Actor Sinqua Walls (left) plays "Soul Train" host and executive producer Don Cornelius (right, in 1973) in the new BET series "American Soul." toggle navigation.

Early Life Of Gladys Knight. This is an iconic #BlackHistory moment the late Don Cornelius talks about the first-ever #SoulTrain show and interviews Gladys Knight & The Pips. Directed by Mark Warren. With Don Cornelius, Bruce Gerard Brown Jr., Gene Chandler, Dennis Coffey. But the beginning of the episode is saddening. Kelly Rowland has joined the cast of American Soul, the story of Don Cornelius ‘ life and legacy, as Gladys Knight. Gladys Knight pays homage to the late Soul Train creator and host, Don Cornelius. Bobby Hutton performed "You're My Only Reason." February 2, 2012 News: Gladys Knight Discusses Don Cornelius. Gladys Knight and the Pips performed "Friendship Train" and "I Don't Wanna Do Wrong." Eddie Kendricks, Gladys Knight & the Pips, Bobby Hutton and Honey Cone were featured on the national debut episode. Gladys Knight and the Pips performed "Friendship Train" and "I Don't Wanna Do Wrong." Finally, for the fourth time, Knight married her husband, William McDowell.

Music legend Gladys Knight remembers her experiences with "Soul Train" creator Don Cornelius. Gladys Knight was born on 28 May 1944 in Atlanta, Georgia to Sarah Elizabeth and Merald Woodlow Knight Sr. She has a sister named Brenda Knight and a brother named Merald Knight Jr.

Who is Gladys Knight's husband? Eddie Kendricks performed "It's So Hard for Me to Say Goodbye" and "I Did It All For You." In the above first-look clip, Don Cornelius (Sinqua Walls) tries to convince Gladys Knight (Kelly Rowland) to give his new vision, Soul Train, a chance.

Don Cornelius, 75, who launched Soul Train in 1970 with $400 from his own pocket, died Feb. 1 of an apparently self-inflicted gunshot wound. Talented singer and actress Gladys Knight was born Gladys Maria Knight on May 28, 1944, in Atlanta, Georgia, and started out on the road to success at an early age. Don Cornelius (Sinqua Walls) has gotten his money, he’s managed to book Gladys Knight (Kelly Rowland), and now it’s time to go into production. Don Cornelius (Sinqua Walls) has gotten his money, he’s managed to book Gladys Knight (Kelly Rowland), and now it’s time to go into production. Music legend Gladys Knight remembers her experiences with "Soul Train" creator Don Cornelius. The Jesse Collins production has also found its leading man in Sinqua Walls, most known for his role on Power. “I’m talking about a national television show written, produced, and owned black folks,” says Cornelius in the clip. Photo by Amanda Edwards/Getty Images