Sam Cooke

Sam Cooke was born January 22, 1931 in Clarksdale, Mississippi. He was one of eight children of Charles Cook Sr. , a Baptist minister. When Sam sang as a little boy in church, everyone made note that his voice had "something special". He sang in church and in local gospel choirs until a group called the Highway Q. C. 's asked him to sing with them at various venues. By the time he reached 20, Sam's voice was a finely honed instrument and he was noted for bringing the spirit up in churchgoers. When Sam replaced R. H. Harris, the legendary lead singer for the extremely popular gospel group The Soul Stirrers, it was the beginning of his meteoric rise. Cooke sang with the group for six years, traveling back and forth across the country and gaining a wealth of knowledge regarding how black people were treated. His refusal to sing at a segregated concert led to what many have described as one of the first real efforts in civil disobedience and helped usher in the new Civil Rights Movement. After several gospel albums, Sam decided it was time to cross over from gospel (against almost everyone's advice) to record some soul and rhythm & blues. His hypnotically smooth voice, not to mention his finely chiseled good looks, brought him almost instant success.

Attended and graduated from Wendell Phillips High School in Chicago, Illinois (1948).

Lead singer of the gospel group The Soul Stirrers from 1950-56.

Released his first popular single "Lovable" (1956) under the name of Dale Cooke. At the time, there were negative feelings in the gospel singing community about popular music.

His first single released in 1957 was "You Send Me", which sold over a million copies and made Sam an "overnight success" in the business. He was on his way to becoming the biggest voice on the radio. Record producers vied to sign him to a contract.

Sam married his high school sweetheart, Barbara Campbell, in 1959 and they had three children.

In 1960 he became the first major black artist to sign with RCA Records. Sam was not happy with the deal and when the time was right decided to start his own publishing company (KAGS Music) to keep control over his music and his own record company (SAR/Derby) to keep control of his money.

Tragically, their youngest child, Vincent, drowned in their swimming pool at age four in June 1964.

He screen-tested for a role in the period drama The Cincinnati Kid (1965).

Mentioned in the 1974 song "Life Is a Rock but the Radio Rolled Me" by Reunion.

Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (1986) (as a charter member) and the American Songwriters Hall of Fame (1987).

Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (as a member of The Soul Stirrers) (under the category Early Influences) (1989).

He was posthumously awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 7051 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on February 1, 1994.

Was voted the fourth greatest singer of the rock era in a Rolling Stone magazine poll (2008).

Posthumously inducted into the Rhythm and Blues Music Hall of Fame at Cleveland State University (2013).

Was voted the 16th Greatest Rock 'n' Roll Artist of all time by Rolling Stone magazine.