R.I.P. Don Cornelius

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Writer, producer, host and creator of “Soul Train” Don Cornelius was found dead today of an apparent suicide at his home in Sherman Oaks, California. “Soul Train” gave Black entertainers a place on television in the absence of any shows dedicated to Black acts. The “Soul Train” line was a cultural marker of the coolest in Black music, dance and dress. Cornelius hosted the show from 1971-1993 and he sold it to MadVision Entertainment in 2008. The Chicago native last appeared at the BET Awards in 2009 to give The O’Jays a Lifetime Achievement Award.