Smooth, Sensual, Deep, Classic, Iconic...Don Cornelius. Of course everyone now knows the great pioneer and innovator of musical TV personalities has indeed been declared dead after committing suicide. This is such sad news on many different levels in my opinion. I am a Media enthusiast and future TV personality myself so this news not only shocked me but it touched my heart. Don Cornelius paved the way for so many African American TV personalities such as Terrence and Rocsi on 106 N Park and he was one of the first to have a show in my opinion totally dedicated to giving African Americans the opportunity to express themselves through dance and music. Providing a weekly escape from the poverty and harsh enviorments surrounding African Americans was what Soul Train succeeded in doing. Not only that but he helped to break the racial barrier in music. At the time of Soul Trains beginning in 1970, the main show for music and entertainment was American Bandstand with the famous Mr. Dick Clark. Now going down memory lane Mr. Cornelius pretty much started out like any of us mass media students would, a dollar and a dream. That very dream became the reason why it became ok for African Americans to have a reason to celebrate and dance every week. My own mother always tells me stories of how she and her other at the time three sisters used to watch Soul Train in order to learn new dance moves, then they would practice them all week (of course this came after they would record the song they were dancing to off the radio onto a cassette tape haha), and you best to believe on Friday and Saturday night they were headed to somebodys club to put those moves to the test in the middle of the dance floor. Mr. Cornelius touched not just the lives of those who were like my mother at home watching but if you were asked to come on as an artist especially if you were a new artist...YOU MADE IT! Artists such as Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye, Ike and Tina Turner, and even Snoop Dogg made guest artist appearances on the show. The very sad thing is he is such a great and prominent part of Black History and of course this is Black History month and we will begin this month with the death of a pioneer. In closing this small tribute about the iconic Mr. Don Cornelius I just want to tell others no matter what you are going though in life NOTHING is too big for God to handle. He is there every step of the way, and when we leave him behind is when we often times feel like life begins to be too much. I don't know whether someone reached out to Mr. Cornelius before he took his life, but for anyone reading who feels like their life isn't important, trust me Jesus thinks otherwise. Give him a try! His voice was sensual like none other, smooth as silk, deep as the very bottom of the ocean, cool as the breeze running through my hair as I am sitting outside typing, yet classic and iconic as a Cadillac car or truck, Mr. Cornelius you will be deeply missed but I want to say thank you for all you did in your 75 years here on this earth! This month after every blog I will include a Black History Month fact from blackfact.com...and the fact of today is: February 2, 1862 the District of Columbia ( Washington DC) abolished slavery. As usual let me hear what you think my loves:-)
Signing Off wishing you LOVE, PEACE, AND SOULLLL!!...-BP
