SOUL TRAIN Creator Don Cornelius Found Dead in Los Angeles

The LA Times reports that Don Cornelius, the founder of the 1970's disco dance show SOUL TRAIN has been found dead in Los Angeles. According to the report, Lt. Larry Dietz of the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office revealed that Cornelius died from a self-inflicted gun shot wound. He was found at his home.

In a recent interview with the LA Times, Cornelius shared that he was looking forward to an upcoming movie project he was  developing about his long running show SOUL TRAIN. "We've been in discussions with several people about getting a movie off the ground. It wouldn't be the 'Soul Train' dance show, it would be more of a biographical look at the project. It's going to be about some of the things that really happened on the show."

SOUL TRAIN was the  longest-running nationally syndicated show in television history. The show featured African American music and remained on the air for 35 years. According to his biography, Cornelius used $400 of his own money to create the pilot for the show.