Don Cornelius, creator of the long-running TV dance show
"Soul Train," shot himself to death Wednesday morning at
his LA home, police said. He was 75.

Officers responding to a report of a shooting found
Cornelius at his Mulholland Drive home at around
4 a.m., police said. He was pronounced dead of a
self-inflicted gunshot wound at 4:56 a.m. at
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, said LA County Assistant
Chief Coroner Ed Winter.

"Soul Train" began in 1970 in Chicago on WCIU-TV
as a local program and aired nationally from 1971
to 2006.

It introduced television audiences to such legendary
artists as Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye and Barry White
and brought the best R&B, soul and later hip-hop acts
to TV and had teenagers dance to them. It was one of
the 1st shows to showcase African-Americans prominently,
although the dance group was racially mixed. Cornelius was
the first host and executive producer.

Cornelius, who was inducted into the Broadcasting and
Cable Hall of Fame in 1995 and has a star on the
Hollywood Walk of Fame, said in 2006 he remained
grateful to the musicians who made "Soul Train" the
destination for the best and latest in black music.

Cornelius stepped down as "Soul Train" host in 1993.

In his later years, Cornelius had a troubled marriage.
In 2009, he was sentenced to three years' probation
after pleading no contest to misdemeanor spousal
battery. In his divorce case that year, he also
mentioned having significant health issues.

_________________
Sailin' on a BW midnight boat, their were no questions asked.
Waters so green and the air was so clean Matt stuck right to
his task.

Oh I'm just dreamin'... my life Away

Godspeed. When I was a kid Soul Train was part of my weekend TV viewing.

_________________
Jeff Downer
Bail Bond Agent Indianapolis IN
http://jeffdownerbailbonds.com

Magic Johnson looks to resurrect 'Soul Train'

Now that's he's backing a new cable channel,
Magic Johnson aims to bring resurrect ''Soul Train''.

According to The AP, the ex-NBA star is looking at concepts for
reviving the retro musical variety show that broke racial barriers
and became a massive sensation in syndication. Soul Train, which
ran from 1970 through 2006, was the brainchild of creator-host
Don Cornelius, who died Feb. 1st of an apparently self-inflicted
gunshot wound.

Johnson is the brand-new boss of a cable network, dubbed
''Aspire'', set to launch this summer. In an announcement
Tuesday, Comcast said it will carry the channel along with
other TV ventures backed by Sean "Diddy" Combs and director
Robert Rodriguez.

In 2011, his Magic Johnson Enterprises and Ron Burkle's Yucaipa
Cos. purchased a stake in Vibe Holdings, the parent company of
Soul Train Holdings; the group was created in 2008, when Cornelius
sold the franchise to MadVision Entertainment and private-equity
firm InterMedia Partners.

"Certainly we want to proceed in a way that will highlight the
contribution of Don (Cornelius) to the creation of the brand
and it's subsequent impact on American culture," Kenard Gibbs,
CEO of Soul Train Holdings, recently told The Hollywood Reporter
of opportunities to expand Soul Train with a possible film, musical
and TV show.

_________________
Sailin' on a BW midnight boat, their were no questions asked.
Waters so green and the air was so clean Matt stuck right to
his task.

Oh I'm just dreamin'... my life Away