Don Cornelius who went from a part-time news announcer on AM radio in Chicago to become an icon of American television, died of an apparent suicide at his home in Sherman Oaks, California this past week. His career will continue to be an example of great accomplishment that can inspire us personally and professionally.
“Soul Train,” the show Cornelius pioneered and which made him a legend in the music industry, introduced such artists as Smokey Robinson, James Brown, and Aretha Franklin to American television viewers.
Cornelius, who was 75, opened a door for hundreds of Afro-American artists. Once they walked through that door, American culture would never be the same.
Cornelius created a counterpart to Dick Clark’s “American Bandstand. In 1984 he said that “We took the 'Bandstand' format and gave it another look, created another character. We have white viewers, of course, but it wasn't practical to sell the show in areas of low black population. Some of our sponsors were definitely looking for the black audience."
Cornelius also served as a role model with his distinctive form of self-respect and entrepreneurship.
Some comments on Cornelius in recent days:
Patti LaBelle: “Simply a genius.”
Aretha Franklin: “Don Cornelius single handedly brought about a melding and unity of brother and sisterhood among young adults worldwide and globally with the unforgettable creation of Soul Train.”
Russell Simmons: “To me, he was the epitome of black excellence. Words cannot describe how much he meant and how many ways he contributed to the landscape of hip-hop and R&B.”
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