Sam Cooke was a popular and influential singer who blended gospel music and secular themes to provide the early foundation of soul music. Cooke's pure, clear vocals influenced pop singers and R&B artists such as Marvin Gaye, Aretha Franklin, Ben E. King and many others.
Sam Cook was born in Clarksdale, Mississippi in 1931, son of a Baptist minister. The family moved to Chicago in 1933. As a teenager he sang with a gospel group. In 1950 he joined the Soul Stirrers as lead vocalist, where he soon established a solid reputation within the gospel community.
His first pop single "Lovable" was released in 1956 under a pseudonym to avoid upsetting fans of his gospel singing. His 1957 single "You Send Me" spent six weeks at the top of the R&B charts, and three weeks at the top of the pop charts. In 1960, "Chain Gang" reached #2 on the pop charts, and was followed by a series of hits in the early 1960s: "Cupid", "Twistin' The Night Away", "Another Saturday Night" and "Frankie and Johnny". .
"Bring It On Home To Me", released in 1961, had Lou Rawls as back-up vocalist, and was later covered by a long list of artists, including Otis Redding, John Lennon and Van Morrison. The single "Shake", with "A Change Is Going To Come" on the flipside, released posthumously in 1965, is one of the greatest of all R&B / Soul singles.
As well as being a performer, Sam Cooke was a successful entrepreneur. He produced records for other singers, and founded his own publishing company and record label.
Sam Cooke was murdered at the height of his career in a motel in 1964, aged 34.
You Send Me
Having a Party
LinksOfficial Sam Cooke Site
|