Don Cornelius committed suicide today

[Savwafair2012 Profile]

Don Cornelius -- who famously created "Soul Train" was found dead in his Sherman Oaks, CA home this morning ... and law enforcement sources tell us it appears he committed suicide.

We're told cops discovered the body at around 4 AM PT. Law enforcement sources tell us ... Cornelius died from a gunshot wound to the head and officials believe the wound was self-inflicted





I personaly saw this guy about a year ago getting out of a newer model Rolls Royce walking into a AA meeting . No I was upstairs finishing up my 8 hours of traffic school this place was on the conner of Pico and Barrington in West Los Angeles

[Evildweeb Profile]

RIP Soul Train founder Don Cornelius








by KingsWorldly on Feb 1, 2012

Don Cornelius, the South Side native who founded and hosted the iconic TV music and dance show "Soul Train," was found dead Wednesday morning at his home in Sherman Oaks, Calif.

The Los Angeles police say he died from a gunshot wound to the head, and TMZ reports that law enforcement sources say authorities believe it was self-inflicted.

He was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead after being found at 4 a.m.

Cornelius was 75 and had complained in court documents in Los Angeles during his 2009 divorce case of "significant health issues" and wanted to "finalize this divorce before I die," according to TMZ, which also said the longtime, popular TV host had health problems over the years including a stroke and brain surgery.

"Soul Train" premiered on WCIU-Channel 26 in 1969 and became a national sensation in 1971, when Cornelius moved to Los Angeles and put the show in syndication. It continued to air until 2006.

In 2008, Cornelius was charged with domestic violence, accused of beating his wife, and got three years of probation after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor charge. He was divorced in 2010.

Last September, 15,000 people came to Chicago's Millennium Park for the 40th anniversary "Soul Train" concert, and Cornelius was presented with an honorary "Don Cornelius Way" street sign before the concert — with the "Soul Train" logo — that's posted at the corner of Halsted and Madison, where Cornelius launched the show at WCIU.

"This is the biggest thing that ever happened to me," Cornelius, a DuSable High School product, said after being presented with the sign..

WBEZ-FM's Richard Steele told the crowd that "Soul Train" made people "proud to wear an afro.




http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLj0jU1Uqe0