Don Cornelius, the creator and longtime host of the musical variety show Soul Train, died early Wednesday morning of a gunshot wound to the head. The 75-year-old was found dead in his Sherman Oaks, California home by paramedics and police officers responding to a 911 call. L.A. Coroner Assistant Chief Ed Winter tells People magazine the gunshot wound appeared to be self-inflicted. Cornelius’ death is under investigation.
"Earlier this morning, paramedics had responded to his L.A. residence at the 12,600 block of Mulholland Drive. He was transported to the emergency room at Cedars-Sinai Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 4:56 a.m.,” Winter told People magazine.
Cornelius’ close friend and business partner Quincy Jones released a statement on his death. "I am shocked and deeply saddened at the sudden passing of my friend, colleague, and business partner Don Cornelius. 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,” Jones said.
Cornelius was an insurance salesman and worked in Chicago radio before he financed the Soul Train pilot with his own money in 1969. The show was picked up by a local TV station the following year and syndicated nationally in 1971. Soul Train initially featured only R&B and soul artists like Aretha Franklin and Smokey Robinson, but later expanded to include rock, jazz, rap, disco and gospel artists.
Cornelius served as host until 1993, but he remained involved behind the scenes until Soul Train ended in 2006. Soul Train introduced the annual Soul Train Music Awards in 1987 and later created the Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards and the Soul Train Christmas Starfest. Cornelius has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and was inducted into the Broadcasting and Cable Hall of Fame in 1995.
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