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Sam Cooke
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Chicago, United States (1950 – 1964)
Sam Cooke (Samuel Cook, Clarksdale, Mississippi, January 22, 1931 – Los Angeles, California, December 11, 1964) was a popular and influential American gospel, R&B, soul, pop singer, songwriter, and entrepreneur. Recognized as one of the true founders of soul music.
Sam Cooke (he added an “e” onto the end of his name because he thought it added a touch of class) was one of eight children of Rev. Charles and Mrs. Annie Mae Cook. The family moved to Chicago in 1933.
Cooke began his musical career as a member of a quartet with his siblings, the Singing Children, followed by a turn as a teenager as a member of the Highway QCs, a gospel group. In 1950, at the age of 19, he joined The Soul Stirrers and achieved significant success and fame within the gospel community.
His first pop single, “Lovable” (1956) was released under the alias of “Dale Cooke,” in order to not alienate his fan base; there was a considerable taboo against gospel singers performing secular music. However, the alias failed to hide Cooke’s unique and distinctive vocals. No one was fooled. Art Rupe, head of Specialty Records, the label of the Soul Stirrers, gave his blessing for Cooke to record secular music under his real name, but was unhappy about the type of music Cooke and Bumps Blackwell, Cooke’s pop producer, were making. Rupe expected Cooke’s secular music to be similar to that of another Specialty Records artist, Little Richard. When Rupe walked in on a recording session and heard Cooke covering Gershwin, he was quite upset.
Sam Cooke (he added an “e” onto the end of his name because he thought it added a touch of class) was one of eight children of Rev. Charles and Mrs. Annie Mae Cook. The family moved to Chicago in 1933.
Cooke began his musical career as a member of a quartet with his siblings, the Singing Children, followed by a turn as a teenager as a member of the Highway QCs, a gospel group. In 1950, at the age of 19, he joined The Soul Stirrers and achieved significant success and fame within the gospel community.
His first pop single, “Lovable” (1956) was released under the alias of “Dale Cooke,” in order to not alienate his fan base; there was a considerable taboo against gospel singers performing secular music. However, the alias failed to hide Cooke’s unique and distinctive vocals. No one was fooled. Art Rupe, head of Specialty Records, the label of the Soul Stirrers, gave his blessing for Cooke to record secular music under his real name, but was unhappy about the type of music Cooke and Bumps Blackwell, Cooke’s pop producer, were making. Rupe expected Cooke’s secular music to be similar to that of another Specialty Records artist, Little Richard. When Rupe walked in on a recording session and heard Cooke covering Gershwin, he was quite upset.
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Tribute To The Lady
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Summertime
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The Man and His Music
Sam Cooke
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Portrait of a Legend 1951-1964
Sam Cooke Buy- Download Album
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Cupid
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You Send Me
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Twistin' The Night Away
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Nothing Can Change This Love
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Having A Party
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Another Saturday Night
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I'll Come Running Back To You
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Everybody Loves to Cha Cha Cha
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Sad Mood
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Shoutbox
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killswitcher99 wrote:
the voice of an angel! [3]
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whiteclef1 wrote:
i love all his songs <3
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danmontoyar wrote:
i love his music :)
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paulathemis wrote:
the voice of an angel! [2]
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wellhart wrote:
Sam Cooke is in "Best Singers of All Time" Group, Join us!
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RippedtGhraphiX wrote:
Sammy Sam Forever!!
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ediblecereal wrote:
Thank you sir for the chills that run through me [2]
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zoot_suit_riot wrote:
Thank you sir for the chills that run through me
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shleg wrote:
чувак, в россии любят тебя!
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EmpressEricka wrote:
happy bornday!
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AnoushkaShankar wrote:
22 January 1931 - 22 January 2010 I Love Sam Cooke
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shesadoll wrote:
I think i would be the happiest girl in the world if he'd sing to me every morning. I love his voice and the way he performed. Truly Mr Soul.
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garyrevel wrote:
DOG WITH JUST ONE EYE New Gary Revel music video on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vxcqcrhs6xU
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Yunckzilla wrote:
I say I don't want you operator, I want my BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYAAAAAAAABAAAAAY.
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johnnyvolume wrote:
No soul singer could ever be better than Sam Cooke
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kiwibeard wrote:
Sam Cooke as a ringtone is stupid
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perkins_o1 wrote:
he looks so cool
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BostonIrish wrote:
45 years ago today music lost a legend
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jeanses wrote:
Change was come.
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jeanses wrote:
R.I.P. Sam!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Recent Activity
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ThomasCrownC, Broken-Stones, garrettstark and 6 other people added Sam Cooke to their libraries. 30 minutes ago
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ronny_ramone tagged Sam Cooke with ‘rhythm and blues’. yesterday evening
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allmybestforyou tagged Sam Cooke with blues, gospel and soul. yesterday afternoon
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jeromewilliams1 connected Sam Cooke to the group Love the sound of music. Monday evening
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draggingmyheels, funkymama227, slendabenda and 2 other people added Sam Cooke to their libraries. Monday morning
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abatage tagged Sam Cooke with blues and soul. Monday morning
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Groups (84)
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Sam Cooke
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Golden Tunes Vertigo
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Late 1950s, Early 1960s
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