Samuel “Sam” Cooke
(January 22,1931 – December11,1964)
was an American recording artist and singer-songwriter, generally considered among the greatest of all time.
Influential as both a singer and composer, he is commonly known as the King of Soul for his distinctive vocals and importance within popular music. His pioneering contributions to soul music contributed to the rise of Aretha Franklin, Bobby Womack, Al Green, Curtis Mayfield, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Billy Preston and popularized the likes of Otis Redding and James Brown. AllMusic biographer Bruce Eder wrote that Cooke was “the inventor of soul music”, and possessed “an incredible natural singing voice and a smooth, effortless delivery that has never been surpassed.”
Cooke had 30 U.S. top 40 hits between 1957 and 1964, plus three more posthumously. Major hits like “You Send Me”, “A Change Is Gonna Come”, “Cupid”, “Chain Gang”, “Wonderful World”, and “Twistin’ the Night Away” are some of his most popular songs. Cooke was also among the first modern black performers and composers to attend to the business side of his musical career. He founded both a record label and a publishing company as an extension of his careers as a singer and composer. He also took an active part in the Civil Rights Movement.
On December 11, 1964, at the age of 33, Cooke was fatally shot by Bertha Franklin, the manager of the Hacienda Motel in Los Angeles, California. After an inquest, the courts ruled Cooke’s death to be a justifiable homicide. Since that time, the circumstances of his death have been consistently called into question by Cooke’s family and his wide circle of friends and acquaintances. Wiki
Sam Cooke – A Change Is Gonna Come:
Another star extinguished too soon. But I loved that song “A Change is Going to Come”. Billy Preston did his rendition of it. It was pretty good. Blessings and Peace.
Hello cf! Hope you are enjoying a blessed day. Sam Cooke is the most popular., sentimental version and the version used as historic themes in sorrow that happened here in the USA. It is not that the other renditions are not good, in fact, they all re! Cheers!💫💕
Another excellent song. Thanks for sharing! :)
You are welcome Lashaan. Thank you for visiting. Sam Cooke’s calm voice, lyrics and music are still amazing to date! Stay safe! Keep safe! 💕💕💕
As smooth as they come…love me some Sam Cooke !
Interesting details on his death. One of my favs. from the early years of rock, soul, and such…
Big scandal!
Yes it was. The incident is still being investigated by his family today, I’m sure!
Wow! That happened 50 years ago, I believe.
That sounds about right. Hey, enjoy your weekend…
The weekend with me starts on Friday. Maybe you are having an early, Thursday start. So, be blessed and stay blessed! :)
Well, I was taking an early day yesterday. Like many others, I had some chores to run. But as a result, I’m now behind going into my weekend. I also knock off on Friday afternoon until Monday morning…You be blessed as well, my friend!
Steve
☀😎 Hey, keep it restful and right!!!
Some good advice and very well said! Thank you…
Justifiable my ass! Bertha Franklin is burning for what she did to Sam. Freaking psycho killed someone else at the hotel a few months before she murdered Sam Cooke. 😦 RIP Sam
Very controversial. i have heard and read so much about Cooke’s death…i love his music! May he RIP!
Love ❤️ Sam Cooke… his music 🎶 is a legend to me…
….and to many others. :-)
Love Sam Cooke! Silly smooth, he was.
So do I.. so do I… ❤️