Posted by | Ray Cornelius
Coroner reports are officially ruling Don Cornelius’ death a suicide. MSN is reporting today that the Soul Train creator and host killed himself with a gunshot to the head. A final report will be issued once investigators receive the results of toxicology tests.
A relative of the television icon found Cornelius at his California home last week. He was taken to Sinai Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
Many of his closest friends including singers Aretha Franklin, Patti Labelle and Stevie Wonder, have all issued statements expressing the lost of the television pioneer.
At least 100 New Yorkers took to the streets of Times Square this past Saturday for an organized “flash mob” and recreated the show’s famous, Soul Train line. Many of the participants sported afros and bellbottoms, reminiscent of the show’s dancers and host.
Soul Train first aired in 1970 and became one of the longest-running syndicated shows in history.
