Don Cornelius

Personal Information

Born September 27, 1936, in Chicago, IL; married Delores Harrison, 1956; children: Anthony, Raymond.
Education: Attended broadcasting school, 1966.
Military/Wartime Service: U.S. Marines, c. 1954-55, served in Korea.

Career

Insurance salesman, Golden State Mutual Life, 1956-66; announcer, WVON, Chicago, IL, 1966; sports anchor, A Black View of the News, WCIU-TV, Chicago, beginning in 1968; creator, producer, and host of Soul Train, first aired on August 17, 1970, nationally syndicated, 1971--; founder, with Dick Griffey, of Soul Train Records, 1975; creator of Soul Train Music Awards, 1987, and Soul Train Comedy Awards (nationally-syndicated special honoring African-American comedy performers), first annual telecast, August 3, 1993.

With the news of the BET Awards 2009 making last minute alterations to pay tribute to the pop star Michael Jackson, it was expected to be a memorable show. Don Cornelius of the Soul Train fame remembered his experience with Jackson while talking about him onstage. Don who had Known Jackson since childhood but only as a young singer onstage mentioned about the huge talent thatthe pop star possessed since childhood. It was in the mid 1960s when Don encountered MJ from among the five brothers from Indiana who were performing to covers of the then established bands namely the Temptations. The then four feet tall young Jackson’s vocal skills and dance onstage caught the eyes of Cornelius as he reminisced.