Remembering Soul Train’s Don Cornelius
Many folks think of Cornelius and Soul Train” as humorous relics of the past
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Word went out this morning about the sudden death of Don Cornelius, creator of the music-centric TV show “Soul Train.” And while the cause of his death is still being discovered (early reports point to a self-inflicted gunshot wound), my fear is that the things he accomplished in his life will be glossed over or forgotten.
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Many folks think of Cornelius and “Soul Train” as sort of humorous relics of the past. But, before music videos — and before African Americans were allowed to perform on television without restriction or alteration — “Soul Train” was, for decades, the cultural portal of black America.
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Cornelius’ show was the place to learn about the latest fashions, slang and, of course, dances; my friends and I would watch the show religiously and snatch moves we would later use in house parties and such.
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“Soul Train” was the place that showed the “moonwalk” being demonstrated for the first time (and not by Michael Jackson) And, it was one of the first national venues to show breakdancing in its earliest forms.