It's incredibly sad to think that Don or anyone could be so despondent or in so much pain that they would end their lives but we seldom know the extent of another person's suffering...my heart goes out to all who are touched by this tragedy. RIP.

It's hard to describe what Soul Train meant to us back in '71 when black folk on tv was still something of a novelty. We would occasionally see somebody on Ed Sullivan or American Bandstand, but having a weekly show that focused on people and aspects of black culture that you couldn't find anywhere else was huge!

Nowadays it's commonplace to see people of color on tv from Hollywood to Bollywood but Soul Train premiered in the immediate aftermath of the civl rights movement and was instrumental in reinforcing this very new idea that black was "beautiful."

There was no such thing as MTV, the internet or BET...hell, we had just gotten our first floor model color tv, and here was this smooth, articulate, dapper brotha, all of those hip kids with those cool afros and fly clothes doing all the latest dances, and Afro Sheen products were actually being advertised on tv...who'd a thunk it!

Before the electric slide, there was the Soul Train line...

A million thanks to Don for being the trailblazer and visionary that he was and for showcasing our culture on the world stage. No doubt his funeral will be huge considering the many whose careers were greatly enhanced just by appearing on his show.

It's amazing when you realized Don had to climb a lot of obstacles to achieve what he did. Sure there may have been shows that preceded the arrival of Soul Train but that show was the first to break the door down when other shows failed to do so.

God bless your soul Don Cornelius

All my favourite soul singers have graced your stage RIP Don

[img:$uid]http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa149/bellaowen/23w5y7s.jpg[/img:$uid]

babynoz said:

It's incredibly sad to think that Don or anyone could be so despondent or in so much pain that they would end their lives but we seldom know the extent of another person's suffering...my heart goes out to all who are touched by this tragedy. RIP.

It's hard to describe what Soul Train meant to us back in '71 when black folk on tv was still something of a novelty. We would occasionally see somebody on Ed Sullivan or American Bandstand, but having a weekly show that focused on people and aspects of black culture that you couldn't find anywhere else was huge!

Nowadays it's commonplace to see people of color on tv from Hollywood to Bollywood but Soul Train premiered in the immediate aftermath of the civl rights movement and was instrumental in reinforcing this very new idea that black was "beautiful."

There was no such thing as MTV, the internet or BET...hell, we had just gotten our first floor model color tv, and here was this smooth, articulate, dapper brotha, all of those hip kids with those cool afros and fly clothes doing all the latest dances, and Afro Sheen products were actually being advertised on tv...who'd a thunk it!

Before the electric slide, there was the Soul Train line...

A million thanks to Don for being the trailblazer and visionary that he was and for showcasing our culture on the world stage. No doubt his funeral will be huge considering the many whose careers were greatly enhanced just by appearing on his show.

True. Meant X2 as much here in the NW USA...seein that part of our culture get its due before our technology allowed total access (pre 80 or so). It was relavatory.....as was Don.

shellyk84 said:

God bless your soul Don Cornelius

All my favourite soul singers have graced your stage RIP Don

[img:$uid]http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa149/bellaowen/23w5y7s.jpg[/img:$uid]

Man, I just saw Ike & Tina perform "Proud Mary" on the show a few hours ago... that was one amazing show. I think Ike & Tina were on there one more time in 1975. Don't know if Tina was on Soul Train during her early solo success...

Timmy84 said:

shellyk84 said:

God bless your soul Don Cornelius

All my favourite soul singers have graced your stage RIP Don

[img:$uid]http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa149/bellaowen/23w5y7s.jpg[/img:$uid]

Man, I just saw Ike & Tina perform "Proud Mary" on the show a few hours ago... that was one amazing show. I think Ike & Tina were on there one more time in 1975. Don't know if Tina was on Soul Train during her early solo success...

Your right Timmy84 it was an amazing show, Tina never appeared after 1975

first Etta now Don

JamFanHot said:

babynoz said:

It's incredibly sad to think that Don or anyone could be so despondent or in so much pain that they would end their lives but we seldom know the extent of another person's suffering...my heart goes out to all who are touched by this tragedy. RIP.

