Don Cornelius

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Don Cornelius (born September 27, 1936 in Chicago, Illinois) is an African-American television show producer, best known as the host of the nationally syndicated dance/music program, Soul Train from 1971-1996. He created the show and still produces it through his production company, Don Cornelius Productions. Cornelius helped bring many African-American musical artists to a larger audience as a result of their appearances on Soul Train, a program that is tremendously influential and popular among African-Americans. The Soul Train Music Awards was most recently held on March 10, 2007. In April of 2008, Cornelius announced that this year’s ceremony has been cancelled. Cornelius cited the three-month-long strike by the Writers Guild of America as one of the reasons, though the main reason might have been the uncertainty surrounding Soul Train's future. Cornelius also announced that a motion picture film based on the show is currently in development and will hit theaters in 2009.

[edit] Quote

The catchphrase that Cornelius used to close the show was: "... and you can bet your last money, it's gonna be a stone gas, honey! I'm Don Cornelius, and as always in parting, we wish you love, peace and soul!" After Cornelius's departure, it was shortened to "...and as always, we wish you love, peace and soul!," although it continued through the most recent new episodes in 2006, in tribute.

[edit] Trivia

In the Corneil and Bernie episode "Don Cornelius," Corneil poses as a "godfather crime-boss guy" named Don Cornelius, though it is completely unrelated.
In a Fresh Prince of Bel Air episode (that Don Cornelius guest starred in) Will is a big fan of Cornelius and owns a Don Cornelius doll, which he claims is an action figure.