'Soul Train' founder Don Cornelius dead of gunshot wound

**fuego** · 02-01-2012, 03:46 PM

# NEW: Police believe gunshot wound to his head was self-inflicted, coroner says
# Sharpton: Without him, "we would not have ever transcended from the Chitlin circuit"
# Quincy Jones calls Cornelius a "visionary pioneer and a giant in our business"
# Cornelius used his own money to launch "Soul Train" in 1970

Los Angeles (CNN) -- Don Cornelius, the founder of the "Soul Train" television show, was found dead of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound to his head Wednesday, authorities said. He was 75.

Cornelius died of a gunshot wound at a house on Mulholland Drive, said Los Angeles police Officer Tenesha Dodine. Police responded to the call about 4 a.m. (7 a.m. ET), Dodine said.

Cornelius was pronounced dead at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, according to Lt. Larry Dietz of the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office.

Los Angeles police investigators reported to the coroner that Cornelius died from a "self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head," coroner's Assistant Chief Ed Winter said. The coroner's office will perform an autopsy to confirm the cause of death.

Cornelius created a pilot for "Soul Train" using $400 of his own money, according to the website biography.com. The show was named after a promotional event he put together in 1969, the site said...

Authorities: 'Soul Train' founder dead of gunshot wound - CNN.com

**Firebrand** · 02-01-2012, 04:03 PM

Believed to be a suicide. Good grief. I'd have figured he had everything going on....but then, if it isnt a suicide it's very likely he messed with the wrong brothers.

**CatchyUsername** · 02-01-2012, 04:13 PM

That's terrible! Oh my goodness.

May the Lord minister peace to his family, no matter what the circumstances! Here's to ya, Don!

**Firebrand** · 02-01-2012, 04:17 PM

Souuuuuuuuullllllll Trainnnnnnnn!!!!!

**CatchyUsername** · 02-01-2012, 04:22 PM

PEACE....LUUUUUUUUUUUUVVVV...AND.....

SOOOOOOOOOOOOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUL!

**LadyP** · 02-01-2012, 04:40 PM

**LadyP** · 02-01-2012, 04:52 PM

This is my first using my phone to post on the Forum and it will be the last. I have no idea what buttons I've mistakenly hit. But when I heard about Don Cornelius, I wanted to check in and share in the good memories. See y'all later.

**Firebrand** · 02-01-2012, 04:55 PM

Originally Posted by LadyP

This is my first using my phone to post on the Forum and it will be the last. I have no idea what buttons I've mistakenly hit. But when I heard about Don Cornelius, I wanted to check in and share in the good memories. See y'all later.

Seems to be working quite well.

**revkev** · 02-01-2012, 08:29 PM

Maybe he was sick or something.

**LadyP** · 02-02-2012, 04:14 AM

Originally Posted by revkev

Maybe he was sick or something.

Yes, he was. I read that he'd had a stroke a few years ago, and was in a great deal of pain. One of the reports said he made a morbid reference to his death a couple of years ago when he and his second wife were divorcing.

We never know what people are suffering. But suicide is not the answer. I don't know if he was saved. I've heard no references to him being a spiritual or religious man. Maybe it'll come out later. I wish he had not chosen to go out like this. He made history and a lot of musicians made it big because of him. This is just very, very, sad.