Cooke's music laid the groundwork for future soul artists, influencing legends like Aretha Franklin and Marvin Gaye.
In 1999, Cooke received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing his lasting impact on music.
Cooke's life was tragically cut short when he was shot and killed in 1964, a death that remains controversial.
Biography
Early Life
Samuel Cooke, known as Sam Cooke, was born on January 22, 1931, in Clarksdale, Mississippi. He was the fifth of eight children in a family led by Rev. Charles Cook, a Baptist minister, and Annie Mae Carroll. The family moved to Chicago in 1933, where Cooke began singing in his father's church choir and formed a group called the Singing Children at just six years old. By the age of 14, he became the lead singer of the Highway Q.C.'s, a gospel group, and befriended fellow gospel singer Lou Rawls.
Career
In 1950, Cooke replaced R. H. Harris as the lead singer of The Soul Stirrers, a prominent gospel group. Under his leadership, they recorded several influential gospel songs, including "Jesus Gave Me Water" and "Peace in the Valley." However, in 1956, Cooke left the group to pursue a solo career in secular music, which led to some backlash from the gospel community. He quickly found success, releasing his first pop song, "Lovable," and later hits like "Twistin' the Night Away" and "Ain't That Good News." Over his career, Cooke released 29 singles that charted in the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100.
Personal Life and Legacy
Cooke was married twice, first to Dolores Elizabeth Milligan, and later to Barbara Campbell, with whom he had three children. He was also a significant figure in the civil rights movement, using his platform to advocate for racial equality. Tragically, Cooke's life was cut short when he was shot and killed in 1964, a death ruled justifiable homicide. Despite his untimely passing, Cooke's influence on soul music is profound, inspiring artists like Aretha Franklin and Marvin Gaye. He has been posthumously honored with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Collected from open sources (4) · facts link to sources · AI-processed
Discography
For Sentimental Reasons1988
- 1.Along the Navajo Trail3:04
- 2.Someday2:16
- 3.I Cover the Waterfront2:11
- 4.Ain’t Misbehavin’1:57
- 5.There I’ve Said It Again1:58
- 6.When I Fall in Love2:43
- 7.Let’s Go Steady Again2:32
- 8.So Long2:36
- 9.Summertime2:20
- 10.For Sentimental Reasons2:34
- 11.Good Morning Heartaches2:03
- 12.Ain’t Nobody’s Business2:23
- 13.Comes Love2:24
- 14.Bells of St. Mary’s2:11
- 15.Lover Come Back to Me2:09
- 16.Moonlight in Vermont2:37
This Is Sam Cooke1971
- 1.Frankie and Johnny
- 2.You Send Me
- 3.Sad Mood
- 4.Summertime
- 5.Chain Gang
- 6.Feel It
- 7.(I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons
- 8.Another Saturday Night
- 9.Wonderful World
- 10.Having a Party
- 11.Baby, Baby, Baby
- 12.Only Sixteen
- 13.Love Will Find a Way
- 14.Bring It On Home to Me
- 15.Twistin’ the Night Away
- 16.Little Red Rooster
- 17.Cupid
- 18.Sugar Dumpling
- 19.Send Me Some Lovin’
- 20.Everybody Loves to Cha Cha Cha
Sam Cooke1970
- 1.You’re Always on My Mind2:12
- 2.If I Had You (I’d Be Happy)2:20
- 3.Don’t Cry on My Shoulder2:40
- 4.Out in the Cold Again2:25
- 5.You Belong to Me2:44
- 6.Baby Won’t You Please Come Home2:08
- 7.Little Things You Do2:13
- 8.Long, Long Ago3:00
- 9.I Fall in Love Every Day2:07
The Two Sides of Sam Cooke1970
- 1.The Last Mile of the Way3:01
- 2.Touch the Hem of His Garment2:06
- 3.Jesus Gave Me Water2:34
- 4.Were You There2:32
- 5.Pilgrim of Sorrow2:39
- 6.He’s My Guide2:37
- 7.I’ll Come Running Back to You2:17
- 8.I Don’t Want to Cry2:53
- 9.Lovable2:27
- 10.That’s All I Need to Know2:26
- 11.Forever3:02
- 12.Happy in Love2:00
The One and Only1968
- 1.Jamaica Farewell2:36
- 2.Don’t Get Around Much Anymore3:14
- 3.Far Away Places3:32
- 4.Little Girl Blue3:00
- 5.The Song is Ended (but the Melody Lingers On)2:11
- 6.Bali Haʻi3:24
- 7.Trouble in Mind3:03
- 8.They Call the Wind Maria3:00
- 9.Swing Low, Sweet Chariot3:11
- 10.Since I Met You Baby3:06
The Best of Sam Cooke, Volume 21965
Tracklist not collected yet.
