Remembering Don Cornelius

Don Cornelius, “Soul Train,” creator dead at age 75

 By David Malitz

Updated at 11:55 a.m. “Soul Train” creator Don Cornelius was found dead in his Los Angeles home early Wednesday morning. He was pronounced dead after the Los Angeles Fire Department transferred him to a nearby hospital, Officer Sara Faden of the Los Angeles Police Department told The Washington Post. Cornelius was 75. The cause of death was a self-inflicted gunshot wound said Los Angeles County Assistant Chief Coroner Ed Winter.

View Photo Gallery: The legendary music show host was found dead at his home in Sherman Oaks, Calif.

Cornelius launched “Soul Train” in Chicago in 1970 and it quickly became a seminal part of black culture, featuring the hottest music, fashion and dancing. He hosted the show until 1993 and in addition to his mellifluous voice and of-the-moment style, he became known for his signature sign-off: "I'm Don Cornelius, and as always in parting, we wish you love, peace and soooooouuuuullllllll."
Washingtonians reacted to his death with sadness and surprise.
Nizam Ali, 41, son of Ben Ali, founder of Ben’s Chilli Bowl, was making change for the breakfast crew when he got a CNN alert that Cornelius was dead.  “My immediate reaction was just kind of disbelief, hearing he was gone. Then  I just had instant memories,” Ali says. Soul Train had such an “impact on all African Americans really, of our generation. We’d watch and catch up on the latest dance moves. [Cornelius] was probably one of the coolest guys on television. He had that rich deep voice. It was never flamboyant, never egotistical.”

WHUR-FM radio personality Triscina Grey got a call from her husband as she was preparing for her 10 a.m. show, and choked up as she thought about Cornelius and everything he meant to black America and to her personally. “He’s so visible in my mind. It’s just that deep voice, that perfect afro, and he was always so cool and suave and unflappable.  ‘Soul Train’ was such a significant part of my development, Grey said.  “It was a a Saturday thing, either you did the housecleaning before or after but you know you had to be there in front of that television.