‘Soul Train’ Creator Don Cornelius Found Dead After Suicide
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Credit: Damian Dovarganes/AP Photo.
Don Cornelius, the man who created “Soul Train,” was found dead in his Los Angeles home today. The L.A. County Coroner’s Department confirmed that Cornelius’ cause of death was a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. He was 75.
Famous fans took to Twitter this morning to pay tribute to Cornelius. “RIP Don Cornelius #legend,” actress Holly Robinson Peete tweeted. Wyclef Jean wrote, “JUST WOKE UP TO SOME SAD NEWS , R.I.P. Don Cornelius founder of SOUL TRAIN.” “RIP the legend Don Cornelius,” tweeted hip-hop artist Talib Kweli. “Soul Train was a huge part of my saturday mornings growing up.”
BLOG: Suicide Reveals Dark Side of ‘Soul Train’ Founder
Cornelius created “Soul Train” and hosted the show in national syndication from 1971 to 1993. It was the first real venue on American TV for soul music, and as the show’s writer, producer, and emcee, Cornelius played a vital role in bringing stars like James Brown, Aretha Franklin and Michael Jackson to a wider audience. He was known for the catchphrase with which he closed each episode: “I’m Don Cornelius, and as always in parting, we wish you love, peace and soul!”
“Soul Train,” which ceased airing in 2006, also spun off the Soul Train Music Awards and the Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards. Its most famous theme song, “TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia),” by MFSB became a massive pop hit in 1974.
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Soul Train was a music favorite during the 1970s. Rhythm and Blues, Disco, and Jazz filled the sound stage for Dancers. Don Cornelius put instrumental soul in the studio and on television.
Posted by: dustin97sc | February 1, 2012, 9:48 am 9:48 am
Sorry to hear this about Mr Cornelius, My prayer Is that He rest in Love,Peace, and Soul!
Posted by: Vern | February 1, 2012, 9:50 am 9:50 am
He’s a legend of an era. Soul Train was ALWAYS fun to watch & listen to. Thanks Don, for the good times. I’m sorry it’s punctuated by this tragedy. RIP my friend. I’ll be looking for the soul train dance lane when I get to heaven :-).
Posted by: MrE_mann | February 1, 2012, 9:58 am 9:58 am
First the passing of Michael Jackson and now this, so sad!
Posted by: jessica | February 1, 2012, 9:59 am 9:59 am
I have fond memories of watching Soul Train on Saturday mornings, watching the hip musical performers and learning the newest dances. Don Cornelius thanks for the memories and I wish you love, peace, and soul.
Posted by: Markos | February 1, 2012, 10:00 am 10:00 am
R.I.P Don. You are a fund memory of many Gen X African Americans. I learned to dance and copy the fashion from Soul Train (to my mother’s dismay). Today ‘Soul Train” lines are still a part of many functions. Don, you will be truly missed. May God hold you close.
Posted by: Japp | February 1, 2012, 10:02 am 10:02 am
R.I.P Don C. Your gift to us will live on forever!
Posted by: Thoughtyouknew | February 1, 2012, 10:20 am 10:20 am
Rest your Sooooooooooooooool my friend!!
Posted by: Johnny | February 1, 2012, 10:20 am 10:20 am
Japp – he’s a fond memory for this white Gen-Xer too! My mom and I used to watch Soul Train every Saturday together, and we’d (try to) learn the dance moves too. Just saw a documentary about Soul Train recently. What a fantastic show and what a decent man. My condolences to his family and friends. R.I.P. Mr. Cornelius.
Posted by: Really? | February 1, 2012, 10:21 am 10:21 am
RIP DON! Hey I was one of the first white dudes in my Army outfit in Vietnam who really enjoyed Soul Train when I came home.
Watching the line dancing was always cool. What talent they had and Don was the center of everything. You gave us lots of great times. Thanks Don!
Posted by: Paul Cash | February 1, 2012, 10:25 am 10:25 am
God Bless your heart Don, and thanks for many years and memories in my childhood growing up on soul train. You will be missed, and I pray you are at peace.
Posted by: beadgyrl | February 1, 2012, 10:31 am 10:31 am
RIP Don. I loved that show growing up. He will be missed.
Posted by: Joe | February 1, 2012, 10:37 am 10:37 am
This is so sad. I remember Soul Train and it was definitely a favorite for all my kids. I hope Don Cornelius can now rest in peace. We loved you and wish you Peace, Love and (lots of) Soul.
Posted by: Sharon Pilgrim | February 1, 2012, 10:42 am 10:42 am
RIP Don, you will be missed….
Posted by: RME | February 1, 2012, 10:48 am 10:48 am
This is so sad. He did some ground breaking stuff. He was wealthy and at 75, what could have made him do this? He should have been living the dream. My prayers to his family.
Posted by: Lonnie | February 1, 2012, 10:55 am 10:55 am
Sad to see that things ended this way for anyone, let alone a person who was a part of so many happy American memories. Rest in peace and sympathies to his family.
Posted by: GinaG | February 1, 2012, 11:04 am 11:04 am
DON WAS BLESSED GOOD. For him to check out on the 1st day of BLACK HISTORY month is cold!
