UB Celebrates ‘Solid Gold’ 45th Anniversary

This year the classic music television show, “Solid Gold” will celebrate it’s 45th Anniversary.

UB is celebrating the ground-breaking music series!

“Solid Gold‘ debuted on September 13th, 1980 in syndication via Paramount Television.

Never before did a first-run program ever burst upon syndication television scene, with such documented pilot rating success as “Solid Gold.”

Before music videos had become commonplace, “Solid Gold” featured the week’s Top Hits in Pop & R&B music.

The only visual accompaniment to the music was the Solid Gold Dancers and the artists performances.

Legendary musical guests included James Brown, Prince, the Pointer Sisters, Whitney Houston, Luther Vandross, Smokey Robinson, Stevie Wonder and the list goes on.

Live performers lip-sync their hits, most times surrounded by the Solid Gold Dancers. If the performers weren’t available, the eight dancers went at it alone.

Dionne Warwick and Arsenio Hall were huge parts of the series success during it’s run.

Marilyn McCoo and The Solid Gold Dancers were also staples from the series.

The premiere and much of the first season was hosted by Dionne Warwick and Marty Cohen, known as “Partyin’ Marty Hardy.”

In the fall of the 1981-1982 season, Marilyn McCoo of The 5th Dimension and Andy Gibb took over hosting duties.

Marilyn stayed on as host for the 1982-1983 season and the 1983-84 season, hosting with Rex Smith in the first of those two years and alone the second.

In September 1984, Rick Dees joined “Solid Gold” as its host and more comedy bits were added to the show. However, Dees did not have success as host and by the middle of the season he left the series.

For the remainder of the 1984-85 season, the producers of “Solid Gold” relied on a rotation arrangement where two music stars would host each week.

In the summer of 1984, the producers of “Solid Gold” added a daily 30-minute series called “Solid Gold Hits” to the weekend program.

Dionne Warwick returned for the 1985-1986 season, which was her last year as host of the program.

After taking two seasons off, Marilyn McCoo once again replaced Dionne Warwick as host in September 1986.

She was joined as host by former MTV VJ Nina Blackwood and comedian Arsenio Hall, and all three presided over “Solid Gold” until its eventual cancellation in 1988.

The weekly one-hour show played segments from the Top 10 charting songs accompanied by the Solid Gold Dancers.

Darcel Wynne was the principal dancer on “Solid Gold” during her five-year reign. She appeared on the show from 1980 to 1984, took most of the 1984-1985 season off and rejoined the cast for 1985-1986.

In 1986, Darcel had many speaking roles on “Solid Gold,” regularly announcing the countdown re-caps towards the end of the show.

Darcel and most of the other dancers left the program at the end of that season.

For the eighth and last season the program became known as “Solid Gold In Concert,” reflecting the addition of more live performances than had previously been featured on the program in the past.

The last show aired, July 23rd, 1988.

“Solid Gold” won three Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lighting Direction (Electronic) for a Series.

“Solid Gold” was created by Al Masini via Operation Prime Time, produced by Brad Lachman Productions and developed by Bob Banner.

“Solid Gold” Cast:

Dionne Warwick | Hostess (1980-1981, 1985-1986)
Marilyn McCoo | Hostess (1981-1984, 1986-1988)
Andy Gibb | Host (1981-1982)
Rex Smith | Host (1982-1983)
Rick Dees | Host (1984-1985)
Regan Patno | Dancer (1987-1988)

Jamie Alcroft | (Regular performer, 1982) (as Jamie)
Jeff Altman | (1982-1983)
Audrey K. Baranishyn | (Solid Gold Dancer, 1987-1988)
Nina Blackwood | (1986-1988)
Kahea Bright | (Solid Gold Dancer, 1980-1984)
Marty Cohen | (1980-1981)
Gayle Crofoot | (Solid Gold Dancer, 1983-1985)
Janeen Damian | (Solid Gold Dancer) (1985) (as Janeen Best)
Lucinda Dickey | (Solid Gold Dancer) (1982-1983)
Mack Dryden | (regular perfomer, 1982) (as Mack)
Chelsea Field | (Solid Gold Dancer) (1983)
Wayland Flowers | (1980-1984
Arsenio Hall | (1986-1987)
Cooley Jackson | (Solid Gold Dancer, 1983-1986)
Deborah Jenssen | Dancer (1980-1984)
Jamilah Lucas | (Solid Gold Dancer, 1984-1986)
Andrea Moen | (Solid Gold Dancer, 1987-1988)
Robert W. Morgan | Announcer (1980-87)
Charlie O’Donnell | Announcer (1987-1988)
Pamela Rossi | Herself (Solid Gold Dancer, 1980-1986)
Mark Sellers | Himself (Solid Gold Dancer, 1984-1986)
Darcel Wynne | Herself (Solid Gold Dancer, 1980-1983, 1985-1986)

Take A Trip Down Memory Lane with “Solid Gold!”