Don Cornelius is dead from a self inflicted gunshot to the head. He was 75 years old. Don Cornelius had a long list of medical problems and constant pain.
Divorce, a stroke and a condition requiring brain surgery plagued Cornelius. He saw one way out.
Yes this death is sad, but it’s not the whole story.
Los Angeles County Jail is a place of factions between groups, it is now and it was back in the 80’s. As a young Deputy working Custody Division ‘off the street’ one Saturday in a General population dorm, I saw something absolutely mind boggling to me.
‘La Eme’ members, Crips, Bloods, 18th Street and assorted other thugs all stopped trying to scam, fight and kill each other to watch Soul Train.
Soul Train has crossed over not only in American culture bringing a ‘black’ and a ‘white’ America closer and stitching together many of the open wounds of the Civil Rights Era, but it is in syndication World Wide, in fact Soul Train is the longest running TV show in broadcasting history. Don Cornelius started Soul Train with $400 dollars, a few nice suits and a vision.
It was Don Cornelius who made ‘Soul Music’ a world-wide music genre. After Don Cornelius’ Soul Train went national, Soul Music was not just a black medium for black artists. It was Don Cornelius who introduced ‘Blue-Eyed’ Soul artists on Soul Train starting in 1975.
The list of non-black performers include but is not limited to: Gino Vannelli, Elton John, Average White Band, Frankie Valli, Teena Marie, Yellow Magic Orchestra, Michael McDonald, The Manhattan Transfer, The Romantics, Sheena Easton, Don Henley, Spandau Ballet, Beastie Boys, Paula Abdul, Michael Bolton and Christine Aguilera to name a few. Don Cornelius also had dancers discovered on the Soul Train line that became famous including Rosie Perez.
Soul Train had a run of 35 years on TV before it went into syndication. No TV show in America or Internationally has had a run like that. Even DJ’s and Comedians made an appearance on Soul Train including Rick Dees and Richard Pryor. Don Cornelius got his Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1997. Don Cornelius is a Veteran of the Korean War.
“NewsOne's Don Charnas remembered. Once, James Brown -- then the biggest name in soul music -- wondered how Cornelius would succeed.
"Who's backing you on this?" he asked Cornelius repeatedly.
"It's just me, James," Cornelius answered.”
As the Righteous Brothers, Bill Medley and Bobby Hatfield put it;
“If you believe in forever
Then life is just a one-night stand
If there's a rock and roll heaven
Well you know they've got a hell of a band, band, band”
Now the zealots and the hypocrites with their pseudo-religion and judgment can kiss my ass if attempting to assign anyone a place in the afterlife, but Don Cornelius is now MC of the greatest after life line up of entertainers that have passed from time into eternity.
Imagine Don Cornelius introducing Michael Jackson and Elvis Presley on the same stage with Janis Joplin, Amy Winehouse and Etta James.
To All Who Read This Tribute, in the words of Don Cornelius, “and as always in parting, we wish you love, peace... and SOUL!"
RJ
Citations and Sources
http://thehappeningz.blogspot.com/2012/01/are-we-going-crazy-mental-illness.html
Nicely done RJ, nicely done. I too as a child watched Soul Train. His chices for entertainment were right on point. His show , with his vigor, made people of all types enjoy the music. For what is music but another artists way of conveying messages, feelings,a way to express in a form soothing to the ear and the mind. Mr. Cornelius brought all that and more into our lives, and even in death, still does so. Like all those in the music industry that passed before him, I salute for a job well done.
ReplyDeleteCR from SL
Recently I blogged, "Are We Going Crazy" and dealt with something few people commented on because it kind of hits everyone in some way. Don Cornelius was dealing with some very bad issues in his life that piled up pretty high. But I learned from his life to find a passion for something and live out life sharing that passion, these talents and this existence for all its worth.
DeleteTo All Who Love Music: Do something this day to remember Don Cornelius. Like listening to Soul Music or the Comedy of the entertainers he had come to the show like Richard Pryor and Robert Townsend. Also spread the word about this blog and if you have an opinion, share it.
ReplyDeletethere is a tribute at the APOLLO for Don Cornelius. Soul has lost its frontman.
ReplyDeleteSOUL TRAIN LIVES FOREVER IN SYNDICATION! But you can also go to youtube and pick out specific shows. To find the date based on the artists you want to watch go to wikipedia and look up SOUL TRAIN.
ReplyDelete