Elton John on Soul Train — A Historic Moment in 1975 Television

Elton John on Soul Train — A Historic Moment in 1975 Television 

In early 1975, Elton John achieved one of the most striking milestones of his American television presence: an appearance on Soul Train, one of the most influential Black music programs in U.S. history. The performance was taped during the spring of 1975 and later broadcast on May 17, 1975, marking Elton as only the second white artist ever to appear on the show, following A&M soul singer Gino Vannelli.

The information was documented in the 1975 issue of Radio & Records, accessed through World Radio History at:

https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Archive-RandR/1970s/1975/RR-1975-04-04.pdf

and

https://archive.org/details/elton-john-on-soul-train

A Landmark Appearance

Producers of Soul Train were initially uncertain whether the audience would connect with Elton John’s repertoire, but any concern disappeared the moment he arrived. According to the 1975 Radio & Records report, the studio crowd already knew all of Elton’s hits and spontaneously shouted requests for Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me, Daniel, and Crocodile Rock.

For the broadcast, Elton performed:

Philadelphia Freedom

Bennie and the Jets

The dance floor was “packed with dancers,” and Elton was mobbed afterward by young fans seeking autographs. Some, unprepared, even handed him their driver’s licenses to sign. Elton’s segment was highlighted as one of the most enthusiastic reactions during Soul Train’s mid-1970s run.

Confirmation of the Date and Format

Both songs — Philadelphia Freedom and Bennie and the Jets — were taped for the same episode. They were aired together on the May 17, 1975 broadcast, consistent with the available television logs from Soul Train’s syndicated distribution.

Don Cornelius and the Historical Context

Soul Train was one of the most important syndicated programs in U.S. television history, airing across multiple independent stations nationwide. The show was created and hosted by Don Cornelius — born September 27, 1936, and passed away February 1, 2012 — a Chicago broadcaster who built the program into the leading Black music showcase on American television.

What “Syndicated Distribution” Means

“Syndicated distribution,” or syndication, refers to a television model in which a program is not produced for a major national network (such as ABC, CBS, or NBC).

Instead, the show is sold directly to individual local stations, which purchase the episodes and choose their own time slots.

This allowed Soul Train to reach cities across the United States without being tied to a single network. Every station that bought the show could air it at a time suited to its local schedule. This system made Soul Train one of the most widely distributed and successful syndicated programs in American TV.

Elton John’s Own Reaction

The archival 1975 report does not include a direct spoken statement from Elton about the Soul Train taping but does detail his surprise at the overwhelmingly positive reaction. The crowd of dancers and fans surrounding him during and after filming demonstrated the admiration he already commanded among Soul Train’s youthful audience.

Related Contemporary Anecdote: LaBelle Concert

The same issue of Radio & Records reported an additional, unusual Elton moment that occurred just days earlier:

During a LaBelle concert at the Santa Monica Civic, the lights suddenly went down and the MC announced, “And now ladies and gentlemen, Elton John!” A confused hush fell over the hall as the audience wondered if they were at the wrong show. Elton later joked backstage, “no one knows who I am!” — a nervous remark.

Before fame, as Reggie Dwight, Elton had been LaBelle’s backup pianist. He reunited with his old friends for a one-night performance. After the concert, “Reggie” and the LaBelle singers attended a party at the Miramar Hotel, joined by celebrities including Michael Sarrazin, Lorna Luft, Martha Reeves, Ryan & Tatum O’Neal, David Janssen, Bob Crewe, Blue Öyster Cult, Dusty Springfield, and others.

All Research Sources Used 

Main article source:

https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Archive-RandR/1970s/1975/RR-1975-04-04.pdf

General archive site used:

http://www.worldradiohistory.com

Soul Train basic information consulted:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soul_Train

Episode reference comparison:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Soul_Train_episodes

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