He is telling us something people. WAKE UP!
Posted by: Kelsey Lovejoy | February 1, 2012, 11:11 am 11:11 am
This is so sad. Soul Train was a bis part of my Saturday afternoons as a kid. Love, peace, and soul indeed!
Posted by: msyellarose | February 1, 2012, 11:18 am 11:18 am
May his soul rest in Love, Peace & Joy because of all his life’s blessings, accomplishments, encouragements, inspirations, positive influences and legacies!
Very sad news!
Posted by: Rose | February 1, 2012, 11:33 am 11:33 am
Terrible news! What could have led Cornelius to do such a thing?
Posted by: Christine | February 1, 2012, 12:10 pm 12:10 pm
R.I.P Don…. I used to look forward to Saturday mornings at 11:00AM on Channel 11… I would stop whatever I was doing for that special hour of music and dance. You had American Bandstand beat by a mile. How sad you must have been to take your life but, I guess you had your reasons.
So Don, in parting, I wish you Love, Peace and Soul. Save a spot for my on that Soul Train Line for when I get there…
With Love, An Italian Girl from the Bronx….
Posted by: Georgia | February 1, 2012, 12:14 pm 12:14 pm
He was truly iconic ! God Bless you Don ” and in always wishing you, love , peace and soul “. Thank you for what you did for so many.
Posted by: monya | February 1, 2012, 12:42 pm 12:42 pm
It’s like losing a grandpa, an uncle- that dude down the street.
He was that someone from down the street who raised you with your parents blessing.
That Cat was so invested in us all, not just on Saturday- but on Saturday. What a blessing. Dig that.
Posted by: Edwin Lee Gibson | February 1, 2012, 12:53 pm 12:53 pm
I am so sad, I can’t even cry.
Posted by: HB | February 1, 2012, 1:15 pm 1:15 pm
To my Brother, Mr. Don Cornelius,May you rest in peace and peace be still. You were an inspiration to all of the generations that was there at the time that you brought out Soul Train. May you always be in our hearts and God bless your family.
Posted by: Cynthia Frazier | February 1, 2012, 4:54 pm 4:54 pm
I used to watch Soul Train 35 to 40 years ago while living in Southern California.Don was a good host.To bad eventually the Motown sound evolved into gangsta rap and a large part of the audience went looking elsewhere.Don’s death also brings up the point that being a so called cultural icon doesn’t bring lasting satisfaction and happiness still comes down what we are are deep inside.
Posted by: pete | February 1, 2012, 5:40 pm 5:40 pm
He was a sell out anyway, no legacy.
Posted by: liz | February 1, 2012, 9:57 pm 9:57 pm
Just heard!! In totally shocked, I watched every Saturday morning with my sister and we learned all the cool moves. The artists we equally good. Thank you Don for giving me found memories. I wish you love, peace and soul!.
Rest in Peace!
Dee
Posted by: dee | February 2, 2012, 7:45 pm 7:45 pm
PBS Frontline just had a report about L.A. coroners but also elsewhere that often these are not trained medical doctors and the elderly and gunshot wounds can often have misclassified deaths. It is very sad he committed suicide, I hope a competent coroner did an autopsy because the elderly are easy targets of homicides.
Posted by: guest | February 2, 2012, 10:54 pm 10:54 pm
Don C. I was very shook over this new. I remeber getting up on satursday in Brent, Alabma getting the chores out the way. So me and my sibling could watch u program. We dance and sing along with the show. Today on Saturday we still watch the Reruns. I love you Don. Love , Peace and Soul. I hope that you are in peace now.
Posted by: Juanita Harris Nelson | February 3, 2012, 1:59 pm 1:59 pm
I wonder if americas politically correct culture had any thing to do with his unhappiness?
Posted by: willie | February 3, 2012, 5:34 pm 5:34 pm
Don, thank you for the effortless cool you brought to our lives. Choose God and strut down the Soul Train Line while using angels.
Posted by: Philip Krul | February 3, 2012, 10:22 pm 10:22 pm
Watching American Bandstand,then Soul Train on Saturday mornings and dancing like happy epileptics was a great way to start the weekend. It absolutely was always following a slumber party in a friend or cousin’s house. Aretha Franklin singing “Rock Steady” could be the first one I remember-I involved five and would hula-hoop like Alvin on speed. Does anyone remember “the Bump”? The Afro-Sheen commercials were so fly. Even though Don Cornelius’s funeral is totally private,I expect you will have a memorial/tribute show for him. Singers needs to be those who are able to do with dignity.It might be best to have people who appeared on Soul Train during its peak years. Any ideas,hussies?
Posted by: Sid Tollner | February 3, 2012, 10:22 pm 10:22 pm
SOUL TRAIN WAS NUMBER ONE IN MY TIME , ITS SAD HOW WE LOSS A VERY GUD MAN DON U WILL ALWAYS BE MISSED & NEVERED FORGOTTEN R.I.H .
Posted by: SHERICA | February 8, 2012, 11:16 pm 11:16 pm