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The Page 16 Portland Observer Black History Month February 8, 2012 Arts X S ISIIIIAISHIM FNFFF1 Soul Train Host Broke Racial Barriers Don Cornelius helped make soul music a national brand (AP)— Don Cornelius, who with the creation of "Soul Train," helped break down racial barriers and broaden the reach of black culture with funky music, groovy dance steps and cutting-edge style, died Feb. 1 of an apparent suicide. He was 75. Aretha Franklin, an early "Soul Train” performer, called Cornelius "an American treasure." "May u rest in peace and thank u 4 ur platform," rapper Q-Tip wrote on Twitter. "U will always be remem bered.” "Don was a visionary pioneer and a giant in our business," said Quincy Jones. "Before MTV there was 'Soul Train,' that will be the great legacy of Don Cornelius. His contributions to television, music and our culture as a whole will never be matched. My heart goes out to Don's family and loved ones." The Rev. Jesse Jackson told KNX-Los Angeles he talked to Cornelius a few days ago and there were no signs Cornelius was upset. Singer Aretha Franklin with Soul Train host and producer Don Cornelius. "He was a transformer," Jackson soul and later hip-hop acts to TV. said. '"Soul Train' became the outlet Cornelius was the first host and executive producer. for African-Americans." "There was not programming that "Soul Train" began in 1970 as a targeted any particular ethnicity," local program in Chicago and aired nationally from 1971 to 2006, intro he said in 2006, then added: "I'm ducing television audiences to such trying to use euphemisms here, try legendary artists as Aretha Franklin, ing to avoid saying there was no Marvin Gaye and Barry White. It television for black folks, which they became the longest-running syndi knew was for them." Music mogul Russell Simmons cated show in TV history. It was one of the first shows to called Cornelius "one of the great sh o w case A frica n -A m erica n s est music legends there was." "Don Cornelius gave artists who prominently, bringing the best R&B, had been segregated from most main stream vehicles of expression a chance to perform in front of a huge national audience," Simmons wrote in a blog post. "It was a tremendous opportunity that changed their ca Don Cornelius reers and the whole music industry." "Soul Train," with its trademark in a 2006 interview with The Asso opening of an animated chugging ciated Press. "Which was some train, was not, however, an immedi where between a little disappoint ate success for Cornelius, an ex ing and a whole lot disappointing." The reasons he heard? "There disc jockey with a baritone rumble was just, 'We don't want it. We and cool manner. Dr. Marcelitte Only a handful of stations ini pass,"' he said, with race going un Failla mentioned. "No one was blatant tially were receptive. Chiropractic "When we rolled it out, there enough to say that." "Soul Train" arrived on the scene Physician were only eight takers," he recalled Your Care Our First Priority at a time when the U.S. was still reeling from the civil rights move ment, political upheaval and cul tural swings. Black faces on TV were an event, not a regular occurrence. "Soul Train" was seen by some at first as the black "American Band stand," the mainstay TV music show hosted by Dick Clark. While "Ameri can Bandstand" featured black art ists, it was more of a showcase for white artists and very mainstream black performers. "Soul Train" followed some of the "Bandstand" form at, but it showed another side of black music and culture. When it started, glistening Afros dominated the set, as young blacks boogied and shimmied to the music of the likes of Earth Wind & Fire and other acts perhaps less likely to get on "American Bandstand." The show's dancers introduced Americans to new moves and fash ion styles, and made the "Soul Train" dance line — where people line up while others sashay down the middle to show their moves — a cultural flashpoint. The show's power began to wane in the 1980s and'90s. But even when Michael Jackson became the King of Pop, there was still a need to highlight the achievements of Afri can-Americans. So Cornelius cre ated the "Soul Train Awards," which would become a key honor for mu sicians. Cornelius, who was inducted into the Broadcasting and Cable Hall of Fame in 1995 and has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, said in 2006 he remained grateful to the musicians who made "Soul Train" the destination for the best and lat est in black music. "I figured as long as the music stayed hot and important and good, that there would always be a reason for 'Soul Train,"' Cornelius said. Cornelius stepped down as "Soul Train" host in 1993. Cornelius Called Son before Taking his Life We are located at 1716 N.E. 42nd Ave. Portland, OR 97213 (Between Broadway and Sandy Blvd.) • Automobile accident injuries • Chronic headache and joint pain • Workers Compensation injuries Call for an appointment! (503)228-6140 The son o f "Soul Train" creator Don C ornelius said his father called him shortly before taking his life, and that he was unhappy and in failing health but kept most of his feelings inside. Tony C ornelius, who worked closely with his father on "Soul T rain "said he had receiv ed a phone call from his dad on the m orning o f his death. "It was a call o f urgency and I cam e to his hom e im m ediately," he said. "He had been very unhappy about some things that had gone on in his life and his health was failing," Tony Cornelius said. But none o f his fam ily realized quite how depressed he was. "My father was extrem ely pri vate and u n fo rtu n ately , w hen you're a private person, you keep things inside ... O bviously, me being extrem ely close to him , I could tell that he was uncom fort able. But our fam ily could never know that he w ould — how un com fortable he really was," he added. A spokeswoman for the family said a memorial service was being planned for Feb. 13 in Los Angeles.
