Soul Train Creator Don Cornelius Found Dead of Apparent Suicide

Don Cornelius, creator of Soul Train was found dead of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound in his Sherman Oaks, Calif. apartment early Wednesday morning. He was 75.

Cornelius?s personal cool and musical taste helped Soul Train become an instant hit after its premiere in 1970. A decade before MTV, Soul Train was ?the hippest trip in America,? popularizing first the soul sound of the Jackson 5 and James Brown, later emerging hip hop acts like Kurtis Blow and Run-DMC, and always featuring the coolest dance and urban fashion styles in the country.

Soul Train went on to become the longest running American program ever in syndication, eventually producing 1,100 episodes over 35 years. Cornelius, who Al Sharpton described as ?a cultural game changer on a global level,? hosted for many of those years, but was recently plagued with health issues and a contentious divorce.

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• don cornelius
• soul train
• don cornelius soul train
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• james brown
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• kurtis blow
• run dmc

[aprillovesgays]

he started off black history month with a bang!

[critic480]

Died with dignity just like he lived.A class act from start to finish. 

[djnero78]

and how did i get here from prince charles is dracula to here, no i mean vlad the impaler is one of prince charles relatives, well LOL like it matters which of those is true >< im taking anythng that resembles a wooden steak and sending it to france next to a garlic factory

[asana1973]

It will be interesting to see how well his estate is in order. Jean basquiat for example was a hot mess.. any time an effort to pre-determine how your value will be appropriated after you've passed...when so much is at stake. Frank Sinatra, for example, he had "that thang" in order. If anyone even frowned upon the requests left in his will they were kicked out..something along these lines. A lesson in having order in our lives..it can apply to all.

[TheRealEzzy]

Nobody gives a fuck about Al Sharpton or what he has to say

[alonnastorm]

@partyspecialists I never heard that..I deplore woman beaters. But I was also told not 2 speak ill of the dead. Let the man rest in peace

[alonnastorm]

Don Cornelius and Soul Train were almost single handedly responsible for the awakening of Black America! I Thank you 4 that Don! I wish you love peace and soul!

[firstjohn313]

@partyspecialists Interesting. From what I'm understanding, many celebrities have a high sense of self-entitlement. I guess that's where that drive comes from. Thanks for the post.

[toniapx]

@partyspecialists How do you know? Where you there?! People fux me up talkin' shit that don't support their growth or life, or just negative shit period. Out of all the things to says about someone who has crossed over, you bring up some bullshit you didn't see happen. YOU DIDN'T "SEE" happen! Invest in something else.... I'm not a fan of Don Cornelius, its just that it is time out for a whole lotta shit and this is one of them.

[toniapx]

Whoever believes this shit will believe anything. this crap has illuminati written all over it, all in it, all around it!! Hollywood is demonic and if you don't get down for whatever or however THEY want, THEY WILL lay you down. Our race aint into suicides, period. And to make it even worse, there is no real coverage on what happened. Don aint went out like that, don't be fooled people!!! Suicide? Please!!!