It's hard to describe what Soul Train meant to us back in '71 when black folk on tv was still something of a novelty. We would occasionally see somebody on Ed Sullivan or American Bandstand, but having a weekly show that focused on people and aspects of black culture that you couldn't find anywhere else was huge!

Nowadays it's commonplace to see people of color on tv from Hollywood to Bollywood but Soul Train premiered in the immediate aftermath of the civl rights movement and was instrumental in reinforcing this very new idea that black was "beautiful."

There was no such thing as MTV, the internet or BET...hell, we had just gotten our first floor model color tv, and here was this smooth, articulate, dapper brotha, all of those hip kids with those cool afros and fly clothes doing all the latest dances, and Afro Sheen products were actually being advertised on tv...who'd a thunk it!

Before the electric slide, there was the Soul Train line...

A million thanks to Don for being the trailblazer and visionary that he was and for showcasing our culture on the world stage. No doubt his funeral will be huge considering the many whose careers were greatly enhanced just by appearing on his show.

True. Meant X2 as much here in the NW USA...seein that part of our culture get its due before our technology allowed total access (pre 80 or so). It was relavatory.....as was Don.

I hear ya. Population wise there were not that many blacks in that part of the country at the time. Not like Philly where I'm from.

shellyk84 said:

Timmy84 said:

Man, I just saw Ike & Tina perform "Proud Mary" on the show a few hours ago... that was one amazing show. I think Ike & Tina were on there one more time in 1975. Don't know if Tina was on Soul Train during her early solo success...

Your right Timmy84 it was an amazing show, Tina never appeared after 1975

first Etta now Don

Thanks, I didn't think she did. But yeah it's a tragic loss.

Heard the sad news on the radio while taking my son to his Doctor. I had to fight to keep back the tears. Think I'll let them flow now.

Good lord, so many have died in the last year! This is unbelievable. Be with him lord.

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

Don Cornelius Ex-Wife Scores Huge Life Insurance Payout

So she's gonna get paid despite his attempt to thwart her. Meanwhile, he's somewhere kicking himself.

babynoz said:

It's incredibly sad to think that Don or anyone could be so despondent or in so much pain that they would end their lives but we seldom know the extent of another person's suffering...my heart goes out to all who are touched by this tragedy. RIP.

It's hard to describe what Soul Train meant to us back in '71 when black folk on tv was still something of a novelty. We would occasionally see somebody on Ed Sullivan or American Bandstand, but having a weekly show that focused on people and aspects of black culture that you couldn't find anywhere else was huge!

Nowadays it's commonplace to see people of color on tv from Hollywood to Bollywood but Soul Train premiered in the immediate aftermath of the civl rights movement and was instrumental in reinforcing this very new idea that black was "beautiful."

There was no such thing as MTV, the internet or BET...hell, we had just gotten our first floor model color tv, and here was this smooth, articulate, dapper brotha, all of those hip kids with those cool afros and fly clothes doing all the latest dances, and Afro Sheen products were actually being advertised on tv...who'd a thunk it!

Before the electric slide, there was the Soul Train line...

A million thanks to Don for being the trailblazer and visionary that he was and for showcasing our culture on the world stage. No doubt his funeral will be huge considering the many whose careers were greatly enhanced just by appearing on his show.

Beautiful post Babynoz. I can surely relate to your experience. Don was certainly an icon, and watching Soul Train every Saturday morning was always fun in my household. If I missed an episode, I used to get so upset, especially if there was an artist on there who was one of your favorites.

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

prodigalfan said:

Oh it was his son that called. Oh well... that is sad that he took his own life.

Apparently Don called his son this morning and told him what he was going to do....

Oh, Okay. Now this confirms it even more. In my opinion, even if there was no suicide note, most people when deciding suicide tells SOMEONE.

