I grew up throughout the 70’s with Saturday afternoons set aside for Dick Clark’s American Bandstand, and Don Cornelius’s Soul Train. Band Stand was conservative, controlled and well produced.  It was safe. Soul Train was saucy, funky, and a guilty pleasure for a lot of white kids!  It was daring. One Saturday, as my friends and I gathered around our black and white TV, Don Cornelius introduced his next musical guest.  Was it going to be Barry White? Kool and the Gang, The Jackson 5? No. On this day Don Cornelius had another idea. He was going to throw his audience a curve ball, and in the process was going to shake up the role between American Band Stand and Soul Train.  Today, Don, in his own classic, soulful, debonair style, with his rich, silky voice introduced Elton John. Elton would sing Philadelphia Freedom.  He sat at a Grand Piano surrounded by the Soul Train Dancers, Fans and Don.  It wasn’t the typical stage performance.  It was intimate, close and powerful. Elton did what few (if any at that point) White POP Artist had ever done.  He performed on the Soul Train. Don and Elton were helping develop America’s Collective Soul.  We would soon be gathering in Disco’s as ONE.  Music has that power to bring Human Beings into harmony with one another. How many times have you danced down The Soul Train Line? When we reach beyond the expected…when we seek to challenge and re-create, we discover new paths.  We create new trends.  We become the trail blazers. We have clients who relish what’s coming next.  Who enjoy breaking out of the mold to be different, and ultimately more successful.  It’s easy to look, and sound like your competition.  It’s much more risky to lean over the ledge, change the norm, and redefine your industry.

‍Mark Storie

‍ViaMark|  New Bern, NC