Don Cornelius was born and raised in Chicago. After serving in the U.S. Marine Corps and working a few different jobs, he took a broadcasting course and landed as a news announcer and DJ at a ...

Don Cornelius, creator and host of ‘Soul Train,’ dead at 75. ... He served in the Marine Corps in the 1950s, then sold insurance before going to broadcasting school in 1966.

Don Cornelius, 1936-2012 18 photos "Soul Train" was broadcast nationally from 1971 to 2006 and became one of television's longest running syndicated shows. He gave up hosting duties in 1993.

Soul Train creator Don Cornelius was found dead, a suicide, on Feb. 1 at 75, a sad ending to the life of someone who brought us one of the purest expressions of joy ever to take the form of a TV ...

Don Cornelius’ impact was bigger than Soul Train. He helped unite black and white America, some say. ... And if you give us a chance, you might like some of our moves,” Lee said.

LOS ANGELES — “Soul Train” host Don Cornelius was the arbiter of cool, a brilliant TV showman who used his purring, baritone voice to seduce mainstream America into embracing black music and ...

"Soul Train" host Don Cornelius was the arbiter of cool, a brilliant TV showman who used his purring, baritone voice to seduce mainstream America into embracing black music and artists.

LOS ANGELES -- Through music, scripture and song, Don Cornelius was remembered Thursday as the man who elevated black culture and entertainment with his "Soul Train," demolishing barriers of race and ...

Through music, scripture and song, Don Cornelius was remembered Thursday as the man who elevated black culture and entertainment with his "Soul Train," demolishing barriers of race and culture ...

Singer Smokey Robinson speaks during a private memorial service for "Soul Train" creator and host Don Cornelius in Los Angeles, Thursday, Feb. 16, 2012.

Hundreds of family, friends, entertainers, sports figures and even some former "Soul Train" dancers gathered to honor Cornelius' legacy and recall their recollections of the baritone-voiced host ...