BEVERLY HILLS, CA - DECEMBER 1: Producer Don Cornelius attends the Sixth Annual Family Television Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on December 1, 2004 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Don Cornelius
Photo: Frederick M. Brown/2004 Getty Images
TMZ reports that Soul Train host Don Cornelius— a television institution in his own right — was found dead in his California home early this morning. Early reports suggest that the death was a suicide, inflicted by a gunshot wound to the head. Cornelius hosted Soul Train from its inception in 1970 until 1993; he had suffered health problems in recent years. He was 75. Update: Here’s a great Cornelius obit by Questlove, and below are a couple Soul Train classics, just because.