I had a cousin who did this same thing years ago. He called what he thoughts was a trusted family member (step mother) who callously told him to do it when he threatened. (she says she thought he was just running at the mouth once again and never dreamed he would actually do it.

Then he called 911 and talked to the operator until he pulled the trigger. The poor operator was shattered because she felt like she failed him.

Just a sad sad situation. But like Mr. Cornelius, my cousin did tell someone.

I don't know why the need is there to inform someone.

I read that Phyllis Hyman chose a day that she had a concert to end her life. It is not like she had shows every single day. She could have picked an off day.

By picking the day of a show, she was sure to be found.... maybe even before she succumbed.

Maybe it is a last ditch call for help. Maybe they think (hope) somehow the person they tell can by some miracle make it all better and the potential suicider doesn't have to go through it.

Again, sad sad sad.

prodigalfan said:

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

Apparently Don called his son this morning and told him what he was going to do....

Oh, Okay. Now this confirms it even more. In my opinion, even if there was no suicide note, most people when deciding suicide tells SOMEONE.

I had a cousin who did this same thing years ago. He called what he thoughts was a trusted family member (step mother) who callously told him to do it when he threatened. (she says she thought he was just running at the mouth once again and never dreamed he would actually do it.

Then he called 911 and talked to the operator until he pulled the trigger. The poor operator was shattered because she felt like she failed him.

Just a sad sad situation. But like Mr. Cornelius, my cousin did tell someone.

I don't know why the need is there to inform someone.

I read that Phyllis Hyman chose a day that she had a concert to end her life. It is not like she had shows every single day. She could have picked an off day.

By picking the day of a show, she was sure to be found.... maybe even before she succumbed.

Maybe it is a last ditch call for help. Maybe they think (hope) somehow the person they tell can by some miracle make it all better and the potential suicider doesn't have to go through it.

Again, sad sad sad.

Phyllis picked New York and The Apollo for some reason to end her life, which I never quite understood to this day.

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

DON CORNELIUS Ex-Wife Scores Huge Life Insurance Payout

Don Cornelius died with 2 life insurance policies worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, and the ex-wife he hated will get all the money ... TMZ has learned.

Don's breakup with Viktoria Chapman Cornelius was brutal. He was convicted of domestic abuse and, according to him, she pepper sprayed him multiple times.

During the divorce in 2009, Don said in legal docs obtained by TMZ, 'I am 72 years old. I have significant health issues. I want to finalize this divorce before I die."

The divorce was indeed finalized later that year, but there's a provision in the settlement agreement that says Don must make Viktoria the beneficiary of both of hislife insurance policies -- totaling around $300,000 in benefits.

Under California law, if a policyholder commits suicide within 2 years of the time the policy is issued, the company can deny payment. But Don had the policy for more than 2 years, so Viktoria -- the woman he despised -- will get the loot.

I bet he wouldn't have commited suicide if he knew this was going to happen!

^

Sometimes spite is just what you need to keep going... but I bet he was so depressed and in mental anguish that money was the least of his thoughts.

Like I said earlier, I think his health troubles triggered his apparent suicide.

babynoz said:

It's incredibly sad to think that Don or anyone could be so despondent or in so much pain that they would end their lives but we seldom know the extent of another person's suffering...my heart goes out to all who are touched by this tragedy. RIP.

It's hard to describe what Soul Train meant to us back in '71 when black folk on tv was still something of a novelty. We would occasionally see somebody on Ed Sullivan or American Bandstand, but having a weekly show that focused on people and aspects of black culture that you couldn't find anywhere else was huge!

Nowadays it's commonplace to see people of color on tv from Hollywood to Bollywood but Soul Train premiered in the immediate aftermath of the civl rights movement and was instrumental in reinforcing this very new idea that black was "beautiful."

There was no such thing as MTV, the internet or BET...hell, we had just gotten our first floor model color tv, and here was this smooth, articulate, dapper brotha, all of those hip kids with those cool afros and fly clothes doing all the latest dances, and Afro Sheen products were actually being advertised on tv...who'd a thunk it!

