Februaiy 22, 2012
"H* Portland Observer Black History Month
Page 14
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Stevie Wonder performs during a private memorial service Thursday for Soul Train creator and
host Don Cornelius in Los Angeles. (AP photo)
Soul Train Host Changed History
Legacy recalled at memorial service
(AP) — Through music, scrip
ture and song, Don Cornelius was
remembered Thursday as the man
who elevated black culture and en
tertainment with his "Soul Train,"
demolishing barriers of race and
culture, and changing American
history.
Hundreds of family, friends, en
tertainers, sports figures and even
some former "Soul Train" dancers
gathered to honor Cornelius' legacy
and recall their recollections of the
baritone-voiced host and entrepre
neur. The nearly three-hour memo
rial service featured plenty of laugh
ter and music, including a rousing
performance of "Love's In Need of
Love" by Stevie Wonder.
Civil rights leader Rev. Jesse J ack-
son delivered a eulogy that cen
tered on how Cornelius’ creation
created a platform for black music
and culture that hadn't been seen on
television when "Soul Train" de
buted in 1970. "Soul Train" was
broadcast nationally from 1971 to
2006 and became one of television's
longest running syndicated shows.
He gave up hosting duties in 1993.
"Don, we say thanks for being
conductor of the 'Soul Train' and
laying the tracks," Jackson said.
"We thank you because we needed
you so badly and you helped us so
much."
Several speakers noted that
Cornelius didn't just give a platform
to perform ers such as W onder,
Aretha Franklin and the Jackson 5,
but. he also gave opportunities to
black cameramen and demonstrated
that television programming aimed
at black audiences was viable.
At several points during the ser
vice, photos of Cornelius on the
show's set were displayed for the
gathering, which ended with clips
of the popular host dancing and
delivering his signature sign-off,
"Love, Peace and Soul!!!"
Smokey Robinson joked that
Cornelius would often ask guests
questions that veered away from
their music, such as what they were
driving and when they'd last eaten
at a particular restaurant.
"I'm really happy to be here be
cause Don was my brother and I am
celebrating his life," a sm iling
Robinson said. "I don't what the
rest of you are doing."
Remaining upbeat, Robinson told
the crowd, "He started a platform for
black people that before that time
had not been seen. It had been heard,
but it had not been seen."
Pastor Donnie McClurkin, who
led the service, noted that his mother
didn't allow her children to listen to
popular music. But when she went
grocery shopping on Saturdays, he
and his siblings caught up on all the
latest dance moves and music by
watching "Soul Train."
Cornelius was bom in September
1936 in Chicago, served as a Marine
in Korea and worked various jobs
before getting into broadcasting in
the mid-1960s.
He was inducted into the Broad
casting and Cable Hall of Fame in
1995 and has a star on the Holly
wood Walk of Fame, but his great
est legacy was the impact of his
show, which not only brought black
culture, but also black advertisers
to nationwide audiences. His show
came long before there were any
networks devoted to television pro
gramming for black audiences, or
black actors in prominent roles on
network shows — key cultural bar
riers that Cornelius helped break
down.
Cornelius' granddaughter Chris
tina said that to the world, her grand
father was a visionary and trailblazer.
"He was all those things. But to
me he was just grandpa," she said,
breaking down. "My smooth voiced,
loving grandpa."
S everal sp eak ers, inclu d in g
Cornelius' son Tony, spoke of con
tinuing Cornelius' legacy.
Earvin "Magic" Johnson recalled
meeting Cornelius in the early 1980s
after he started playing with the Los
Angeles Lakers.
On Thursday, Johnson said he
was committed to helping keep the
"Soul Train" going.
"Tony, it's our job to keep the
legacy going," Johnson said. "The
brand that your father has created
will last a lifetime."
Wonder mused that Cornelius
would be pleased to have Houston
join him and other musicians in
heaven.
"I can only hope we continue to
keep this man's life and legacy alive,"
Wonder said.
Cornelius, 75, died Feb. 1 from a
self-inflicted gunshot wound, and
Jackson urged people not to judge
him. "We reveal our successes to
the world but we conceal our pain,"
he said.
Rather, Jackson said, the public
and those who knew Cornelius well
should remember what Cornelius
built with "Soul Train" and what it
meant to the world.
"It brought joy. It brought pride.
It brought talent. It brought hope. It
brought opportunity. It blazed trails.
It reconciled racism," he said. "Tell
them what you know, not what you
imagine."