Don Cornelius, the creator and host of the iconic show ?Soul Train? died on Tuesday from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. As Matt Schudel reported : Don Cornelius, creator and host of ?Soul Train,? a milestone in television programming that introduced generations of viewers to new music and dance trends emerging from black America, died Feb. 1 of a self-inflicted gunshot wound in Los Angeles ...

NEW YORK ? Fans and friends including Roberta Flack paid tribute to "Soul Train" creator Don Cornelius in Harlem today, calling the producer a fearless pioneer who brought black music to television and gave hundreds of dancers and musicians their start.

Music impresario Don Cornelius, 75, whose groundbreaking "Soul Train" show exposed music acts like Aretha Franklin and Stevie Wonder to millions of TV viewers, took his own life Wednesday, Los Angeles officials said.

'Soul Train': Don Cornelius, who died of an apparent suicide, helped define soul music in the 1970s, and helped prepare America for the rise of hip hop.

As news spread that "Soul Train" legend Don Cornelius died Wednesday morning of a gunshot wound at the age of 75, fans and friends took to Twitter to express their grief in a stream of condolences that continued Thursday.