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The series began as a local daily dance program on WCIU-TV (Channel 26) in Chicago on 17 August 1970, with Jerry Butler, The Chi-Lites and The Emotions as guests on the premiere edition. The success of the local version led to the start of the nationally-syndicated version on 2 October 1971; however, the local version continued to run (with Don Cornelius passing hosting duties of that version on to one of its dancers, Clinton Ghent), with original episodes being produced through 1976, and repeats airing until 1979.
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Among the music acts that made appearances on both the local Chicago version of the series and the nationally-syndicated version were Jerry Butler, The Chi-Lites, The Emotions, B.B. King, Curtis Mayfield, the Staple Singers, Tyrone Davis, Gene Chandler, The Five Stairsteps, and The O'Jays.
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