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R.I.P.: Don Cornelius

Don Cornelius, who created the long-running R&B and dance-music showcase Soul Train, was found dead in his home in Sherman Oaks, Clifornia, early this morning. He was 75. Law enforcement officials suspected suicide; the body was found with a gunshot wound to the head.

Trained as a journalist on WVON, an African-American talk radio station in his native Chicago, Cornelius conceived of Soul Train during the Civil Rights movement, noting there was no showcase for black music on national television. Soul Train debuted in 1971 and quickly became a popular stop for major acts such as James Brown, the O’Jays and Michael Jackson. Cornelius hosted the show from its inception until 1993; Soul Train ended its long run in its original form in 2006.

The show had a huge influence on popular culture and the pop charts. One of its themes, “TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia),” became a hit record, and references to Cornelius and Soul Train have appeared in dozens of songs over the years. Cornelius famously closed each episode with the parting words, “We wish you love, peace and soul.”

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5 Comments

  1. Don did a wonderful job with Soul Train and he will be truely miss as he left us with memories . He did a lot of things with his life.. Don lived ,I believe he gotten tired living with Pain , He also having Altimzers at his old age… He gotten too old, sick to host the show back in the day … Soul Train had a lot of guest apperences ever time the show aried… Shemar moore had taken over to keep people watching it was ok then it went off the air. My guess a lot of younger people under 21 not been interested in contiune to view it. He out the body with the LORD… PUSH other networks did a beautiful tributes in his memory …

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