Soul man: Cornelius' show got young people on their feet
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At the height of his popularity in the early 1970s, "Soul Train" creator Don Cornelius was more influential as far as young people were concerned than Congress, the president or the press. Teenagers and young adults of all colors tuned in to the show on Saturday afternoons to learn which dance moves to make at the neighborhood party that night.
Mr. Cornelius, who died last week of a self-inflicted gunshot wound at 75, delivered it all for young people who yearned to be hip. His iconic Afro, velvety voice and super cool demeanor rivaled the performers who clamored to be booked on his hour-long program.
Entertainers from the Jackson 5 to Aretha Franklin to Marvin Gaye did live tapings on "Soul Train." Though most would lip-sync over recorded tracks, they wanted the exposure to young people in a pre-YouTube world.
Although "Soul Train" began as a black alternative to "American Bandstand," white kids learned to dance like black kids from watching the show. Soon, white kids and white performers were getting on the show, too.
Mr. Cornelius stopped hosting in 1993 and later battled health problems, depression and a contentious divorce. Still, he will be remembered by a generation for the happiness he inspired, even if it proved too fleeting at the end of his own life.
First Published February 6, 2012 12:00 am
