Tag Archives: Kenard Gibbs

The American landscape would not be nearly as rich, diverse and hip without pioneering forces such as Don Cornelius. As the creator of Soul Train, Cornelius did more than establish a profitable company/brand but also simultaneously uplifted people of color by giving them a platform to express their innate talents while reinforcing positive and inspiring messages through the creative disciplines of music, dance and fashion. Following news of Cornelius’ recent passing, BlackEnterprise.com spoke with Kenard Gibbs, current CEO/Partner of Soul Train Holdings and co-founder of Madvision Entertainment, to Decode how Cornelius went from investing $400 into the Soul Train pilot to forever changing American culture. —Souleo

Soul Train Decoded: Don Cornelius Created the Hippest Brand in America

Exploring the historical milestones made by the late Don Cornelius and his landmark show

Following the death of Soul Train creator Don Cornelius, Black Enterprise explores the impact of…

By Souleo

Posted: February 16, 2012 Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Change Has to Be Authentic The legacy of the Soul Train brand is built upon the pillars of dance, music and fashion. For Gibbs every brand has its own set of values, which must be expanded upon without compromising integrity. “Consumers now are savvier than ever and you have to be authentic and deliver to them what your brand value is unless of course you are looking to change that,” he says. Gibbs’ strategy includes honoring Soul Train’s musical past while reflecting contemporary pop culture. “Music is our lane but that doesn’t mean we can only show artists that were a part of the iconic past. Our perspective is that Soul Train is and will continue to be the home to the biggest artists in popular music,” he says. “We want to contemporize and reach a subset of our consumer, which is a younger consumer—with the rebirth of the brand.”

6 Tips for Success in Rebranding

Taking over Don Cornelius' legendary Soul Train, Kenard Gibbs shares his plans for driving the brand into the 21st century

Kenard Gibbs’ introduction of the Soul Train Awards was just a small step in the…

By Souleo

Posted: November 28, 2011 Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,