Originally Posted By skinnerbox This is a very sad story: <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/01/don-cornelius-dead-soul-train_n_1246642.html" target="_blank">http://www.huffingtonpost.com/...642.html</a> <> ‘Soul Train’ creator Don Cornelius was found dead in his California home this morning. According to the Los Angeles Times, police arrived at Cornelius’ Sherman Oaks home around 4am where he found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was 75. Beginning in 1971 the Chicago native created and produced the groundbreaking variety show, which went on to become one the longest running shows of its kind in the history of television. He started the show with $400 of his own money. <> I grew up with Soul Train. I loved it even more than American Bandstand, and watched it every week. I'm so grateful to Don Cornelius for creating this show, because growing up in a very white Republican household made it difficult to experience music beyond the standard Mitch Miller/Perry Como/Andy Williams dreck my folks watched on TV. Thanks again, Mr. Cornelius, for helping a sheltered middle class white girl fall in love with Motown.
Originally Posted By Lisann22 I was so sad to hear this news. I grew up on Soul Train. A Saturday morning without it just wasn't right. We'd gather around to see who was going to be the guest performers, what the regular dancers were wearing, check out the Scramble Board and wait for the line to happen. The man brought us all the Soul Train line which in my family is still going strong at usually any family event or excuse to dance. I tuned in because he brought me the music my parents listened too, that I grew to love and was the sound that surrounded me in my neighborhood.
Originally Posted By Dabob2 I loved ST too. Once I discovered it, it was pretty impossible to watch Bandstand, especially at the time I was most into such shows (mid 70's), when AB featured mostly the insipid pop of that time--you were a lot more likely to see the likes of Bo Donaldson and the Heywoods than Bowie or the Ramones. But ST had great guests. And I have the tiniest connection. I dated a guy (we're talking one date here, but still) who was a teen prodigy on violin, and played on a LOT of those Gamble & Huff/Philly Sound records of the time, including TSOP, better known as the Soul Train Theme. He was thinking of moving to NY but wound up staying in Philly, so it was just the one date. Still, coolest "small talk" date ever!
Originally Posted By Lisann22 LOL! There were several versions over the years of TSOP. I'll never forget the Saturday morning Elton John was on Soul Train singing Bennie and the Jets.
Originally Posted By Dabob2 I remember that very well, too! It was all the talk at school the next Monday. My friend Lanita, who had never been previously into Elton John, was very impressed. Except she kept calling it "Benjie" and the Jets. Lanita: "Did you see Elton John do Benjie and the Jets on Soul Train? That was cool!" Other friend, trying gently to correct her: "Um... 'Bengie?'" Lanita: "Yeah. And the Jets!"
Originally Posted By DDMAN26 I caught most of ST in either repeat or the later versions of the show. And it taught me one thing, I will never be as cool as Don Cornelius
