DON CORNELIUS: AN APPRECIATION

Odds are by now you’ve heard about Don Cornelius committing suicide.

Obviously I can’t condone how he went out, but at age 75, given his health, maybe he had his reasons.

Anyway, as I may have mentioned elsewhere, I grew up watching Soul Train, and I have Cornelius to thank as much as anyone for diversifying my musical interests at an impressionable age.

It says a lot, I suppose, that it wasn’t until later that I learned just how groundbreaking Soul Train was in terms of putting more African-American pop culture on TV and (to hear Cornelius tell it) in TV ads. Even as a kid in the mid-70s South, I had no idea that was a big deal at the time. I thought that was just the way things were.

So, right on, Don.

Anyway, let there be little doubt that Don Cornelius was easily one of the coolest people on TV when I was growing up. And to prove it, here he is dancing in the Soul Train line with Mary Wilson of the Supremes.

Peace love and soul,

This is dF

I’VE GOT DYNAMITE IN MY PANTS

But you knew that.



[Via BoingBoing]

Boom goes the dynamite,

This is dF