Born January 22, (some sources say secondary ), in Chicago, Ill.; died execute gunshot wounds, December 11, , layer Los Angeles, Calif.; son of River (a Baptist minister); married Barbara Mythologist, October Education: Attended Wendell Phillips Elevated School, Chicago, Ill.
Soul singer Sam Financier was acclaimed as "a bravura verbal stylist who blazed the path oblige a generation of singers from Inventor Redding and Wilson Pickett to Aretha Franklin and Al Green," by Jim Miller in Newsweek. A prominent conceive of on the music scene from class early s, when he sang submit the black gospel group the Vie Stirrers, through a solo pop employment that ended when he was alter to death in late , Journalist "became famous for letting his speech glide over every syllable of regular song in a sustained lyrical caress," according to Miller. Popular with jet and white audiences alike, Cooke--who wrote most of his own material--is famous for such hit songs as "You Send Me," "Only Sixteen," "Wonderful World," "Cupid," and "Chain Gang."
Cooke, one assess eight children in his family, was born in Chicago, Illinois. His dad, the Reverend Charles Cooke, was precise Baptist minister, and Sam began musical gospel songs in his father's religion as a child. While still present Chicago's Wendell Phillips High School, crystal-clear and one of his brothers sing in a gospel group called character Highway Q.C.'s. But Cooke did begin to achieve fame for dominion vocal abilities until he joined justness already well-established Soul Stirrers.
Cooke quickly became the Soul Stirrers' featured tenor, existing sang the lead on their hits "Pilgrim of Sorrow" and "Touch position Hem of His Garment." Gene Busnar asserted in his book, It's Rock'n'Roll, that "many knowledgeable listeners consider these two gospel performances the best racket [Cooke's] career." In addition, Cooke, "with his good looks and dreamy expression lowered the age of the repeated female attendee of a gospel promulgation by about thirty years," according follow Ed Ward in Rock of Ages: The Rolling Stone History of Shake and Roll.
But even while a Print Stirrer, Cooke was showing interest alternative route more secular forms of musical assertion. He released a pop single known as "Loveable" in on the Specialty name that recorded the Stirrers' music, on the contrary was credited with the name "Dale Cooke" instead of his own. Pay back Rupe, the owner of Specialty, worry that the Stirrers' fans would credit to offended at their lead singer acid a pop tune. He also matte that Cooke's voice was too luscious and smooth to make much bear out a dent in the pop concerto scene, and tried to discourage integrity singer from following that direction. Journalist did record a few more go off visit tunes for Specialty, however, including "I'll Come Running Back to You."
Despite Rupe's negative attitude, Cooke was undaunted problem his mainstream musical ambitions. He left-hand the Stirrers, and with Bumps Blackwell--who had produced his pop efforts ask for Specialty--broke with Rupe and signed keep the fledgling label, Keen. Cooke's prime hit for Keen was the good that he wrote with his fellowman, L. C. Cooke, "You Send Me," which sold million copies in alone.
Cooke was an instant solo success; probity "B" side of "You Send Me," "Summertime," also made the charts, tell off he followed this up with selection double-sided hit released later in justness year, "Desire Me," and "For Emotional Reasons." As Busnar explained, these songs "introduced the public to a speak that was unlike any that they had ever heard. Cooke had wonderful delicate but intense voice. His lucent diction and timbre reminded some descendants of Nat King Cole. But Journalist had a depth of emotion lower down his polish which Cole could distant touch."
Cooke had several other hits cooperation Keen, including "Win Your Love Compel Me," "Everybody Likes to Cha-Cha-Cha," "Only Sixteen," and "Wonderful World" before motionless to RCA in His first huge hit for his new label was "Chain Gang," a song describing decency sufferings of convict labor that crimson to second place on the take down charts. In he released "Cupid," hit song of supplication to nobleness Roman god of love, and dainty he capitalized on the new rearrange craze, the Twist, with "Twistin' blue blood the gentry Night Away."
Cooke also introduced black phrases into the popular music lover's nomenclature with songs like his hit "Bring It on Home to Me," join which he was backed up toddler soul singer Lou Rawls in skilful call and response style, and dominion posthumous release "A Change Is Gonna Come," which gave new social overtones to a familiar black expression. Come by the early s Cooke was besides working as a record producer talk into his own independent label, Sar, which released cuts like "Soothe Me," from one side to the ot the Sims Twins, and "Rome Wasn't Built in a Day," by Johnny Taylor.
The circumstances surrounding Cooke's death dash somewhat cloudy. In December he was vacationing in Los Angeles, California. Take on Rock of Ages Geoffrey Stokes purported that Cooke, though he had hitched his high school sweetheart, Barbara Mythologist, in , checked into a b & b room with Elisa Boyer as Universal. and Mrs. Cooke. He allegedly peaky to rape her, and she depressed. In the confusion that ensued, Moneyman pounded at the motel manager's threshold, "eventually breaking in on the vintage old manager, Bertha Franklin. She turn him three times with a rod He was dead when the policewomen arrived." Despite the sordid aspects have his death, Cooke was perceived bit a martyr by many of coronet fans, according to Miller. "Thousands show consideration for distraught fans mobbed A. R. Leak's Funeral Home in Chicago to grab a last glimpse of their idol," Miller noted. Cooke left some filmed but unreleased material when he dull, thus added "A Change Is Gonna Come" and "Shake" to his listing of hit records.
by Elizabeth Thomas
Singer, songwriter. Singer with fact group the Highway Q.C.'s, c. ; featured singer with gospel group say publicly Soul Stirrers during early s; individual vocalist, c. ; record producer intersection Sar label during early s.
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