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Soul Train’s Don Cornelius Dead at 75; Appears to be Suicide
The king of Soul Train is with us no more. Don Cornelius was found dead in his home in Sherman Oaks, California this morning. Police say it appears that he killed himself.
TMZ is reporting that police found the body around 4 am PT and that he’d died from a gunshot wound to the head. Police believe the wound was self-inflicted, indicating suicide. Cornelius was rushed to the hospital, but pronounced dead on arrival.
Cornelius started the show “Soul Train” virtually on his own in 1971. The show ran until 2006 and for many years defined black style and entertainment.
Cornelius was born in Chicago and one of the early employees of the historic WVON radio station. He gave exposure to numerous black entertainers, including James Brown, Aretha Franklin and many others. He was known for his smooth style and catch phrases, such as “… and you can bet your last money, it’s all gonna be a stone gas, honey! I’m Don Cornelius, and as always in parting, we wish you love, peace and soul!”
In the video below, Dr. Boyce Watkins and Yvette Carnell discuss the legacy of Don Cornelius and Soul Train:
33 Responses to Soul Train’s Don Cornelius Dead at 75; Appears to be Suicide
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Pws40
February 5, 2012 at 6:12 am
He was killed. It was covered up. I hope family hire their own detective to investigate.
Stacey G.
February 2, 2012 at 3:59 pm
RIP DON. WE WILL MISS YOU.WE’LL SEE YOU AGAIN
Ola
February 2, 2012 at 12:11 pm
Bless his soul.I was born in England but my younger days spent in Nigeria glued to the TV to watch Soul Train. I am 47 years old and sad to hear the news, currently in Paris.
Peace and Love To Don.
vee
February 2, 2012 at 2:16 am
We do not know the pain he had to bear with his illness. We trust in God that his soul is healed and that he rest in peace.
Mama Ayana
February 2, 2012 at 1:22 am
Shocked with disbelief I feel to know that Don Cornelius is no longer here with us in the flesh,but his spirit will definitely live on. Through all the seasons of prosperity he brought us through music, dance , and song. Your spirit lives on and will never ever be forgotten. May you Rest In Peace. THANK You for sharing your legacy of Soul with the masses of the World. May you be in the Kingdom of Heaven and let your flesh now rest and your spirit live on. We love you Don!!! It was a honor to be part of your vehicle of love you shared with us all. You will surely be missed! Much love, Peace and Soul!!!!!
Papa Laka
February 2, 2012 at 1:09 am
It looks like murder!
Ginny B.
February 2, 2012 at 1:06 am
They say it appears to be suicide. Who knows if it really was or someone wanted it to appear that way?
Sharla B.
February 1, 2012 at 11:14 pm
Thanks for the funk that you brought my way. RIP!
SenegalStyle
February 1, 2012 at 10:08 pm
I hate to bring this up but didn’t he have a domestic abuse charge against him about 6 months ago? Was he scheduled to go to jail?
All his friends would be there… I hope that’s not the reason he shot himself, if that were the case.
Another thing, for some reason I’m thinking this is very much like the Gary Coleman case. White woman involved in the murder of famous black celebrity (the women he supposedly assaulted was white). I wonder if this is just another cover up like the Gary Coleman murder?
Jermaine
February 2, 2012 at 1:49 am
Ok. It dosen’t make it any easier, but at least, If what you are saying is true, gives me some kind of ‘sense’ of why The Coolist Brother in the World,Tall Dark and inimitably Don, would shoot himself in the head??? Nobody Flowed like Don Cornielus. Don did more for US than you think. We could Define Ourselves on Soul Train without anyone doing it for us. I THANK YOU D. I have a Heavy Heart upon me today because you are gone. You made it a better place with your presence.
Jodi
February 4, 2012 at 1:49 am
I believe you are right about the foul play aspect. A white woman can do things and white men will cover for her. Don Cornelius DID NOT commit suicide.
Darryl "Mac" McKinney
February 1, 2012 at 10:06 pm
Brother Don,
I’m so glad Chicago got to celebrate with you in
Millineum Park your legacy and vision. For those of us there, we formed one of the longest Soul Train lines, ever! (…short ones, too)
RIP, my Brother…and in parting, “Love, Peace, and S-O-U-L !!
DMac
Rita
February 1, 2012 at 8:50 pm
Don Cornielus death serves as clear reminder of how vital it is to keep God in our lives. Heres a man with everything a person could desire. Money, fame, various possesions. But underneath it all he was so unhappy that he ended his own life. God’s love provides you reason to live on, helps you to find joy in any circumstance, helps you weather any trial in life. I pray we take a lesson from this tragedy.
gina
February 1, 2012 at 8:46 pm
It is sad u never kno wht a person is goin through
Charles Curry
February 1, 2012 at 6:36 pm
It could very well have been an accident.
Of course we may never know but people don’t realize the importance of handling fire arms safely.
Either way it’s tragic and nothing can bring him back.
RIP
Anthony Banks
February 1, 2012 at 6:22 pm
My Heart and prayers go up to the Lord on behalf of Brother Don Cornelius.Yes the Lord forbids us from taking our own life,but he is a loving and forgiving GOD.He is not like man.His ways and thoughts and compassion are above mans. My prayer is that the LORD will forgive the brother of all his unrightousness and welcome him into the Kingdom of salvation for his names sake.I pray the brother sought forgiveness for what he was about to do from our LORD and just like the sinner on the cross, asked the lord for forgivness and to remember him.We serve an awesome GOD.
