"Soul Train" creator Don Cornelius found dead in apparent suicide

Robert Jordan, WGN Staff

WGN News

12:50 p.m. CST, February 1, 2012

SHERMAN OAKS, Calif.— Don Cornelius, who famously created "Soul Train", was found dead in his Sherman Oaks, California home this morning.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ it appears he committed suicide.

Cornelius died from a gunshot wound to the head and officials believe the wound was self-inflicted.

WGN-TV was told Cornelius was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Don Cornelius was born in Chicago and began his career at WVON Radio.

He came to fame at a moment when the music world was as divided as the social politics of the time. Yet Cornelius and the "Soul Train" program he hosted were loved by black and white audiences alike -- loyal viewers who watched every show.

"The kids didn't have this racial thing. They wanted the beebop, they wanted the rock," former WVON deejay Bill Crane told WGN.

Crane says "Soul Train" was a crossover program. "The white kids enjoyed seeing that kind of dancing, and being exposed to that," he says.

"Soul Train became a worldwide hit seen by audiences across the globe who did not speak English but loved to watch the "Soul Train" dancers.

"You wanted to be on 'Soul Train' if you were an entertainer," former WGN personality Merri Dee said. "If you had a record, if you had anything, you wanted your face on 'Soul Train'."

Don Cornelius was 75-years-old.

Please read complete article with photos at link below:


http://www.wgntv.com/news/wgntv-don-cornelius-found-dead-in-home-feb1,0,1281139.story


Editor's note: RIP Don.  "The day the music died".  Lucius Verenus, Schoolmaster, ProbateSharks.com