Jump to content

Don Cornelius

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Don Cornelius
Cornelius in 1995
Born
Donald Cortez Cornelius

(1936-09-27)September 27, 1936
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
DiedFebruary 1, 2012(2012-02-01)(aged 75)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupation(s)Television host, producer
Years active1966–2012
TelevisionSoul Train
Spouses
Delores Harrison
​
​
(m.1956;div.1976)​
Viktoria Chapman
​
​
(m.2001;div.2009)​
Children2

Donald Cortez Cornelius(September 27, 1936 – February 1, 2012) was an American television show host and producer widely known as the creator of the nationally syndicated dance and music showSoul Train,which he hosted from 1970 until 1993. Cornelius sold the show to MadVision Entertainment in 2008. On November 3, 2023, he was posthumously inducted into theRock and Roll Hall of Famewith theAhmet ErtegunAward.[1]

Early life and career

[edit]

Cornelius was born onChicago's South Sideon September 27, 1936,[2]and raised in theBronzevilleneighborhood. After graduating fromDuSable High Schoolin 1954,[3]he joined theUnited States Marine Corpsand served for 18 months during theKorean War.[4]He worked at various jobs following his stint in the military, including sellingtires,automobiles,and insurance, and as anofficerwith theChicago Police Department.[5]He quit his day job to take a three-month broadcasting course in 1966, despite being married with two sons and having only $400 in hisbank account.[2]In 1966, he landed a job as an announcer, news reporter and disc jockey on Chicago radio stationWVON.

Cornelius joined Chicago television stationWCIU-TVin 1967 and hosted a news program calledA Black's View of the News.In 1970, he launchedSoul Trainon WCIU-TV as a daily local show. The program entered nationalsyndicationand moved to Los Angeles the following year.[6][7][8]Eddie Kendricks,Gladys Knight & the Pips,Bobby Hutton andHoney Conewere featured on the national debut episode.

Originally a journalist and inspired by thecivil rights movement,Cornelius recognized that in the late 1960s there were very few television venues in the United States forsoul music(at the time, only one series, the public television showSoul!,was focused on the genre). He introduced many African-American musicians to a larger audience as a result of their appearances onSoul Train,a program that was both influential among African-Americans and popular with a wider audience.[9][10]

As writer, producer, and host ofSoul Train,Cornelius was instrumental in offering wider exposure to black musicians such asJames Brown,Aretha Franklin,Marvin Gaye,andMichael Jackson,as well as creating opportunities for talented dancers, setting a precedent for popular television dance programs.[11]Cornelius said, "We had a show that kids gravitated to," andSpike Leedescribed the program as an "urban musictime capsule".[11]

With the creation ofSoul Train,Cornelius was at the helm of a program that showed African Americans in a new light, creating aBlack is Beautifulcampaign.[12]Prior toSoul Train,African Americans were only occasionally performing on TV, mostly as guests on white-centered programs.Soul Trainshowcased African American culture, and brought African American musicians and dancers to television.[13]The show's appeal to white audiences steadily grew and eventually earned a huge following.[14][15]

Cornelius (second from right) withThe Staple Singersduring production of a 1974 episode ofSoul Train.

Besides his smooth and deep voice and hisafro,which slowly shrank over the years as hairstyle tastes changed, Cornelius was best known for thecatchphrasethat he used to close the show: "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!" After Cornelius's departure, it was shortened to "and as always, we wish you love, peace and soul!" and it was used through the most recent new episodes in 2006. Another introductory phrase which he often used was: "We got another sound comin' out of Philly that's a sure 'nough dilly".

He had a small number of film roles, such as record producer Moe Fuzz in 1988'sTapeheadsand a fictional version of himself in 1987'sThe Return of Bruno,a mockumentary about fictional singer Bruno Radolini, portrayed byBruce Willis.In this doc Cornelius appears as the host of the localDetroitfunk-gospel based showBless My Soul,that presents Radolini's return to the stage with a duet together withThe Temptations.

Cornelius last appeared on the episode of the TV seriesUnsungfeaturingFull Force,which was aired two days before his death.

Controversy

[edit]

Arrest

[edit]

In October 2008, Cornelius was arrested at his Los Angeles home onMulholland Driveon afelonydomestic violencecharge.[16]He was released on bail. Cornelius appeared in court in November 2008, and was charged with spousal abuse and dissuading a witness from filing a police report.[17]Cornelius appeared in court again in December 2008, and pleaded not guilty to spousal abuse.[18]

He was banned from going near his estranged wife, Russian model Victoria Avila-Cornelius (Viktoria Chapman), who had obtained tworestraining ordersagainst him. In March 2009, he changed his plea tono contestand was placed on 36 months of probation.[19]

Sexual assault allegation

[edit]

In the 2022A&Edocumentary miniseriesSecrets of Playboy,Cornelius was accused of sexually assaulting twoPlayboybunnies in the 1970s. The women were alleged to have been brought to Cornelius's house for a three-day period where they were locked in separate rooms, bound, drugged and sexually assaulted. Cornelius's son, Tony, released a statement calling the allegation an "unbelievable story without real proof".[20][21]

Death

[edit]

