The Hippest Trip In America Returns to Millennium Park

By Chuck Sudo in Arts & Entertainment on Sep 5, 2011 4:00PM

The Soul Train Dancers (Photo Courtesy of Soul Train Holdings LLC)

The city has gone to great lengths to embrace the 40th anniversary of Soul Train. And with good reason: it's a Chicago original.

Top off a lazy holiday weekend this evening as Millennium Park is transformed into "The Hippest Trip in America" with a free concert at Pritzker Pavilion at 6:30 p.m. The featured acts for tonight's concert are some whose names are synonymous with Soul Train's early years. Local soul legends Jerry Butler, the Impressions, the Chi-Lites, Otis Clay, the Emotions and Gene Chandler will be backed by a 30-piece orchestra as they honor Soul Train founder Don Cornelius.

Prior to the concert, legendary DJ and "the Mayor of Bronzeville," Herb 'the Cool Gent" Kent will spin records during a free Soul Train dance party at Millennium Park's Cloud Gate sculpture from 4-5:30 p.m. We want to see a Soul Train dance line under "The Bean."