Written by
The Associated Press
LOS ANGELES (AP) - Friends and family are gathering for a private memorial service for "Soul Train" creator and host Don Cornelius in Los Angeles.
The service will be led by the Rev. Jesse Jackson, who presided over a private cremation ceremony last week.
Jackson arrived early for Thursday afternoon's service and perused blowup photos of Cornelius that were positioned around the lobby of Liberty Hall at Forest Lawn-Hollywood Hills.
Cornelius died Feb. 1 from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Since then, tributes to him and the show he created have been held around the country.
"Soul Train" was the brainchild of Cornelius and began in 1970, giving a never-before-seen platform to black music, fashion and culture on television. It became one of television's longest running syndicated shows and remained on the air through 2006.
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