At around 4 a.m.PSTon February 1, 2012, police were called to Cornelius's home in Los Angeles after reports of a shooting. He was found with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head and was taken toCedars-Sinai Medical Center,where he was pronounced dead at the age of 75.[2][22]

Anautopsyfound that Cornelius had been suffering from seizures during the last 15 years of his life, a complication of a 21-hour brain operation he underwent in 1982 to correct a congenital deformity in his cerebral arteries. He admitted that he was never quite the same after that surgery, and it was a factor in his decision to retire from hostingSoul Trainin 1993.[23][24]Cornelius's health took a further, sharp decline in the last six months of his life. FormerSoul TrainhostShemar Mooresuggested that he may have also been in the early stages ofdementiaorAlzheimer's diseaseby this point.[25][26]On the night of his suicide, Cornelius told his son in a phone call, "I don't know how much longer I can take this".[27]

References

[edit]
  1. ^"Missy, Willie and George Michael among Rock Hall inductees".www.vancouverisawesome.com.May 3, 2023.
  2. ^abcMcKinley Jr., James C. (February 1, 2012),"Don Cornelius, ‘Soul Train’ Creator, Is Dead",The New York Times.Retrieved January 8, 2018.
  3. ^"1954 Dusable High Yearbook".classmates.com.RetrievedJanuary 8,2018.
  4. ^Don Cornelius, American television host and producerEncyclopædia Britannica.Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  5. ^O'Donnell, Maureen. "'Soul Train' creator, South Side native Cornelius dead in suicide",Chicago Sun-Times,February 2, 2012. Retrieved January 8, 2018.
  6. ^"'Soul Train' host Don Cornelius dead of suicide | wwltv.com New Orleans ".Los Angeles, CA, USA:WWL-TV.Associated Press.February 1, 2012. Archived fromthe originalon March 1, 2014.RetrievedJanuary 12,2016.
  7. ^"Full Text of HR0190".Illinois General Assembly.RetrievedOctober 23,2008.
  8. ^"WVON History".WVON.Archivedfrom the original on April 30, 2008.RetrievedOctober 23,2008.
  9. ^Eric Deggans (February 1, 2012)."Soul Train creator Don Cornelius made an impact far beyond black America".Tampa Bay Times.RetrievedJanuary 8,2018.
  10. ^David Hinckley, "VH1's 'Hippest Trip' reveals how Don Cornelius put 'Soul Train' on the fast track",New York Daily News,February 5, 2010. Retrieved January 8, 2018.
  11. ^abBrian Stelter (June 17, 2008)."After 38 Years, 'Soul Train' Gets New Owner".The New York Times.RetrievedJanuary 8,2018.
  12. ^PBS
  13. ^Hartman Hermene (April 8, 2012)."The Soul Train Impact".HuffPost.RetrievedJanuary 8,2018.
  14. ^John Blake; Todd Leopold (February 1, 2012)."How Don Cornelius became the 'pope of soul'".CNN.RetrievedJanuary 8,2018.
  15. ^"Why Don Cornelius Matters".NPR.February 1, 2012.RetrievedJanuary 8,2018.
  16. ^Molly Hennessy-Fiske (October 19, 2008)."'Soul Train' creator arrested ".Los Angeles Times.RetrievedJanuary 8,2018.
  17. ^Marikar, Sheila."Don Cornelius' Suicide Reveals Troubled Life of 'Soul Train' Founder".abcnews.go.com.ABC News Internet Ventures.RetrievedJanuary 7,2020.
  18. ^Marikar, Sheila."Don Cornelius' Suicide Reveals Troubled Life of 'Soul Train' Founder".abcnews.go.com.ABC News Internet Ventures.RetrievedJanuary 7,2020.
  19. ^Marikar, Sheila."Don Cornelius' Suicide Reveals Troubled Life of 'Soul Train' Founder".abcnews.go.com.ABC News Internet Ventures.RetrievedJanuary 7,2020.
  20. ^Shewfelt, Rachael (February 2, 2022)."Don Cornelius accused of sexually assaulting 2 women in 'Secrets of Playboy'".Yahoo! News.RetrievedFebruary 22,2022.
  21. ^Kyler Alvord (January 31, 2022)."Soul Train Creator Don Cornelius Accused of Tying Up, Sexually Assaulting Playboy Bunnies in New Docuseries".People.RetrievedFebruary 2,2022.
  22. ^Kot, Greg; Metz, Nina (2012)."'Soul Train' creator Don Cornelius found dead ".Chicago Tribune.RetrievedJanuary 8,2018.
  23. ^Weiner, David (January 13, 2012)."Shemar Moore: Don Cornelius May Have Had Dementia".ETonline.com.RetrievedJanuary 8,2018.
  24. ^"Don Cornelius' Obituary".Last Word.BBC Radio 4. February 10, 2012.
  25. ^Weiner, David (January 13, 2012)."Shemar Moore: Don Cornelius May Have Had Dementia".ETonline.com.RetrievedJanuary 8,2018.
  26. ^"Don Cornelius' Obituary".Last Word.BBC Radio 4. February 10, 2012.
  27. ^"Don Cornelius Autopsy Report - 'I Don't Know How Long I Can Take This'".TMZ.April 24, 2012.RetrievedJanuary 8,2018.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Don_Cornelius&oldid=1240370255"