BET’s Soul Train-inspired series American Soul continues to fill out its guest cast.
Singer and actress Michelle Williams will play Diana Ross. The description: “Ross is impressed by Don Cornelius, who is courting her to appear on his new show, but she hasn’t quite decided if she will accept his offer yet.”
After being the subject of two BET biopics, Bobby Brown ventures into acting. He’s been tapped for the series to portray soul singer Rufus Thomas, who sang the soul song “Do the Funky Chicken.”
Gabrielle Dennis garnered rave reviews as Whitney Houston in BET’s The Bobby Brown Story and also starred as Tilda Johnson in Marvel’s Luke Cage. She will portray Tina Turner, “who is enjoying a hugely successful career with her husband as Ike & Tina Turner as they perform “Proud Mary” on Soul Train.”
A true professional, Tina chronically suffers at the hands of Ike (who will be portrayed by McKinley Freeman of Hit the Floor fame), but you’d never know her pain by the love she shows onstage through her music. A high maintenance talent who makes a lot of demands on management, Ike also intends to help Don turn Soul Train into a club and franchise. He doesn’t bother to hide his behavior toward his wife.”
Singer and reality star K. Michelle will portray Martha Reeves, “the extraordinarily talented R&B pop singer who led the band Martha and the Vandellas. During the band’s Soul Train appearance, Martha offers professional advice to an up-and-coming performer.”
Led by Sinqua Walls as Don Cornelius, the ensemble cast of series regulars also includes Kelly Price, Jason Dirden, Iantha Richardson, Christopher Jefferson, Katlyn Nichol and Jelani Winston. Kelly Rowland will have a guest-starring stint as Gladys Knight.
Inspired by the personal trials and professional successes of young, ambitious and troubled impresario Don Cornelius, American Soul is a 10-episode dramatic and unflinching look at the entrepreneur, his Soul Train dancers, crew and musicians in a cutthroat Hollywood in the 1970s and how they work, play, rise and fall against the backdrop of the show most responsible for the way the world perceived African-American culture.
Jesse Collins (The New Edition Story, The Bobby Brown Story), Jonathan Prince (creator of the similarly-themed American Dreams on NBC) and Devon Greggory executive produce. Don’s son, Tony Cornelius, will co-executive produce alongside Andy Horne. Greggory will pen the pilot, and Jesse Collins Entertainment will produce.
READ MORE:
‘American Soul’ Teaser Trailer: BET Takes It Back To The ’70s In ‘Soul Train’-Inspired Drama Series
‘American Soul’: Sinqua Walls To Star As Don Cornelius In BET Scripted Series Based On ‘Soul Train’
