Cornelius deserves praise for making African American music acceptable to parents who would not have normally allowed their children to listen to such raw emotionally-charged material.

I will never forget the time I saw Aretha Franklin perform her anthem "Rock Steady" and how much more it meant to me than a dance tune, just out of high school and entering a strange and much more racially-integrated world.

However her lauding of Don Cornelius as a "gentleman" has to be tempered by the fact that his wife at one point had put him under a restraining order. Public and private personas can vary to the point of being opposites.

But it speaks volumes that he would designate Franklin's gospel standard "Mary, Don't You Weep", which she performed a somewhat sanitized version of on the show, as his favorite.

It does Cornelius no favors to ignore the bad while promoting the good.

He was human, articulate, handsome and troubled. Anyone could learn from all of that.

BTW, my favorite kick out of watching old Soul Train videos are all those magnificent afros; so so gay.

My most vivid memory of Soul Train were Harold Melvin and the Bluenotes...ahhhhhhh Teddy. RIP Don.

Actor Ben Gazzara has died at 81.

From ABC News: Whitney Houston dies at 48.

If true, R.I.P., girl.

Dead at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in LA. A great talent cut down by suspected drugs and alcohol abuse. She had so much, and then came a bad marriage , the drugs and the booze. Not exactly a new story but sad none the less. Especially sad for her mother to outlive her child, and for her daughter Bobbi Kristina.

http://edition.cnn.com/2012/02/11/showbiz/....html?hpt=hp_t1

Dang. Whitney gone.

Very,very sad! She was just filming a movie in Detroit with Jordan Sparks not too long a go. She looked fantastic. This is senseless!

So sad. It's not right, but it's ok..... RIP Whitney.

Oh NO!!!! My worst fears surrounding Whitney have unfortunately become a reality. I am truly saddened by this terrible news. During one of the news reports tonight, the network flashed a picture which included Whitney, Michael Jackson, Liz Taylor and Liza Minnelli. Wow, in just less than three years, we've lost 3 of the 4 aforementioned stars. I can't believe she's gone.

My best memory of Whitney was during the Summer of '87. "I Wanna Dance With Somebody" had come out.

I would drive my cousins crazy because I'd mostly just sing "I wanna dance, DANCE, with somebody".

To this day, that was my favorite song of hers. R.I.P. Whitney. I loved your music.

It's really sad that I'm beginning to lose so many of my favorite icons from when MTV would show their videos. I hate to think who's next to go...

Listen to the unaccompanied a capella duet she does with her mother starting at 8:14 of this video. It is like a braodway musical-ready epitaph.

Whitney Houston had a stunning clarity and bell-like purity of sound that even her mother does not match. But the soulfulness of her mother is something Houston never matched.

Six of one and half-a-dozen of the other for most, but I find her mother's voice brings me to tears while Whitney's merely stuns me to silence.

This is terrible! I can't believe Whitney Houston is gone.

I know I shouldn't say what a lot of people are probably thinking, but does anyone ever wonder how different her career and life would have been if she had never married that dirtbag Bobby Brown? Would she have had so many wasted and unproductive years and been so mixed up with drugs if it weren't for him? Really makes you wonder, huh? It kind of makes me mad that so much talent and such a wonderful life were cut short, IMO, because of such an unfortunate marriage.

My heartfelt condolences to her children, and all her family and friends. This is just so sad.

This is absolutely devastating to her fans and the music world. On the eve of the Grammys too. I feel so bad for her mother Cissy and her daughter Bobbi Christina, who I read threw a fit when she arrived at the hotel and police would not let her in to see the body. I am glad to hear that no illegal drugs were found in the room and hope its what TMZ is reporting in that there were prescription drugs found and she may have had an accidental drowning in the bathtub. So sad. I hope she's at peace now.

Tony Bennett has suggested that the lesson we should learn from Whitney Houston's death is that drugs should be legalized.

Remembering her concert in Miami during the height of her popularity....She was amazing!!

I bought 3 copies of her first album...on cassette...wore them out on my walkman.

One reason that duet between her and mother Cissy moves me so much is that you can see her mother "teaching" her as they sing like any voice coach might. And Cissy Houston takes the high voice showing she had lost none of those notes at that time.

The whole effect for me is just incredible. I know a close family friend who has lost two sons who were my contemporaries.

