Sam Cooke facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sam Cooke |
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Cooke in 1963
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Samuel Cook |
| Born | January 22, 1931 Clarksdale, Mississippi, U.S. |
| Origin | Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Died | December 11, 1964 (aged 33) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
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| Years active | 1951–1964 |
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Samuel Cook (born January 22, 1931 – died December 11, 1964) was an American singer and songwriter. He was known professionally as Sam Cooke. Many people call him the "King of Soul". This is because of his amazing voice and how much he helped create soul music. He influenced many other artists.
Sam Cooke was born in Clarksdale, Mississippi. His family moved to Chicago when he was very young. He started singing as a child. In the 1950s, he became the lead singer for the Soul Stirrers. In 1957, he started his solo career. He released many hit songs. These include "You Send Me", "A Change Is Gonna Come", and "Wonderful World".
During his eight years as a solo artist, Cooke had 29 songs in the Top 40 on the Billboard Pop Singles chart. He also had 20 songs in the Top Ten on Billboard's Black Singles chart. His music helped other famous artists like Aretha Franklin and Stevie Wonder. Music expert Bruce Eder called Cooke "the inventor of soul music." He said Cooke had an "incredible natural singing voice."
Cooke was also important in the Civil Rights Movement. He used his fame to help fight for equality. He was friends with boxer Muhammad Ali, activist Malcolm X, and football player Jim Brown. They all worked together for racial equality.
Contents
Early Life and Music Beginnings
Sam Cooke was born Samuel Cook in Clarksdale, Mississippi, in 1931. He added the "e" to his last name in 1957. This was to show a new start in his music career. He was one of eight children. His father, Rev. Charles Cook, was a minister.
His family moved to Chicago in 1933. Sam went to Doolittle Elementary and Wendell Phillips Academy High School. This was the same school that Nat King Cole attended. Sam started singing with his brothers and sisters when he was six. Their group was called the Singing Children. As a teenager, he became known as the lead singer for the Highway Q.C.'s. He joined this group when he was 14. During this time, he became friends with Lou Rawls, another gospel singer.
Music Career Highlights
Singing with The Soul Stirrers
In 1950, Sam Cooke became the lead singer for the Soul Stirrers. This was a famous gospel group. Their first song with Cooke was "Jesus Gave Me Water" in 1951. They also recorded other gospel songs like "Peace in the Valley". Cooke helped make gospel music popular with younger fans. Many young girls would rush to see him perform.
Billboard magazine listed Cooke as one of the "35 Greatest R&B Artists Of All Time" in 2015. They noted his hit song "You Send Me" and his work for civil rights.
Becoming a Pop Star
Sam Cooke had 30 songs that reached the U.S. Top 40 between 1957 and 1964. Three more hits were released after he passed away. Some of his most famous songs include "You Send Me", "A Change Is Gonna Come", and "Twistin' the Night Away". His album Twistin' the Night Away was one of his best sellers.
Cooke was one of the first Black artists to take control of his music business. He started his own record label and a publishing company. He also played an active part in the Civil Rights Movement.
His first pop song was "Lovable" in 1956. It was a new version of his gospel song "Wonderful". He used the name "Dale Cook" for this song. This was to avoid upsetting his gospel fans. At that time, many gospel singers did not sing secular music. But everyone still recognized his unique voice. Cooke later said his father, a pastor, supported his move to pop music. His father told him that sharing his voice and talent to make people happy was important. He then started using the name "Sam Cooke" for his pop career.
In 1957, Cooke appeared on ABC's The Guy Mitchell Show. He then signed with Keen Records. His first big hit, "You Send Me", reached No. 1 on the Billboard R&B chart. It also spent three weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard pop chart. This success greatly increased his earnings.
In 1958, Cooke performed at the Cavalcade of Jazz concert in Los Angeles. Other famous artists like Ray Charles also performed there.
Cooke signed with RCA Victor in 1960. He was offered a large amount of money for this deal. One of his first RCA Victor songs was "Chain Gang", which reached No. 2 on the pop chart. More hits followed, like "Cupid" and "Bring It On Home to Me".
In 1961, Cooke started his own record label, SAR Records. He worked with J. W. Alexander and his manager, Roy Crain. This label helped other artists like Bobby Womack and Johnnie Taylor. Cooke also created a publishing company called Kags.
Cooke wrote most of the songs he recorded. He also helped with how the songs were arranged. He released a blues album called Night Beat in 1963. His album Ain't That Good News came out in 1964. It included five hit songs.
Personal Life
Sam Cooke was married two times. His first marriage was to Dolores Elizabeth Milligan Cook. They divorced in 1958.
In 1958, he married Barbara Campbell in Chicago. His father performed the wedding ceremony. They had three children: Linda, Tracy, and Vincent. Sadly, Vincent passed away at a young age.
Passing Away
Sam Cooke passed away in 1964 in Los Angeles.
His first funeral was held in Chicago. About 200,000 fans came to see his body. Then, his body was taken to Los Angeles for a second service. Ray Charles performed a song there. Cooke was buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, California.
Two songs and an album were released after his death. One song, "Shake", became a top ten hit. The other song, "A Change Is Gonna Come", is a famous protest song from the Civil Rights Movement. It was a Top 40 pop hit. The album, also called Shake, reached number one on the R&B albums chart.
Legacy and Honors
Portrayals in Film and Stage
Sam Cooke has been shown in movies and plays.
- In the 1978 film The Buddy Holly Story, he was played by Paul Mooney.
- In the stage play One Night in Miami (2013), he was played by Arinzé Kene.
- In the 2020 film One Night in Miami..., Leslie Odom Jr. played him. Leslie Odom Jr. was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for this role.
Awards and Recognitions
Sam Cooke has received many honors for his music.
- In 1986, he was one of the first people inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
- In 1987, he was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
- In 1989, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame again with the Soul Stirrers.
- On February 1, 1994, he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
- He never won a Grammy Award during his life. But in 1999, he received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
- In 2004, Rolling Stone magazine ranked him 16th on its list of the "100 Greatest Artists of All Time".
- In 2008, Rolling Stone named him the fourth "Greatest Singer of All Time".
- In 2008, he received the first plaque on the Clarksdale Walk of Fame in his hometown.
- In 2009, he was honored with a marker on the Mississippi Blues Trail in Clarksdale.
- In June 2011, a street in Chicago was renamed "Sam Cooke Way" in his honor.
- In 2013, he was inducted into the National Rhythm and Blues Music Hall of Fame.
- The words "A change is gonna come" from his song are on a wall at the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture.
- Cooke is also in the Mississippi Musicians Hall of Fame.
- In 2020, Dion released a song called "Song for Sam Cooke (Here in America)" as a tribute.
- In 2023, Rolling Stone named him the third "Greatest Singer of All Time".
Albums
- Sam Cooke (1958)
- Encore (1958)
- Tribute to the Lady (1959)
- Cooke's Tour (1960)
- Hits of the 50's (1960)
- Swing Low (1961)
- My Kind of Blues (1961)
- Twistin' the Night Away (1962)
- Mr. Soul (1963)
- Night Beat (1963)
- Ain't That Good News (1964)
Images for kids
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Cooke in Billboard, 1965, released after his death
See also
In Spanish: Sam Cooke para niños
