Home > Blogs > Post Content

BLACK IN TIME: A Moment In OUR History (391 hits)

Sam Cooke

Sam Cooke, The Man Many Consider The Greatest Soul Singer Ever, And One Of The Founders Of The Soul Music Genre, Was Born January 22, 1931, In Clarksdale Mississippi. His Family Moved To Chicago In 1933.

Cooke Began Singing Gospel As A Child, With His Brothers And Sisters. He Joined The Highway QC's As A Teenager And Became A Member Of The Soul Stirrers At The Age Of 19 And Was An Instant A Gospel Superstar.

Cooke Eventually Decided To Leave Gospel And Record R&B. In 1956 His First Record, "Lovable," On Specialty Records, Was Recorded Under The Alias, Dale Cooke, In Order Not To Alienate His Gospel Fans. However, Because Of His Unique Vocal Style, No One Was Fooled.

In 1957, Cooke Signed With Keen Records And Released, "You Send Me," Which Spent Six Weeks At 1, On The Billboard R&B Chart. "You Send Me" Was Actually The B-Side Of Cooke's Rendition Of George Gershwin's "Summertime."

During The Next Several Years, Sam Cooke's Popularity Grew, Along With Hit After Hit Record. These Included "Chain Gang," "Another Saturday Night," Bring It On Home To Me," "Wonderful World," "Only Sixteen," "Twistin' The Night Away," "(I Love You For) Sentimental Reasons," "Cupid," "Sugar Dumpling," "Shake," And "A Change Is Gonna Come" (Generally Regarded As His Best Composition).

Sam Cooke's Music Has Stood The Test Of Time, Due In Large Part To The Countless Artists He Has Inspired. His Songs Have Been Covered By Everyone -- From Otis Redding, Cat Stevens, James Taylor And The Beatles, To The Supremes. His Vocal Phrasing Has Influenced Singers (Black And White), Including Smokey Robinson, Lou Rawls, Marvin Gaye, Bobby Womack, Rod Stewart, Steve Perry, Bruce Springsteen, Van Morrison, Terrence Trent Darby And David Ruffin.

On December 11, 1964, Sam Cooke Was Shot And Killed By Bertha Franklin During An Argument At The Hacienda Motel. Franklin Claimed Self-Defense, But The Specific Circumstances Of The Event Are Still In Dispute.

Sam Cooke Was Inducted Into The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame In 1986.

Sam Cooke On "TheTonight Show," Feb. 7, 1964

Find more videos like this on SOUL MUSIC HAVEN

"In Order For Black History To Live, We Must Continue To Breathe Life Into It." -- Hubert Gaddy, Jr.

Hugh Gaddy

Create Your Badge

Posted By: Hugh Gaddy
Thursday, January 21st 2010 at 7:46PM
You can also click here to view all posts by this author...

Report obscenity | post comment

Share |

Didn't Sam Cooke make or sang the "Answer is Blowing in the Wind" song. I use to love that song. From what I read about him being shot. I think it was very usual for him to put himself in such a unusual position.
Thursday, January 21st 2010 at 11:10PM
Helen Lofton

Hey Helen,

Sam Cooke did a cover version of Bob Dylan's, "Blowin' In The Wind." He was touched by the lyrics and said that song should have been written by a Black man. That's the song that inspired Sam to write "A Change Is Gonna Come."
Friday, January 22nd 2010 at 12:33PM
Hugh Gaddy

To Be Loved!!! O what a feeling to be loved!!! Talented, beauty, and so very s*xy... The female who shot him was his lover... WOW! Beautiful talented man,,,, Thanks Gaddy... Kepping our history alive!!
Friday, May 14th 2010 at 9:59PM
Cynthia Merrill Artis

Hello to All,

What if Sam Cooke mean when he said, “"A Change Is Gonna Come."?

Whom was he talking to and for what purpose?

Tell me what you think.

Saturday, May 15th 2010 at 8:27PM
Harry Watley

I LIKE THE WAY THIS PAGE IS SET UP !
Wednesday, September 15th 2010 at 8:43PM
DAVID JOHNSON

It's been a long...a long time coming but I know...a change gone come...oh yes it will...
Sunday, September 19th 2010 at 3:46PM
Siebra Muhammad