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Soul Cities: Take a Tour of Black America
The best way to find out about a subject is to jump in and drill down, right? Travelers know that the “drill down” part is the most fun when visiting various locales. You can’t get a full taste of New York or Paris by hanging at the Statue of Liberty or the Eiffel Tower - you’ve gotta get to where the people actually live and the culture is created.
Nelson George created Soul Cities with that in mind. For the next several weeks VH1 Soul is airing a string of episodes that finds the author, screenwriter, and music critic roaming through six of a the hippest towns in the U.S., including New Orleans, Memphis, Chicago, L.A., and the Bay Area. He creates a portrait of the artistic, cultural, and political vibe that help define each location.
Philadelphia is first (the show premieres Tuesday, November 11 at 9 pm ET on VH1 Soul). George chats with Kenny Gamble & Leon Huff about classic Philly R&B, swings by Geno’s to wolf a cheese steak, drops into Ms Tootsies soul food restaurant for an interview with LaBelle, talks politics and music with ?uestlove from the Roots, browses the ultimate R&B record store, and lots more.
Check our music video playlist of R&B artists associated with Philly.
Facebook fiends should check out the photos associated to each episode that live on George’s profile page.
For another glimpse into his world head to his Web site.
Check the specific addresses of the Philly sites after the jump.
Here are places Nelson visited in PHILADELPHIA
MS. TOOTSIE’S SOUL FOOD CAFE
Philadelphia, PA
BUDDAKAN
325 Chestnut St.
hiladelphia, PA
GENO’S STEAKS
1219 South 9th St
Philadelphia, PA
UPTOWN THEATER
2240 North Broad St
Philadelphia, PA 19132
SILK CITY DINER
435 Spring Garden St
Philadelphia, PA 19123
AMTRAK 30TH STREET STATION
LIBERTY BELL CENTER
VAL SHIVELY’S R&B RECORDS
49 Garrett Road
Upper Darby, PA 19082
PHILADELPHIA INTERNATIONAL RECORDS (where Gamble & Huff intvw takes place)
309 S Broad St
Upper Darby, PA 19107
PAUL ROBERSON MURAL (painted mural)
4502 Chestnut St
Philadelphia, PA
JULIUS ERVING MURAL (painted mural)
Ridge Ave
Philadelphia, PA
WILT CHAMBERLIN MURAL (painted mural)
Vine St
Philadelphia, PA
GROVER WASHINGTON MURAL (painted mural)
2032 N Broad St
Philadelphia, PA
November 11th, 2008 at 4:59 am
Well, I remembered I have seen a man on millionaireloves.com looks like him very much, his username is jackielee.
November 11th, 2008 at 5:01 am
where is my post?
November 11th, 2008 at 1:20 pm
Everyone should check this out fro mPlatinum Rush Music http://www.rhapsody.com/honeybrownmusic
http://www.cdbaby.com/all/honeybrownmusic
November 12th, 2008 at 11:18 am
So it’s like MTV’s My Block but not limited to hip-hop? Original!
November 20th, 2008 at 2:08 pm
wat that is yall chance i think you should pick rabit
November 25th, 2008 at 1:47 pm
[...] Check out the Facebook page here and a blog post on VH1’s blogs here. [...]
November 30th, 2008 at 5:15 pm
VH1 - Thank you for this wonderful show!! We don’t get a lot of Soul or R&B out here in Medford, OR. If you ever make it out here… we have ONE BBQ/Blues place and ONE spot that plays jazz once a week. Couldn’t make it without you, VHI1SOUL! Nelson’s great! Love all the segments! Keep it coming!!
December 17th, 2008 at 1:34 am
what about other cities how could you over look; NYC, Newark NJ, Telodo, Cleveland and Cincianati OH, Atlanta, Dallas, Houston and Austin TX, Kansas City?
December 19th, 2008 at 12:05 pm
Yes, definitely add Cleveland and Cincinnati to the list.
December 29th, 2008 at 1:23 pm
What an awewome show! It’s informative and engaging. It’s filled with so much artistic, cultural, and culinary soul that I find myself watching the repeats - not sure wheter to dance, sing, or eat. Wish it could be longer — 30 minutes is certainly not enuf!! The episdoe for Philadelphia could have been longer, as there is so much talent here!!
Nelson George is the ideal host for the show!! Yo Nelson — you’ve found your niche!! Do your thang boy and keep bringing it!
January 7th, 2009 at 6:41 pm
Uh! excuse me Nelson but why didnt you include Detroit in one of those Soul city episodes. You know Detroit took soul where it’s never been. What you scared to come here or something? The majority of Detroiters are very warm and would welcome you with open arms. Do you have any say in those types of decisions? I mean really, if you can find enough good shots in places like New Orleans to do an entire show, you certainly can come up to the “D”.
January 14th, 2009 at 11:38 pm
Thank You….Thank YOU….My friend’s and I are headed to Philadelphia this weekend en route to DC and loved the show. Our dilemma: we didn’t write down any of the places when we watched the show. Thanks soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo much for posting them.
Obama Forever!
April 15th, 2009 at 3:59 pm
I love the show but how can you do Philly and not mention Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes? or did I miss that part?
May 29th, 2009 at 3:58 am
I’m obviously a Bostonian….u will see clearly as I go forward. -That said, I have sat thru “Soul Cities” -Chicago and Philadelphia AT LEAST 3 times each….but I have yet to see a Soul Cities Boston….I know, I know…Boston is a city big on Irish mafia,baseball, hockey and big Hollywood’s idea of “Beantown” (ie The Departe, Fever Pitch and Mystic River movies…) but I challenge VH1 to look to me to show you the soulful side of Boston. We have historically black record stores, events,radio stations,comedy venues and people with a deep soulful side that I feel has yet to be acknowledged…feel free to reach out me to and i will be all but TOO happy to show you guys each aspect of Boston Soul. -I look forward to hearing from you soon. -Alexis HighTower
June 22nd, 2009 at 8:15 pm
There is a powerful soul movmement in Europe and in particular Switzerland. Iknow this because my daughter lives in Zurich and makes her living playing music there with 5 different bands. I would like to suggest that Nelson consider a road trip to see what is happening to the music and the people who play it there.
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