Don Cornelius And 'Soul Train' Remembered By 'The View' (VIDEO)

Don Cornelius, the host and creator of the iconic dance show "Soul Train," was found dead of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound in his home on Wednesday morning. The women of "The View" (weekdays on ABC) reacted to the sad news on Wednesday's show, and remembered the cultural impact that "Soul Train" had in the 1970s.

"I don't know very many people of a certain age who don't remember 'Soul Train,'" Whoopi Goldberg began. "I know that everybody danced in the room [while watching]."

Sherri Shepherd offered her own personal memory of watching the show as a young girl. "Soul Train, it was like, this was the show for black peole when you wanted to learn how to dance ... I remember I learned how to spell with the scramble board from 'Soul Train' ... I didn't know how to use 'Shalamar' in a sentence, but I knew how to spell it," she remembered. "When Don Cornelius created it, it was in Chicago, so my aunts danced on 'Soul Train.'"

"It's a huge loss," Goldberg concluded.

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Comments

[Babe boy]

03:30 PM on 02/04/2012

Sherri was talking about the Scramble Board that Soul Train featured every week. Two contestants had to "spell" the names of individuals, groups, bands, community leaders, etc. If spelled correctly they would receive valuable prizes. Every true viewer of the "Train" knows this. I, too, learned how to spell somethings from the weekly "spelling." This was my prize in my quest to become a better speller.

Lec'k, Savannah, GA

[Charleen Borchers]

10:23 AM on 02/02/2012

Every Sat. morning 11:00 a.m I was glued to Soul Train. I am convinced I developed my "funk" thru that show.It gave American Bandstand some competition. I am a white midwest baby boomer, and I loved that show. RIP Don Cornelius, Love, peace and soul!!!

[roch20]

04:20 AM on 02/02/2012

So SAD! RIP

[Mamadea]

03:54 AM on 02/02/2012

Sherri Shepherd, gurl you getz on my last nerves!

[Sandbrn]

08:59 AM on 02/02/2012

This is sooooooo not about Sherri.

[GBPackerfan]

11:35 PM on 02/01/2012

Growing up in a mostly white suburban community, Soul Train was my introduction to African American music and culture. I thought that Don Cornelius was the coolest person I'd ever seen. He was so smooth. The first time I remember seeing Aretha, Michael, and Marvin, along with others was on Soul Train in the early 1970's. He was a true pioneer. R.I.P.

[dmm1047]

09:58 PM on 02/01/2012

He was one smooth dude.

[Proteus Petabyte]

07:54 PM on 02/01/2012

I may sound contriversial but I'm not trying to. Some people who commit suicide are hurting and reaching out for help. I don't think that was the case with Don. I think this man had really bad health problems that ( according to everything I've been reading) was preventing him from just leaving the house half the time and he looked at the span of his life and projected how much more life he could live with his health being the way it was and how much he has achived.

You know......... Sometimes you just had enough. I get it. Even if it sounds morbid. IF that was how he wanted to go then I applaud him for a life well lived and for leaving at what he thought was the perfect time.

Rest in peace.

[msstrick40]

01:47 AM on 02/02/2012

That's the truth. If he was as ill as some are saying...I think he was just tired. Who are we to judge when a person's body and mind has had enough.

[Tammy Jo Titus]

07:24 PM on 02/01/2012

Don Cornelius was a true American icon. Every American (of all races), will truly feel loss and grief as a result of his passing. So sad:( ........RIP Don, we will always remember you for all you have accomplished and we will never forget your amazing voice.

[JFaye]

07:10 PM on 02/01/2012

This may come as a surprise for S. Shepherd ... Young people (and perhaps some not so young) of all races watched Soul Train. I recall watching with my mom and she could perform the dances much better than I.

[cdnbystander]

07:23 PM on 02/01/2012

I think she was speaking from the point of view that there were not many shows with black folks at the time.

[Mamadea]

03:56 AM on 02/02/2012

Sherri Shepherd is ding bat.

[JFaye]

04:56 PM on 02/02/2012

With so many intelligent, productive, well-read black women, you must wonder what criteria was used in selecting SS to replace SJ. True, Sherri has a beautiful smile, a unique humor (not necessarily my taste), but she is loud, crass and very much unread.

[shag11]

05:47 PM on 02/01/2012

Sherri, as usual, ya said something stupid. This show was for everyone. Do you realize that Fred Astair watched Soul Train. It wasn't just for "black people." You embarrass me sometimes.

[makemesmile]

05:59 PM on 02/01/2012

Sherri is so damn ignorant most of the time. Soul Train was a great television show and black people were happy to have a show that they could relate to in the world of music, dances, and fashion. Hopefully, most people "didn't learn to spell" just by watching Soul Train. I wish that they would replace Sherri with someone down-to-earth, but also intelligent.

[jcat80]

10:47 PM on 02/01/2012

I know Sherri has a bad rep for saying nonsense, but all she said was that it was a show for Black people to watch to learn how to dance. That's true. Sherri can't speak to the White experience at that time, and I don't think she said that Whites can't watch.

I may be wrong, but I think Soul Train was a response the the very White and at one time segregated American Bandstand. So again, yes this show was primarily aimed at a Black audience, but not exclusively, which wasn't what she was suggesting. I think she was speaking from her point of view as a Black kid in the 60s and 70s.

[Rhonnybay]

05:19 PM on 02/01/2012

This really made me sad today.

[Pegi]

04:57 PM on 02/01/2012

What a tragedy!!!! I am not black but I watched Soul Train faithfully back in the day. I grew to like it even better than Bandstand. He seemed like such a nice man. I saw a documentary recently on PBS about the beginning of Soul Train and he was on speaking about it. Such a loss! Rest in Peace DC!!! You were loved.

[quedog]

04:53 PM on 02/01/2012

DC was the man
I just heard this from a close friend of Dons that he was listening to the radio and heard some P-Diddy and deciided he had enough

[trollsbwild]

04:30 PM on 02/01/2012

Learned a lot of dance moves from that show. RIP, Son. Sorry about the pain you were feeling to be in such a bad place to end your life this way.

[JFaye]

07:13 PM on 02/01/2012

So much pain to push a person to take his/her own life ...

[eclipse535]

08:08 PM on 02/01/2012

Not everbody who commits suicide is in pain or a bad place.Lots of people have made a completely rational decision to end their lives and we should always respect their choice.

[user772645]

08:22 PM on 02/01/2012

You think it's rational to end your life? I think he was n poor health (pain) and ended his life based on that. May he rest in peace.

[PaddockGirl]

04:00 PM on 02/01/2012

Love Don Cornelius. He did indeed host the hippest trip in America.