Don Cornelius, Soul Train Creator Suicide
The first day of Black History month adds another legend to its hall of American History, the death of Don Cornellus. He creatd one of America's long-running TV dance shows, "Soul Train". The show began in 1970 in Chicago then went into syndication for 35 years, beginning in 1971.
Mr. Cornelius could be considered the genious behind the format of many reality based music programs during the next decades after the creation of "Soul Train". The show was primarily African Americans musicians with an audience that danced to the live music for television audiences. Targeted audiences was a mixed crowd of teenagers to young adults both as audience members and viewers.
Pop culture and the business of entertainment on television took on a new look and market for advertisers after Don Cornelius became a TV icon. Of course, there was American Bandstand on television, but the difference between the shows is mostly it was the forerunner of musicians and public audiences of all nationalities sharing the television spotlight together, unlike American Bandstand, that would not enlist African American's and or mixed audiences until after the success or competition of Soul Train. The fact is record sales and the music business market boomed because of the "Soul Train." Even more, the music featured on the show was more R&B and later R&B and crossover and rap unlike predominately pop music which dominated the production of American Bandstand.
Many of the top stars graced the stages of "Soul Train" for its inception. The Jackson 5, James Brown, Tina Turner, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Aretha Frankin were all major world reknown artists that regularly appeared over the years, some before their own deaths. The show was an important platform for newly signed artist to perform as opening acts even for some of the bigger named stars. Don Cornelius, famous for his sign off tagline of, "We wish you peace, love and... souullll", was in his Sherman Oaks, California home early February 1, 2012 dead with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. Don Cornelius was only 75 years old. To view more than 18 pages of Don Cornelius, the "Soul Train" audience and star guest in action, view the link below. Very informative:
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