Don Cornelius, the creator of Soul Train, was found dead at his home early Wednesday morning. According to reports, law enforcement officials arrived at his home in Sherman Oaks, California, around 4 a.m. and found him with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Born in Chicago, Cornelius developed Soul Train after recognizing the need for a television program dedicated to soul music. Premiering in October 1971, 
the show helped offer great exposure for black artists and Cornelius served as its host until 1993. It continued to run until 2006 and is the longest continuously running syndication program in television history.
It is undeniable that Don’s vision and desire to feature minorities in a positive light has influenced urban/pop culture today. From the famous Soul Train line to it’s weekly special musical guests, every black household couldn’t wait to watch their Saturday dose of the Soul Train.
Peep a few clips below of the smooth-talking television host throughout the years. You’ll also find the clips of Questlove & Kelly Rowland talking about Don Cornelius and the popular show. Also, the full 90-minute documentary of VH1′s Rock Doc’s Soul Train: The Hippest Trip in America.
While Cornelius’s death investigation is underway, TMZ reports that he had suffered a stroke and had brain surgery in recent years. Stay tuned for updates as they become available. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and fans.
“And as always in parting, we wish you love, peace… and SOUL!”
Watch: Don Cornelius Doing Soul Train Line For 1st Time
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Terrible end to a great beginning.
well said
Wow that’s sad , R.I.P Mr,Cornelius .
Tragic. Suicide is never the right option. Its a permanent soultion to a temporary problem. Rip.
well said
Geesh…it makes me wonder at that age what all was troubling him…almost as if he had been planning it for awhile being that he requested his divorce be finalized quickly…may God bless his family and get them through this difficult time…he most certainly brought a smile to many of our parent’s faces and mine as the host of Soul Train
Dang, man we need to stop killing ourselves with drugs, guns, medicine…this needs to stop, let us love ourselves and one another. R.I.P DC
*Love Peace & Sooooouulll Train*
It’s funny you mentioned that. DC didn’t want rap music on his show for a long time because the lyrics back then referenced to drugs and weapon violence.
WAKE UP IN THE MORNING AND I ASK MYSELF IS LIFE WORTH LIVING SHOULD I BLAST MYSELF.
really?
*lyrics of TuPac*
a question that was also on somebody’s else agenda…he didn’t even have to self inflict…1996 somebody did it for him.
Are you Ok?
this sounds suspect as all outdoors, don’t believe he committed suicide. someone killed him and made it appear as a suicide. mr. cornelius, thank you for so many wonderful memories of soul train. saturdays, would’nt have been saturdays with out soul train. rip.
How does it sound “suspect” ? When the reports say APPARENT SELF INFLICTED
i agree as well i dont see dc being the type of person to commit suicide and how where the able to quickly determine it was suicide? even if it was apparent police usually hold off and gather every single detail before announcing the offical cause if death sounds like illumanti
I agree Aha. When I first saw this on TMZ my first thought was why would a man so late in age decide to kill himself. I hope the police will investigate this thorougly.
@AHA
Don Cornelius was the first of many celebrity blood sacrifices to come in this “holy year” for the “initiated” (that being 2012). This sacrifice came right before the holiday known during this day and age as “Groundhog’s Day”, but was known to the ancients as “Imbolc”, a festival for the Queen of Heaven mother goddess. All modern day “holidays” are veiled references to the pagan festivals, which is why they are adhered to so stringently in this society (and celebrated in the same way). In regards to Don Cornelius, all celebrities make a blood oath to the Bap0met for fame, and Don Cornelius is no different. Once they pledge their allegiance, their life is no longer their own, and when their fame runs out, they are on borrowed time. These “biography” programs make the viewer think that a person “got their big break” by meeting the right person. The vast majority of these “celebrities” agreed to the oath, and to do whatever their benefactors asked of them. After awhile, they become so drunk with power that their behavior becomes erratic and they become prime targets as sacrificial lambs to “Molech/Baal”.
A HUGE influence on POP culture is no longer with us today R.I.P. to the man of “SOUL” MR. DON CORNELIUS. I can definitely remember getting up on Saturdays cleaning the house with Rodney and looking at Soul Train! Before anyone else would give African-American Artist a chance Don Cornelius did! You knew that you’ve ARRIVED if you were artist once you TOOK THAT MIC and set foot on that LEGENDARY STAGE. As we enter into BLACK HISTORY month… I urge you to “KNOW” more than what we’ve been “TAUGHT” in school. There’s more to BHM than Martin, Malcom X, Rosa Parks it’s not BLACK history it’s HISTORY! DID YOU KNOW THAT C.B. Brooks invented the street sweeper in 1896. It was a truck equipped with brooms. #bam #whomadd I love yall!
R.I.P. Don Cornelius…in parting I wish you love, peace and soul.
I second that.
I am totally shocked.
Ditto @ Uptowmgirl !
I wonder what would make him do such a thing. That’s sad
R.I.P…AND I WISH U LUV…PEACE…AND SOOOOOOOUL.
By golly christmas, I love the 70s Soul Train.
I dunno…he was 75, couldn’t he just wait it out? Maybe he was about to go to jail for tax evasion and didn’t want to be cell mates with heart attack having Ron Isley. :\ R.I.P.
Hold up….Ron Isley is in jail??
