Rare Treats: Richard Pryor hosts Soul Train (1975)

We all know that Dick Clark wasn't the original host of American Bandstand. He simply had the longest run as host, and likely missed a few dates due to either vacation or scheduling conflicts (i.e. $10,000 Pyramid).

Here, however, is a case where Don Cornelius cedes the host's podium on Soul Train. From June 1975, Grammy award winning comedian Richard Pryor (making his Saturday morning debut, unless he appeared on The Midnight Special before this point) stands in for Cornelius, who shows up at the end of the broadcast.

Edit, 11/5/2020: The video's been deleted due to copyright issues. In its place, we have a short bumper with Pryor, leading to Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes performing "Somewhere Down The Line":



Nine years later, Pryor signed with the Kroffts, but Pryor's Place lasted just one season on CBS.