwick (“Why do you have to be a heartbreaker?”) and then by the gorgeous Marilyn McCoo (“Last night I didn’t get to sleep at all — no, no!”).
But ever since I heard about “Soul Train: The Musical,” I’ve been watching clips on YouTube — and they’re great.
The show was, as music historians have pointed out, “American Bandstand” for black kids.
And, boy, did they cut loose.
Rickey Vincent, author of “Funk: The Music, the People and the Rhythm of the One,” called “Soul Train” the most “undiluted showcase of black sexuality in the country” and “a cultural mecca for the entire decade of the ’70s.”
Well, that and “The Love Boat.”
Presiding over “Soul Train” was Cornelius himself, with that famously smooth, deep voice and the signature line: “As always, we wish you love, peace and soul!”
He started the show in Chicago with just $400 — and then quickly built it in to a multimillion-dollar franchise. Along the way, he showcased such performers as Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder and James Brown.
“Soul Train” dancers who became famous include Rosie Perez, MC Hammer, Nick Cannon and Carmen Electra.
Cornelius was said to rule the show with an iron fist, monitoring the dancers to make sure things didn’t get too hot and heavy. He also resisted rap music until it became so popular that he couldn’t ignore it.
He was a deeply private man, but he had his demons. He was brought up on charges of domestic abuse, and suffered from dementia toward the end of his life. He died in February, an apparent suicide.
There’s plenty of material here to play around with — plus some pretty great songs, if the producers can get the rights: “Can’t Get Enough of Your Love,” “Ooo Baby Baby” and, of course, “Love Train.”
The idea of a “Soul Train” musical is drawing a mixed response from Broadway veterans.
I mentioned it to one producer who said: “It just shows how desperate people are to keep the franchise going. Does anybody have an original idea anymore?”
But one theater owner said: “Great songs, great era — bring me a story!”
Speaking of soul music, “Closer Than Ever,” my favorite summer show, is being extended at the York Theatre until the end of August, and might run even longer.
Celebrities are flocking to the tiny York to see it.
Josh Groban caught it this week and told creator Richard Maltby Jr. that he sang “If I Sing” for his audition at Carnegie Mellon.
The company goes into the studio today to record the cast album.