Seening the pain when a father or mother loses a child before they themselves die is truly, truly overwhelming.

Very sad to hear about Whitney Houston's death. I'm at a loss to understand how the legalization of drugs would have helped her or Amy Winehouse. Both women abused drugs to escape their demons. As for Michael Jackson, well, the drugs that killed him were legal. The legalization of drugs will not stop the abuse of them.

On another note, Peter Breck, who played Nick Barkley on The Big Valley, passed away at the age of 82. I watched that show in syndication on Saturday afternoons as a kid. And, boy, did I have a crush on him!!! Nick Barkley in that black leather vest and those tight, black leather gloves fueled many fantasies!!! Others could have Heath! I wanted Nick!

Peter Breck dead at 82

And now Whitney`s daughter has had to be hospitalized.

Wow...so sad, but not so surprised. The chase involving the demons is now over. So sad she lost. Others have said it much better than me...

Tony Bennett, who battled drug addiction in the 1970s, went on to perform "How Do You Keep the Music Playing?" in honor of Houston and her long battle with drug addiction. "This is a song Frank Sinatra asked me to sing," Bennett told the crowd. "I'd like to dedicate it to Whitney. When I first heard her, I called (producer) Clive Davis and said, 'You finally found the greatest singer I've ever heard in my life.'"

Several other celebrities released statements responding to Houston's death. Dolly Parton, whose song "I Will Always Love You" was covered by Houston, said, "I will always be grateful and in awe of the wonderful performance she did on my song and I can truly say from the bottom of my heart, 'Whitney, I will always love you. You will be missed'." Houston's godmother Aretha Franklin said, "It's so stunning and unbelievable. I couldn't believe what I was reading coming across the TV screen." Mariah Carey said, "Heartbroken and in tears over the shocking death of my friend ... She will never be forgotten as one of the greatest voices to ever grace the earth.

Yes, she never will be forgotten. I'm just hurting over the sad ending to this talented life.

Nancy Grace being her normal self about Whitneys death.....who was prescribing drugs, who was giving her drugs, who pushed her under the water. Of course the word "alleged" was used liberally thoughout her report on CNN.

Fortunately Don Lemon came on and basically said everyone needs to calm down and that there is no known information and all else in speculation. He said the corner told him there were prescription drugs found in her room, but you would find more in his house than were found in Whitneys room. Cause of death would not be known until the tox reports come back in 2-3 weeks and 6-8 weeks before the final coroners report. Beverly Hills police said it was a normal death investigation but that no information would be released until the coroner completes all his reports.

Remember when Whitney sang "One Moment in Time" at the Seoul Summer Olympics in 1988? That was by far the best Olympic theme since "Ode to Joy".

Omg I saw that crazy bitch tonight as well spewing her stuff. I'll tell you...as much as she and other people want to blame bobby brown, Whitney was abusing drugs before he came along. Their involvement didn't help, but this long running belief by many that he somehow corrupted her by introducing her to drugs is BS. She simply hid it very well before he came along. But yes, Nancy Grace was out of control. The only thing that I agree is that she was surrounded by enablers the way Michael jackson was. And I love how she told someone at the end of the show who believed in his gut that she simply died of an accidental overdose of prescription drugs and alcohol to not jump to conclusions. I howled. I was like "heifer you been jumping to your own MURDEROUS conclusions since the beginning of the show". She is a mess but I knew I had to watch her to here what bat shit crazy stuff she was going to say.

She also sang that great song at the opening of Arthur Ashe stadium in front of many tennis legends.

http://youtu.be/8cFFjVLkmRg

Just saw on CNN that Gary Carter, former MLB player, dead of cancer at age 57. I remember being taken to an Expos game in Montreal by my Dad and seeing him play.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/base...article2341187/

Boy! The Kid was the heart and soul of the Mets in the 80s!

Whitney's not even buried and they've already announced a musical version of The Bodyguard is set to open in London's West End this fall. Heather Headley (Elton John's AIDA) will reportedly play the Whitney Houston role and sing a bevy of her hits.

Monkees singer Davy Jones dies of heart attack at 66

Hey Hey We're the Monkeees!!!! R.I.P. Davy.



