them. It was one of the first shows to showcase African-Americans prominently, although the dance group was racially mixed. Cornelius was the show’s executive producer and its host from 1971-1993. “There was not programming that targeted any particular ethnicity,” he said in 2006, then added: “I’m trying to use euphemisms here, trying to avoid saying there was no television for black folks, which they knew was for them.” Cornelius, who was inducted into the Broadcasting and Cable Hall of Fame in 1995 and has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, said in 2006 he remained grateful to the musicians who made “Soul Train” the destination for the best and latest in black music. “I figured as long as the music stayed hot and important and good, that there would always be a reason for ‘Soul Train,”‘ Cornelius said. The series spawned a franchise that includes the Soul Train Music Awards, the Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards and the Soul Train Christmas Starfest. In his later years, Cornelius had a troubled marriage. In 2009, he was sentenced to three years probation after pleading no contest to misdemeanor spousal battery. In his divorce case that year, he also mentioned having significant health issues.