A Salute to Don Cornelius!

On February first I was at my desk checking out Twitter instead of working when I saw a tweet  that said  Soul Train creator and host Don Cornelius had died at age 75. What was more shocking was that he had taken his own life with a self inflicted gun shot to the head.  

You would have had to been under a rock for that last 36 years not to know how important Don Cornelius and Soul Train is to the music world.  Soul Train changed music television and paved the way for so many music programs that focused on black entertainment.  Before BET and all these music videos Soul Train was the place to see hottest  R &B, and HIP HOP entertainers.    I still have found memories of getting up on Saturday Mornings watching Soul Train. Who could forget the funky soul train  dancers, the crazy outfits,  the legendary Soul Train line and the coolness that was Don Cornelius.   Every Saturday he took us on the hippest trip in America.    Everybody is stunned at what the loss of Mr. Cornelius. 

“It’s just so sad, stunning and downright shocking and a huge and momentous loss to the African-American community and the world at large,"  The Queen of Soul,  Aretha Franklin said. "Don Cornelius single-handedly brought about a melding and unity of brother and sisterhood among young adults worldwide and globally with the unforgettable creation of Soul Train.”

The Rev. Al Sharpton, had similar sentiments.

"He brought soul music and dance to the world in a way that it had never been shown and he was a cultural game changer on a global level. Had it not been for Don Cornelius we would not have ever transcended from the Chitlin circuit to become mainstream cultural trendsetters."

"I am shocked and deeply saddened at the sudden passing of my friend, colleague, and business partner Don Cornelius," said Quincy Jones. "Don was a visionary pioneer and a giant in our business. Before MTV there was 'Soul Train,' that will be the great legacy of Don Cornelius. His contributions to television, music and our culture as a whole will never be matched. My heart goes out to Don's family and loved ones."

Rest in Peace Mr. Cornelius and thank you for bringing love peace and soul to television. Soul Train goes down in history as the longest running syndicated music program. It was on the air for 36 years and spun off the Soul Train awards which air every year on BET and Centric.