Before the electric slide, there was the Soul Train line...

A million thanks to Don for being the trailblazer and visionary that he was and for showcasing our culture on the world stage. No doubt his funeral will be huge considering the many whose careers were greatly enhanced just by appearing on his show.

Thank you for this post. and yes, I can remember when seeing "black people on tv" was still a novelty. It caused us kids to run into the house from outside playing to see the black person on tv.

and then with soul train, not only did we see black people every week but we also saw the hip fashion and hair styles of the large urban area and emulated their style.

What Don's obits have failed to mention is that not only did ST pioneered black entertainment (can't imagine BET without the presence of Soul Train), but it also helped to create:

SOLAR Records.

And also it started the trend of black commercials (Afro Sheen, Dark & Lovely, etc.).

So Don was more than just a host of a dance show. That's why people kept bowing down to him whenever they saw him...

I nearly vomit when I hear someone compare BET's hot ghetto mess 106 & Park to Soul Train when Don was at the helm.

Timmy84 said:

Like I said earlier, I think his health troubles triggered his apparent suicide.

Yeah, there are a few diagnosis that I used to think suicide would be better than endure the pain and stigma.

but you see? 20 years later, those diagnosis are not the same sentence to PAINFUL death and isolation/fear from society.

If you just hang on, God (Fate, or whatever you chose to believe) will come through... sometimes you just got to give it time.

When you have hope, you have life. << I believe that.

Don had some fantastic artists on his show, and he loved showcasing theml.

The late Teena Marie on Suul Train

prodigalfan said:

Timmy84 said:

Like I said earlier, I think his health troubles triggered his apparent suicide.

Yeah, there are a few diagnosis that I used to think suicide would be better than endure the pain and stigma.

but you see? 20 years later, those diagnosis are not the same sentence to PAINFUL death and isolation/fear from society.

If you just hang on, God (Fate, or whatever you chose to believe) will come through... sometimes you just got to give it time.

When you have hope, you have life. << I believe that.

I'm one of the firm believers that there is a way out of no way. Maybe Don got to the end of his ropes. Maybe his sons would expound on that when things quiet down.

Identity said:

I nearly vomit when I hear someone compare BET's hot ghetto mess 106 & Park to Soul Train when Don was at the helm.

lol 106 didn't even have the brains to do what it did like Soul Train did. Plus Soul Train actually did more for the music than 106 did. That said, I still can't imagine BET without Soul Train especially 1980-1998 BET.

Timmy84 said:

prodigalfan said:

Yeah, there are a few diagnosis that I used to think suicide would be better than endure the pain and stigma.

but you see? 20 years later, those diagnosis are not the same sentence to PAINFUL death and isolation/fear from society.

If you just hang on, God (Fate, or whatever you chose to believe) will come through... sometimes you just got to give it time.

When you have hope, you have life. << I believe that.

I'm one of the firm believers that there is a way out of no way. Maybe Don got to the end of his ropes. Maybe his sons would expound on that when things quiet down.

I agree. Guess we'll have to be patient until more details about what Don was suffering from is released. I just finished watching the Soul Train documentary that was aired last yeat. Don was responsible for giving so many musicians/artists/dancers, etc. exposure, and even kept up with the ever-changing waves of the music industry, as different forms of music becamemore popular aand newer artists arrived on the scene.

[Edited 2/1/12 18:39pm]

Timmy84 said:

What Don's obits have failed to mention is that not only did ST pioneered black entertainment (can't imagine BET without the presence of Soul Train), but it also helped to create:

SOLAR Records.

And also it started the trend of black commercials (Afro Sheen, Dark & Lovely, etc.).

So Don was more than just a host of a dance show. That's why people kept bowing down to him whenever they saw him...

He also was the first African-American to create, produce, host & more importantly OWN his own show. He needs to be recognized for this and given credit.

2elijah said:

babynoz said:

It's incredibly sad to think that Don or anyone could be so despondent or in so much pain that they would end their lives but we seldom know the extent of another person's suffering...my heart goes out to all who are touched by this tragedy. RIP.

