It’s one thing to wake up to the news that Don Cornelius has strut up to heaven at the age of 75, but it’s another hearing that you got there after he apparently committed suicide. And on the first day of Black History Month. Damn. Damn. Damn. TMZ says that police were called to Don’s home in Sherman Oaks, CA early this morning after he allegedly shot himself in the head. Don was shortly pronounced dead at the hospital. Don’s family hasn’t confirmed any of this and an investigation into the cause of his death is happening right now.

Don was apparently in a sad and sick way after divorcing his wife in 2009. Before the judge granted the divorce, Don told the court that he was suffering from major health problems and wanted the divorce behind him before he died. During the past few years, Don had a stroke and had to undergo brain surgery.

Don created Soul Train in 1970, because he wanted to give soul music a wider audience and there was nothing like it on TV. Soul Train moved to syndication in 1971 and throughout the years James Brown, Michael Jackson and Aretha Franklin all performed on it. Rosie Perez, Pebbles, Jody Watley, MC Hammer and Nick Cannon all got their start shaking their shit on Soul Train. Soul Train aired over 1,000 episodes and ended in 2006.

Rest in peace, Don.