Obama needs to appeal or change these tax laws that send folk to jail on first offenses, I mean let them pay it back in installments or garnishments. All the black celebs get sent to jail and the white ones get charges dropped or pay it back. People shouldnt have to be sent to jail, especially if they had accountants- these accountants need to be going to jail right along side Wesley Snipes and the rest of them or these celebs need to be suing them. Somebody have not been doing their jobs to where folk ending up in jail over taxes. They cant work to pay the taxes back in jail. House arrest or something, too harsh. Poor guy if that is what he is thinking. But jail still better than hell. Hope he didnt send his own self to hell in a split second over some tax charges he may have beat or auctioned off things or asked BET for a loan or something. SMH.
I feel sad about this. R.I.P. Mr. Cornelius.
I’m not trying to be funny, but I don’t think you can R.I.P after suicide.
Tacky.
That’s sad
R.I.P… DON AND I WISH U LUV…PEACE…AND SOOOOOOOUL. I am totally shocked too. my heart go out to his family and friends…..
A great man that accomplished so much, so sad his life had such a troubled ending. RIP Don Cornelius!
DON CORNELIUS LAST WORDS ON THIS EARTH BEFORE HE BLEW HIS BRAINS OUT WAS I WISH YOU LOVE, PEACE, AND SOOOOOOUUUL! BANG BANG BANG!
I see why your name is Nappy. Have respect!!!!!!
Shame
Rest in peace. A tragic way to go. I admit to being skeptical about the suicide. But thinking over it perhaps his mental condition was really unstable.
U can bet ur last money it’s all gonna be a stone gas honey
Omg…. I can’t even know what to say.
there’s a history of people manipulating reports however they want to,ie. kennedy assasinations (both), vince foster (suicide also,so they say) if you don’t know, ask somebody, better yet do your own research ….
Depression affects many older people. A lot of times their life has changed so drastically and they cannot cope. Who knows the condition his body was in after his stroke and surgery. I remember an award show a couple of years ago he was presenting a lifetime achievement and could barely talk. People talked about him many on this site. I don’t think suicide is ever an answer.
that soo sad i will pray for his family .x
I hope someone jumps on this bio film, and does it right!! Don’t ask Hollywood for nothing.. I know a lot has gone on behind the scene. A coworker, in his 50′s asked who was Don Cornelius… I told him, that was like asking who is Dick Clark. smh.
White people only know our black celebirties if their mainstream or worldwide known.
Why our black celebirties always leaving this earth so soon? Rest In Peace Mr.Don Cornelius. Thank you for giving us Soul Train, Soul Train Award shows and showcasing our talents on your show.
He lived to be 75 years old. That is amazing. Concerning, many won’t live to see his age!!!
It’s always such a terrible thing when someone takes his/her own voice. May God have mercy on his soul.
This is very sad. I pray for his family.
very sad, r.i.p
i hope it wasn’t suicide. Thats very depressing-what could possibly be so huritng and unlivable for a man his age??? But then again, we dunno what goes on behind doors.
Love ya Don. My lord rest your soooooul
When black people started killing themselves with all the struggling and debt, poverty, etc. He started hanging with white folks and white women too much and forgot how to struggle and still be alright. Should have went to counseling, suicide makes it so much worse, especially if you end up in hades for eternity.
Omg suicide? that doesnt even sound right. Damn R.I.P Mr. Cornelius
Committing suicide at 75? don’t believe it,that nigga got murked,why would a 75 y/o man kill his self,he could of waited it out,he waited this long,somebody got this dude murdered for his soul train catalog,maybe his ex wife? i don’t know,but it doesn’t make any sense
Thats what he get for grinning and chucking after white women. Thinking he was doing better and look at him now. Boo hoo
Tom Joyner the radio host, said “HE KNOW DON WOULD HAVE NOT KILLED HIMSELF” something to think about!
Its a horrible way to leave. Unfortunately many people go along and dont seek help for depression and this can be the ending result. The stigma of depression and mental illness keeps US trapped in silence. I wish the load was not so hard to deal with. I hope his family has support through this difficult time.
This is so sad. I wonder did he have a brain tumor or cancer of the brain? For some reason that type of illness causes them to commit suicide or act irratic like they have a mental disorder. Anyway, I hope they do a full investigation to really see what happened….. RIP Don C, a true pioneer.
that really sad… i was grew up this to watch soul train everyday. rip..
this is very sad news for me. Don Cornelius was a Great American. He had that Can Do attitude and that entrepreneurial spirit. His show was the longest running syndicated show in television history, what an accomplishment, how proud he must have been at one time. That he fell to despair and took his own life is truly tragic.
And think of all the hours of pleasure he brought to so many millions. His show was inspirational and nurturing to the young people, to say nothing of all the talent he show cased.
Rest in Peace Don Cornelius, I will miss you.
They wont investigate it, just like with Gary Coleman…I still think that white girl pushed him or was giving him something to cause him to have a seizure waiting for him to go into a coma to pull that plug, because Gary didnty start having all these health issues resurface until he started running after her. Would not be suprised with Don. Thats what they get thinking white women so pristine and now they both banking off these dead negros. Idiots.
Nice video. I’m impressed, I must say. Really hardly ever do I encounter a blog that’s each informative and entertaining, and let me tell you, you will have hit the nail on the head.
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I’ve said that least 1676173 times. SKC was here…