History of the Founder
Donald Cortez "Don" Cornelius, born September 27, 1936, was the American host and founder of the show Soul Train. Soul Train fist went on the air on October 2, 1971. Before Cornelius decided to invent Soul Train, he was a smal town radio dj that loved music and loved to dance. He realized, during the latle 60's, that there was no television show on tv that was dedicated to soul music. Because of his brilliant idea to make a show especially for soul music, he introduced a lot of African American music artists the world nationwide. He introduced artists such as James Brown, Aretha Franklin, and the famous Michael Jackson.
On Oct. 17, 2008, Cornelius was arrested at his Los Angeles home on Mulholland Drive on a felony domestic violence charge. He was released on bail. Cornelius appeared in court on Nov. 14, 2008 and was charged with spousal abuse and dissuading a witness from filing a police report. Cornelius appeared in court again on Dec. 4, 2008, and pleaded not guilty to spousal abuse and was banned from going anywhere near his estranged wife, Victoria Avila-Cornelius, who had filed two restraining orders against him. On March 19, 2009 he changed his plea to no contest and was placed on 36 months probation.
"... and you can bet your last money, it's all gonna be a stone gas, honey! I'm Don Cornelius, and as always in parting, we wish you love, peace and SOUL!" -Don Cornelius
On Oct. 17, 2008, Cornelius was arrested at his Los Angeles home on Mulholland Drive on a felony domestic violence charge. He was released on bail. Cornelius appeared in court on Nov. 14, 2008 and was charged with spousal abuse and dissuading a witness from filing a police report. Cornelius appeared in court again on Dec. 4, 2008, and pleaded not guilty to spousal abuse and was banned from going anywhere near his estranged wife, Victoria Avila-Cornelius, who had filed two restraining orders against him. On March 19, 2009 he changed his plea to no contest and was placed on 36 months probation.
"... and you can bet your last money, it's all gonna be a stone gas, honey! I'm Don Cornelius, and as always in parting, we wish you love, peace and SOUL!" -Don Cornelius
