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Sam Cooke


Cooke recording in the studio
Background information
Birth name Samuel Cook[1]
Also known as Dale Cooke
Born January 22, 1931(1931-01-22)
Clarksdale, Mississippi
Origin Chicago, Illinois
Died December 11, 1964 (aged 33)
Los Angeles, California
Genres R&B, soul, gospel, pop
Occupations Singer-songwriter, entrepreneur
Instruments Vocals, piano, guitar
Years active 1950–1964
Labels Specialty, Keen, RCA
Associated acts The Soul Stirrers
Bobby Womack
Johnnie Taylor
Samuel "Sam" Cook (January 22, 1931 – December 11, 1964) was an American gospel, R&B, soul, and pop singer, songwriter, and entrepreneur. He is considered to be one of the pioneers and founders of soul music. He is commonly known as The King of Soul for his unmatched vocal abilities and impact and influence on the modern world of music. His contribution in pioneering Soul music led to the rise of Aretha Franklin, Bobby Womack, Curtis Mayfield, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, and popularizing the likes of Otis Redding and James Brown.[2][3][4]

Cooke had 29 top-40 hits in the U.S. between 1957 and 1964. Major hits like "You Send Me", "A Change Is Gonna Come", "Chain Gang", "Wonderful World", and "Bring It on Home to Me" 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 American Civil Rights Movement.[5]

On December 11, 1964, Cooke was shot to death by the manager of the Hacienda Motel in Los Angeles, California at the age of 33. At the time, the courts ruled that Cooke was drunk and distressed, and the manager killed Cooke in what was later ruled a justifiable homicide. Since that time, the circumstances of his death have been widely questioned.

Contents [hide]
1 Early life and career
1.1 Crossover pop success
2 Death
2.1 Controversy