Today is the birthday of the great and influential singer Sam Cooke (January 22, 1931 – December 11, 1964) who was gunned down at the young age of 33. He was an African-American recording artist, singer-songwriter and entrepreneur. He is commonly known as the King of Soul for his distinctive vocal abilities and influence on the modern world of music. His pioneering contributions to soul music led 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. Cooke had 30 U.S. top 40 hits between 1957 and 1964, and a further three after his death. 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 African-American Civil Rights Movement.
Posted on: Wed, 22 Jan 2014 18:00:00 +0000
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