Unknown
February 1, 2012 at 4:59 pm
Sorry but no one finds peace when they commit suicide. The Bible says “thou shall not kill”, and that includes yourself. You can’t say “Lord forgive me for what I’m about to do”, shoot yourself,then expect to get into Heaven. People like to think EVERYBODY goes to heaven unless they were a mass murderer or rapist. Sin is sin. People wanna say “God this” and “God that”, “yes I believe in God,hallelujah,Jesus,God is waiting for you in Heaven”,but they find every excuse in the book to ignore what God actually says in his Word. If you kill someone,including yourself,and you don’t repent and seek God’s forgiveness,you don’t make it to Heaven when you die. But of course when you commit suicide, you don’t have a chance to repent. Sad to say,but Don Cornelius is not with the Lord.
marcus davis
February 1, 2012 at 4:44 pm
b****y h**l ! another icon gone
Hyacinth C. Ahuruonye, CPA
February 1, 2012 at 4:08 pm
Very sad and unfortunate. Unbelievable!
DON, thank you for the MEMORIES. Don preached PEACE, LOVE and HAPPINESS. He was definitely loved and respected by so many people all over the world. I hope that he finds peace and happiness.
khaleedahmukhammad
February 1, 2012 at 4:07 pm
So Sad to hear!! Soul Train was a part of so many of our lives. He will be missed. Our condolences to his family. He was a LEGEND
TIMM DAWG
February 1, 2012 at 4:01 pm
ABSOLUTELY, POSITIVELY LOVED DA DON!!! LUVED HIM! LUVED HIM! LUVED HIM!!!……TRAGIC ENDING TO A LIFE THAT OFFERED SO MUCH TO OUR COMMUNITY AND CULTURE. SOMETHING HOWEVER SEEMS FISHY ABOUT THIS – A 75 YEAR OLD COMMITTING SUICIDE??? I MEAN THINK ABOUT THAT! YOU’VE LIVED AN ENTIRE LIFE OF 75 YEARS ONLY TO COMMIT SUICIDE AT THE END OF IT?- DOESN’T MAKE SENSE. I THINK THERE IS SOMETHING THAT IS YET TO BE DISCOVERED. I AM SUSPECTING PERHAPS FOUL PLAY MAY HAVE BEEN INVOLVED.
MSFLO
February 1, 2012 at 4:00 pm
If you have not walk in my shoes, you don’t know how my feet felt……………………..So tragic but we don’t know and will never know. So let us just appreciate his great work. This is Black History Month. He certainly played his part in it well……….LOVE PEACE SOUL
Jermaine
February 1, 2012 at 3:56 pm
This has me floored. All I can ask is why????This futher confirms how you just Never know what’s going on in another persons life by what you see on the surface. I love the memories Don gave me. I appreciate the way he flowed as a Black Man. I am so saddened by this. The MOST we can do now is pray for his family. This is affecting me in a way that I did not expect. Don Corneilus and suicide don’t go together for me. This is a very sad day.
Rita
February 1, 2012 at 3:55 pm
WHAT A LOST!! SO MANY MEMORIES WITH WATCHING SOUL TRAIN. I FEEL LIKE A PIECE OF ME IS GONE RIP DON WE’LL MISS YOU. LOVE PEACE AND SOUL IN YOUR REST.
Vee
February 1, 2012 at 3:52 pm
Until there’s a formal investigation and autopsy, I’m not going to believe that he’s taken his own life. The report said the police “believed” it was a suicide. Pure speculation. I can only pray for his soul right now and his family left behind. You will be missed Don. Thanks for making my childhood weekends the most fun ever.
Loretta
February 1, 2012 at 3:43 pm
“Love Peace & Soul” RIP Don Cornelius, thanks for everything!
Jay
February 1, 2012 at 3:30 pm
I think UnSung is bad luck, is it just me, but has anyone notice that a lot of famous people who appear on the show is dead a short time later. I just seen Don Cornelius on this latest UnSung and now he’s dead. Sad.
tmf
February 1, 2012 at 3:25 pm
It is sad that this man had to end his life this way after giving our community so much. Thanks Don.
Glenn Krasner
February 1, 2012 at 3:25 pm
This is terrible news! Mr. Cornelius was a media pioneer, and I don’t know how he became so despondent to do this. He is admired by millions, like me, who grew up watching “Soul Train”, and was one of the richest men in America, owning dozens of radio and tv stations. Mr. Cornelius, thanks for giving us much joy, and I hope you are in a happier place now! Glenn – Bronx, NY
Riley
February 1, 2012 at 3:10 pm
Another icon of American History and Culture. Whatever tormented him to do such a thing? I hope those demons are laid to rest and that he has found peace. My condolences to his family and loved ones.
Rose
February 1, 2012 at 8:53 pm
It does not matter how much money you have, how many so called friends, lonliness is a B…h.
I pray to God that I never get so lonely that I take my life. I am so sorry that no one seemed to be there for Don. No one was tuned in to his life and what was happening to him. The lesson is be a friend to whomever you can. Stay tuned in to their vibe and be there when things do not look good. Communicate regularly with relatives and Be a Real Friend.
BRANDII ALIZE' HAYNES-WRIGHT
February 1, 2012 at 3:06 pm
R.I.P. DON CORNELIUS!!! YOU WILL SURELY BE MISSED!
Sandra Akins
February 1, 2012 at 2:34 pm
OMG this is so unthinkable, the man who had my undivided attention every Saturday as a teen growing up and learning the newest dance crave to my ever growing mind. This is a tremendous loss to so many of us and his dedication to making a mainstay of the world will never be forgotten.Thanks Mr. Cornelius for inspiring so many to act out on their dream of stardom and make it on your stage. RIP