Farewell, Don Cornelius

The host and creator of "Soul Train" died today of an apparent suicide. He was 75. "Soul Train" was a Saturday ritual in the 1970s for anyone born in mid-50s or after. Read more here.

Comments

[pellboy]

Appreciate the timely post, BtR. Was a huge fan of Mr.Cornelius and his show growing up during its heyday in the mid-70s. The dancing and outfits were amazing and the acts they had perform including non-traditional ST artists like Elton John, David Bowie and Gino Vanelli were stellar. And unlike its more mainstream predecessor, AB, most played live. Love, Peace and Soul to you, Don.

[bob]

Hard to feel bad for a wife beater.

[Rick]

ST turned me onto a lot of acts that would've taken me years to otherwise discover. However, after the earliest years, it should've been re-titled 'Disco Train.'

And the article's correct in that the real attraction of the show was the dancers.

[Vibiana]

God rest his SOOOOOOUUUUUUUUUULLLLLLLLLLLL

[TC]

"The hippest trip in America" 60 minutes across the tracks of your mind!

[wadkc]

Soul Train had such a big impact on my life. As a white kid growing up in the seventies, I watched it religiously to learn all the cool funk bands and dance moves. That's where I learned my rhythm and groove for the dance floor. While all the guys were standing around against the wall, I was on the floor dancing with all the girls, doing the "Rerun", popping & locking, and trying to imulate a young Michael Jackson. Hey, it got me a 3 show run on American Bandstand!

I'm still a dancer and a soul lover and to that I owe a lot to Don and the show.

[Geordan]

Like those who have posted here, "Soul Train" was part of my youth as well, as was American Bandstand, The Midnight Special, and Don Kirshner's Rock Concert, who all seemed to combine Rock and Soul on the same show. I also loved how the AM radio stations of my youth would mix Rock, R&B, and even some Country. You could hear Queen, Elton John, and Steely Dan, mixed in with The O'Jays, Diana Ross, and Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes, all on the same point on the dial. It was a great way for a young mind to experience and soak up a nice palette of Popular Music.

Dick Clark was a great host, although a little bit square and Wolfman Jack kinda scared me as a child, but Don Cornelius, at least the on-air personality we saw, was the coolest. One of the last times I ever saw "Soul Train," Don was interviewing Salt-N-Pepa and he spoke to both of them while DJ Spinderella was in the background behind the turntables. When he was done interviewing Salt & Pepa, he looked back and muttered, almost under his breath, ".....and look at you back there, Spinderella, with your fine self." It made me laugh and also made me realize that I could only aspire to being that suave. RIP, Don.