Soul Train Host, Don Cornelius Commits Suicide

By Osagie Alonge

Television show host and producer Donald Cortez ‘Don’ Cornelius, creator of the long-running TV dance show Soul Train is dead. State Police have confirmed the actor shot himself.
Don Cornelius, 75, was found dead at his Mulholland Drive home at around 9AM according to the shooting report made by the Police.
He was then pronounced dead 50 minutes later at Cedars-Sinai Medical Centre, Los Angeles County Assistant Chief Coroner Ed Winter disclosed.
‘Soul Train’ debuted as a local TV show in Chicago, 1970 and aired nationally from 1976 to 2006. The last award show was held in 2007. Cornelius was the first host and executive producer.
The awards show was planning a return after the hiatus where veteran singers such as Babyface, Chaka Khan and Charlie Wilson will be honoured on the two-hour music special to be taped in Atlanta, US.
Actors Taraji P. Henson and Terrence Howard will co-host the awards show which is scheduled to air November 29 on Centric — a new channel jointly operated by the BET and MTV Networks divisions of Viacom.