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Come Fan with UsSaturday, June 20, 2026

Don Cornelius Died, But Magic Johnson On Soul Train Will Live Forever

Don Cornelius died Wednesday morning of an apparent self-inflected gunshot. He was 75.

As the man behind the Soul Train empire, Cornelius became a pop culture icon. The show, for decades, was the coolest thing on television. So cool, in fact, that a young Magic Johnson once appeared on the show and looked more like Kareem: taller than everyone, and just a little bit awkward.

Here’s a clip from The Tonight Show where Magic discusses his 2011 decision to buy Soul Train. At the 0:36 mark, check the flashback to Magic doing my all-time favorite step: the I-can’t-really-dance big man two-step, a favorite among the 6’3” and taller demographic.

(Video via Stiletto Jill)

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