B.K. Kirkland Shares What It’s Like Being On The Hippest Trip At Sea
The Hippest Trip at Sea – the perfect tagline for the amazing Soul Train Cruise. I’m B.K. Kirkland the Program Director of Soul Town and The Groove on Sirius XM Radio. You’ll hear me ever day on The Groove as I absolutely love Old School R&B. My music stations play the same artists you get to see LIVE on the cruise from '60s Soul to '80s R&B.
I was very excited when the StarVista Live team approached us about coming aboard to record the shows and artist interviews for playback on my show in June. My close friends went on the first Soul Train Cruise and they raved about the phenomenal talent, delicious food, interactive programming and new friendships they made. I jumped at the opportunity to be surrounded by other Soul Train fans and R&B music aficionados.
The Soul Train Cruise is one of the best musical journeys filled with artists I hold in the highest regard. Music is a gift and if you are seeking a rich cultural opportunity with the icons of R&B this is it. The cruise turns back the clock to a time when our generation of music became a playlist that has extended from generation to generation. You can’t live in the past but it is nice to know that there is a place you can go to visit once in a while and that’s what the Soul Train cruise experience offers. If it’s a family reunion, personal trip or sharing it with someone special, it will bring back memories and create special new ones.
The list of artists on past cruises is a roster of the who’s who in marquis talent with the likes of: Earth, Wind & Fire, Maze, The O’Jays, The Isley Brothers, Gladys Knight, and Kool & The Gang performing on the main stage every night. There are intimate lounge performances too by groups like Con Funkshun, Dazz Band, Midnight Star, The Time and Blue Magic. There are workshops, in depth interviews with the performers, and autograph and photo opportunities. A Sunday Gospel hour with artists like Sounds Of Blackness. There’s the casino, if you want to try your luck, fantastic restaurants, a relaxing spa, pool parties and a gym where you can work it all off.
I love hanging out late night learning the latest line dance or feeling the beat of Old School R&B dance music in the club with top named DJ’s from BITD. Some cruisers don’t sleep saying they will sleep when they get home so they can experience everything. There’s so much to do and you even get to dress up for the theme nights.
Now here’s the best part, during Black Music Month both The Groove and Soul Town will play back some of the shows. If you were on the cruise it’s a chance to relive the musical experience, and if you’ve never been you can hear what you’re missing. Hope to see you next year.
B.K. Kirkland
Program Director
The Groove/Soul Town