Sam Cooke
22 January 1931 – 11 December 1964
Sam Cooke was an American singer and songwriter who moved from gospel music to popular music and became a central figure in the development of soul. After leading the gospel group the Soul Stirrers he had a run of hits beginning with 'You Send Me' in 1957, and he founded his own record label and publishing company. He was shot and killed in Los Angeles in 1964 at the age of 33.
Lived at the same time
Well-documented people whose lives overlapped with Sam Cooke.
- A. Philip Randolph (1889–1979) Overlapped 33 years →
- Adonis (1930–present) Overlapped 33 years →
- Ahmad Shamlou (1925–2000) Overlapped 33 years →
- Akio Morita (1921–1999) Overlapped 33 years →
- Alan Paton (1903–1988) Overlapped 33 years →
- Aldo Moro (1916–1978) Overlapped 33 years →
Life events
He was one of eight children of a Baptist minister.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgThe Cooke family joined the Great Migration to the South Side of Chicago.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgHe replaced R. H. Harris in the established gospel quartet.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgHis first major pop single reached number one on the Billboard charts.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgCooke married Campbell, whom he had known since childhood.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgThe move to a major label produced hits including 'Chain Gang' and 'Twistin' the Night Away'.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgHe established his own label, an unusual step for a Black recording artist of the period.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgThe song, released as a single after his death, became an anthem of the civil rights movement.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgCooke was shot at a motel in Los Angeles; the shooting was ruled a justifiable homicide.
Source: en.wikipedia.org