Around 4am this morning police in California found legendary host & producer Don Cornelius' body in his home. The body was found with one gunshot wound to the head which appears to be self inflicted. Law enforcement contacted Don's family shortly after. Though a tragic death brought his life to an end, his contributions to this world and music through Soul Train are limitless.
Don Cornelius was born in Chicago, IL. A love for soul music and journalism led him to create Soul Train, one of the most legendary and recognized shows on television. Soul Train ran for 35 yrs. on aire. Don Cornelius hosted and served as executive producer from 1971- 2006. The show opener once boasted it is the "longest-running, first-run, nationally syndicated program in television history." and this is true. The only show to be anywhere near Soul Train's record is Entertainment Tonight, which will have the opportunity to take the lead.. in 2016.
It has been said for years that Mr. Cornelius who coined the term, "Love, Peace, and Soul" suffered from mental illness, but it was never clarified as to what illness he actually was enduring. The creator of the legendary music broadcast Soul Train divorced his wife in 2010 and pleaded with the judge to make it quick as he was suffering from some mental illness and wanted to divorce her before he died.
Mr. Cornelius was 75 yrs. old. As I always say as a Psych major, mental illness is SO real. Get help if you need it. It doesnt make you any crazier than going to the doctor when youre sick does. Many celebs have taken to their twitter pages to share memories, and pay respect to the great legend who gave soul music a platform before anyone really would.
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