Don Cornelius, former long-time host of Soul Train, was arrested late Friday (October 17) night on suspicion of domestic violence.
According to early reports, Los Angeles police were called to Cornelius’ Hollywood Hills home after someone reported a loud domestic dispute.
The 72-year-old executive producer was taken into custody and subsequently booked for felony domestic violence.
After posting $50,000 bail, a judge ordered Cornelius to appear in court next month. At press time, authorities would not confirm who Cornelius is accused of assaulting.
Cornelius founded Soul Train in 1970 as an outlet to showcase the best music artists of African-American culture.
Throughout the show’s first decade, the program was instrumental in popularizing new dances through its venerable “Soul Train Line,” and being a platform to illuminate legendary artists like Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Al Green, and Barry White.
Into the 80’s Soul Train extended its platform to Hip-Hop culture, giving the then fledgling art form much needed national exposure through artists such as Sugar Hill Gang, Kurtis Blow, Run DMC, The Beastie Boys, and LL Cool J.
Some rappers, like De La Soul, criticized Cornelius as well, claiming that the lack of rap on the show in later episodes as due to the founder’s distaste for the music.
In 1993, Cornelius stepped down as host and continued working behind the scenes to keep the show afloat.
With no new tapings since 2006, Soul Train’s website confirmed its cancellation on September 22, with Cornelius citing the Writer’s Guild of America strike as a primary reason.
At press time Don Cornelius could not be reached for comment.