I downloaded the whole Bodyguard soundtrack from iTunes after Whitney's death and I forgot just how damn good of a soundtrack it was. Between Queen of the Night, I have Nothing, I'm Every Woman, Run To You, I Will Always Love You. I mean my goodness it was phenomenal. Definitely one of the best soundtracks of all time and stands as THE #1 selling soundtrack of all time.

R.I.P. Davy Jones. I was a big fan as a kid (they showed the reruns) and loved the Monkees. Plus, I loved Marsha Brady being a fan of Davy Jones.

As for Whitney, I never stopped playing her. She was always on a playlist. I recently pulled out my "Could I Have This Kiss Forever" her duet with Enrique Iglesias.

Edna Milton Chadwell, the Last Madam of the Chicken Ranch

I, too, used to watch the Monkees reruns when I was a kid in the '70s. Here's Davy Jones singing Daydream Believer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nU615FaODCg

Now she looks fun!

Oh John I love that song she did with Enrique. Para Siempre!!!!!! Beautiful song!!! I have gotten my freak on to that song quite a few times

According to Don Lemon on CNN the Coroner says Whitney Houston died by drowning, likely caused by heart disease and cocaine. Coroner said she likely had a heart attack brought on by cocaine use and slipped under the water. Alcohol was not a contributing factor.

http://www.cnn.com/2012/04/08/us/obit-mike....html?hpt=hp_t1

Veteran newsman Mike Wallace died at age 93. Great career.

It is a sad day.....no one could ask a follow-up question like he could....now it's a lost art.

CBS News has a look at some moments in Mike Wallace's career, including the first 60 Minutes episode in 1968: http://www.cbsnews.com/8334-504803_162-574...ain;contentBody

TV legend Dick Clark has died of a heart attack at the age of 82. R.I.P. Dick and thanks for all the great memories.

Dick Clark Dead at 82

http://www.cnn.com/2012/04/19/showbiz/obit....html?hpt=hp_c1

Levon Helm of The Band, dead at 71

The flutist from Men at Work, Greg Ham died suddenly at age 58. He had the flute riff in the song "Who Can It Ba Now?" Wow, what a week it's been...

Adam Yauch of the Beastie Boys dies at 47

http://todayentertainment.today.msnbc.msn....mp;preview=true

A Curtis Institute of Music student double bass player Louisa Womack died in the student dorm Thursday.

We were supposed to see an opera, BELLINI's I Capuleti e i Montecchi tomorrow but that and all other performances since then and through the weekend have been cancelled.

These are extraordinarily talented young people. My sympathies to her family, friends and associates.

Maurice Sendak, author of Where the Wild Things Are" died from complications of a stroke at 83. A great children's author. I just read that book to my god son on Sunday night.

Sad about Maurice Sendak passing. Great artist and author, and he was gay, too. A 2008 NY Times article on him.

Sendak demonstrated the singular component of genius: honesty.

It always catches us by surprise because we live in a society that encourages "white lies" of ommission. Librarians covered up his full frontal nudity of children. The depiction of childhood as scary is not new but he added a certain relentlessness to it that was driven by his own childhood and learning of the horrors of the Holocaust.

I think he has said he wrote books about children rather than for them, and one of the most surprising and revealing statements I've heard from him was made I believe during an appearance on The Stephen Colbert Show when he said something like "I will be surprised if I make it through life without killing someone."

Apparently he managed.

http://www.tmz.com/2012/05/17/donna-summer-dead-last-dance/

Disco is truly dead now. Donna Summer dead of cancer at 63. The Last Dance is over.

I'm feeling extra nostalgic now. "The Last Dance" was a huge hit while I was in high school. Oh well, no more tears.....

So sad, disco is my era and her songs were a huge part of my life. Me w/ my man purse full of quaaludes and coke, dancing all night long. Bell bottoms and rayon shirts. I stuck with her through her ups and downs with our community.

Ahhhhhhhhhh, love to love ya baby...

On the radio.....

Someone left the cake out in the rain.........

Yes it's my last chance for romance tonight.....

The Main Event!!

I'm glad I was able to enjoy it without the drugs! Glad you survived.

Beep Beep.....HEY....Toot Toot...BAD GIRLS!!! Wow. Even though born in '78 I love disco and Donna Summer was an icon and forever a legend. RIP. There is a disco party goin on in heaven right now.