Have you heard the news about Don Cornelius? Of “Soul Train” fame?
“Soul Train” creator Don Cornelius was found dead at his Sherman Oaks on home Wednesday morning.
Law enforcement sources said police arrived at Cornelius’ home around 4 a.m. He apparently died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to sources, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the case was ongoing.
The sources said there was no sign of foul play, but the Los Angeles Police Department was investigating…
Such occurrences cause me to have a thought that may seem trivial and superficial under the circumstances, but it occurs to me anyway: How does anyone that cool and collected — in terms of his public persona — go off the tracks to this extent? First the domestic violence thing four years ago, and now this?
OK, so that was a stage pose — the unflappable, calmly hip host. I get that. And no, people aren’t always the same off-stage. I mean, we once though Ike Turner was cool, too. But I wonder anyway.
I’ve often had a related, though slightly different, thought with regard to James Taylor — only I think I’m on firmer ground with that one. I look at him, and listen to him, and think, How could a guy have all those mental and drug problems over the years, when he is capable of making such amazingly mellow and soothing sounds any time? If I could do that, I find it hard to imagine that I would ever be uptight.
But what do I know about what it’s like to be these people? Not much.
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Sometimes the opposite holds true. Take Brad Warthen. A man with completely irrational and radical political views yet a man who is apparently very well grounded and normal as a family man.
All kidding aside events like these are both astonishing and tragic and it makes you wonder what was going on in his life that could lead to such an end. That this could happen to anyone, let alone someone relatively rich and famous, is sobering indeed.
Don Cornelius’ last words were: “and as always in parting, we wish you love, peace and soul!”
RIP Don Cornelius
It’s what happens when their “people” leave them.
Brad–that’s the privilege denying stuff I’m on you about–and kudos to you for acknowledging that you don’t know what it’s like to be mentally ill or dependent on drugs.
There are a lot of data to support the notion that creativity and mania occur together more often than in the general population. With that can go self-medication, too.
I wonder if his sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooul is in heaven?
It was rap what killed the man.