It's hard to describe what Soul Train meant to us back in '71 when black folk on tv was still something of a novelty. We would occasionally see somebody on Ed Sullivan or American Bandstand, but having a weekly show that focused on people and aspects of black culture that you couldn't find anywhere else was huge!

Nowadays it's commonplace to see people of color on tv from Hollywood to Bollywood but Soul Train premiered in the immediate aftermath of the civl rights movement and was instrumental in reinforcing this very new idea that black was "beautiful."

There was no such thing as MTV, the internet or BET...hell, we had just gotten our first floor model color tv, and here was this smooth, articulate, dapper brotha, all of those hip kids with those cool afros and fly clothes doing all the latest dances, and Afro Sheen products were actually being advertised on tv...who'd a thunk it!

Before the electric slide, there was the Soul Train line...

A million thanks to Don for being the trailblazer and visionary that he was and for showcasing our culture on the world stage. No doubt his funeral will be huge considering the many whose careers were greatly enhanced just by appearing on his show.

Beautiful post Babynoz. I can surely relate to your experience. Don was certainly an icon, and watching Soul Train every Saturday morning was always fun in my household. If I missed an episode, I used to get so upset, especially if there was an artist on there who was one of your favorites.

At school on Monday, all we talked about was who was on Soul Train on Saturday.

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

Timmy84 said:

What Don's obits have failed to mention is that not only did ST pioneered black entertainment (can't imagine BET without the presence of Soul Train), but it also helped to create:

SOLAR Records.

And also it started the trend of black commercials (Afro Sheen, Dark & Lovely, etc.).

So Don was more than just a host of a dance show. That's why people kept bowing down to him whenever they saw him...

He also was the first African-American to create, produce, host & more importantly OWN his own show. He needs to be recognized for this and given credit.

I first read that he was the owner of it around 2006. I don't know why that didn't quite register with me when I was younger.

prodigalfan said:

babynoz said:

It's incredibly sad to think that Don or anyone could be so despondent or in so much pain that they would end their lives but we seldom know the extent of another person's suffering...my heart goes out to all who are touched by this tragedy. RIP.

It's hard to describe what Soul Train meant to us back in '71 when black folk on tv was still something of a novelty. We would occasionally see somebody on Ed Sullivan or American Bandstand, but having a weekly show that focused on people and aspects of black culture that you couldn't find anywhere else was huge!

Nowadays it's commonplace to see people of color on tv from Hollywood to Bollywood but Soul Train premiered in the immediate aftermath of the civl rights movement and was instrumental in reinforcing this very new idea that black was "beautiful."

There was no such thing as MTV, the internet or BET...hell, we had just gotten our first floor model color tv, and here was this smooth, articulate, dapper brotha, all of those hip kids with those cool afros and fly clothes doing all the latest dances, and Afro Sheen products were actually being advertised on tv...who'd a thunk it!

Before the electric slide, there was the Soul Train line...

A million thanks to Don for being the trailblazer and visionary that he was and for showcasing our culture on the world stage. No doubt his funeral will be huge considering the many whose careers were greatly enhanced just by appearing on his show.

Thank you for this post. and yes, I can remember when seeing "black people on tv" was still a novelty. It caused us kids to run into the house from outside playing to see the black person on tv.

and then with soul train, not only did we see black people every week but we also saw the hip fashion and hair styles of the large urban area and emulated their style.

Yep, nooobody was outside when Soul Train was on...we had to get our weekly dose of hipness.

Timmy84 said:

Identity said:

I nearly vomit when I hear someone compare BET's hot ghetto mess 106 & Park to Soul Train when Don was at the helm.

lol 106 didn't even have the brains to do what it did like Soul Train did. Plus Soul Train actually did more for the music than 106 did. That said, I still can't imagine BET without Soul Train especially 1980-1998 BET.

That's true because BET didn't start out as the mess it became. They actually had a news bureau and shows like Video Soul plus community affairs programming before it was sold to Viacom.