Shake1965
- 1.Shake2:42
- 2.Yeah Man2:32
- 3.Win Your Love for Me2:20
- 4.Love You Most of All2:19
- 5.Meet Me at Mary’s Place2:40
- 6.It’s Got the Whole World Shakin’2:42
- 7.A Change Is Gonna Come2:36
- 8.I’m in the Mood for Love3:23
- 9.You’re Nobody Till Somebody Loves You2:56
- 10.Comes Love2:28
- 11.I’m Just a Country Boy2:40
- 12.(Somebody) Ease My Troublin’ Mind2:53
Try a Little Love1965
- 1.Try a Little Love2:37
- 2.Don’t Cry on My Shoulder2:40
- 3.Bridge of Tears2:49
- 4.I Fall in Love Every Day2:07
- 5.You’re Always on My Mind2:12
- 6.Almost in Your Arms2:01
- 7.When a Boy Falls in Love2:29
- 8.To Each His Own3:04
- 9.Tammy3:30
- 10.The Gypsy2:30
- 11.The Little Things You Do2:13
- 12.You Send Me2:41
Ain’t That Good News1964
- 1.(Ain’t That) Good News2:30
- 2.Meet Me at Mary’s Place2:44
- 3.Good Times2:28
- 4.Rome (Wasn’t Built in a Day)2:34
- 5.Another Saturday Night2:42
- 6.Tennessee Waltz3:12
- 7.A Change Is Gonna Come3:13
- 8.Falling in Love2:45
- 9.Home (When Shadows Fall)2:32
- 10.Sittin’ In the Sun3:18
- 11.There’ll Be No Second Time3:03
- 12.The Riddle Song2:29
3 Great Guys1963
- 1.I Can’t Say a Word2:17
- 2.No, No2:22
- 3.I’m Gonna Forget About You2:18
- 4.Tenderness2:15
- 5.The Endless Night2:13
- 6.Too Late2:45
- 7.Laugh, Laugh, Laugh2:25
- 8.I Remember2:21
- 9.I Ain’t Gonna Cheat on You No More2:20
- 10.Talkin’ Trash2:12
- 11.Without Your Love2:58
- 12.Another Day, Another Heartache2:35
Night Beat1963
- 1.Nobody Knows the Trouble I’ve Seen3:26
- 2.Lost and Lookin’2:12
- 3.Mean Old World3:48
- 4.Please Don’t Drive Me Away2:14
- 5.I Lost Everything3:25
- 6.Get Yourself Another Fool4:06
- 7.Little Red Rooster2:53
- 8.Laughin’ and Clownin’3:37
- 9.Trouble Blues3:22
- 10.You Gotta Move2:39
- 11.Fool’s Paradise2:34
- 12.Shake Rattle and Roll3:17
Mr. Soul1963
- 1.I Wish You Love2:27
- 2.Willow Weep for Me2:29
- 3.Chains of Love2:52
- 4.Smoke Rings3:27
- 5.All the Way3:31
- 6.Send Me Some Lovin’2:40
- 7.Cry Me a River2:49
- 8.Driftin’ Blues3:19
- 9.For Sentimental Reasons3:18
- 10.Nothing Can Change This Love2:40
- 11.Little Girl2:37
- 12.These Foolish Things4:02
Twistin’ the Night Away1962
Tracklist not collected yet.
The Best of Sam Cooke1962
Tracklist not collected yet.
My Kind of Blues1961
Tracklist not collected yet.
Sam’s Songs1961
Tracklist not collected yet.
Swing Low1961
Tracklist not collected yet.
Hits of the 50’s1960
Tracklist not collected yet.
Cooke’s Tour1960
Tracklist not collected yet.
I Thank God1960
Tracklist not collected yet.
The Wonderful World of Sam Cooke1960
Tracklist not collected yet.
Tribute to the Lady1959
Tracklist not collected yet.
Hit Kit1959
Tracklist not collected yet.
Encore1958
Tracklist not collected yet.
Songs by Sam Cooke1958
Tracklist not collected yet.
Gallery
Label
- Record label
- Specialty
Achievements
- Award
- Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award
- Award
- star on Hollywood Walk of Fame
- Award
- Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Influenced by
Groups
- The Highway Q.C.’scurrent
- The Soul Stirrers1950–1956
- The Pilgrim Travelers
Similar artists
Archive
Passport
Identifiers & aliases
Also known as: Sam Cook, Samuel Cook
Samuel Cooke was an American soul singer and songwriter. Considered one of the most influential soul artists of all time, Cooke is commonly referred to as the "King of Soul" for his distinctive vocals, pioneering contributions to the genre, and significance in popular music. During his thirteen-year career, Cooke released 29 singles that charted in the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100 chart, as well as 20 singles in the Top 10 of Billboard's Black Singles chart. In 1964, he was shot and killed by the manager of a motel in Los Angeles. After an inquest and investigation, the courts ruled Cooke's death to be a justifiable homicide. His family has since questioned the circumstances of his death. In 2015, Cooke was ranked number 28 in Billboard magazine's list of the "35 Greatest R&B Artists of All Time".
All links
Opinions of fans — not verified facts.
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