I'll always think of this classic scene from Animal House whenever I hear Wonderful World (great song):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iB-FWD0SZvY

A Change is Gonna Come is going to receive the Towering Song Award from the Songwriters Hall of Fame soon. More details here:

http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/music/2013/04/22/sam-cooke-songwriters-hall-of-fame/2103327/

Congratulations, Sam! It's a bittersweet honor as you are sadly not here to accept it, but know that your name and your music will always be cherished and enjoyed by generations of fans.

Posted by Zach on Sunday, 04/28/2013 @ 02:38am

I'm with you there, Zach on Sam Cooke. The two songs of his that I heard while watching "Animal House" were "Wonderful World" and "Twistin' The Night Away". Without Sam, people like Marvin Gaye and Rod Stewart would not have be prefromers.

By the way, here are my non-musical interests and hobbies:

Art particularly Renaissance and Impressionism paintings
Travel
History/Politics
Movies
Nature
Foreign Languages
Boy Scouts
Cooking
Commercial Aviation
Weapons
World cultures
Military history

Posted by Andrew on Sunday, 04/28/2013 @ 17:48pm

Considered by many to be the father of soul, Sam Cooke combined sensuality and spirtuality, sophistication and soul, idol looks and gospel poise. His delightful voice won him a devoted following first as the led singer of The Soul Stirrers, then as a solo artist.

Equally important was that he was the among the first major black singers to attend to the business side of the music industry, and founded a record lable and a publishing company as an extension of his singing composing careers. However, these business dealings didn't stop him from being engaged with the iusses of the day like civil rights.

Sam's own musical career bridged gaps between white and black audiences and so few rock n' rock singers had overcome the color bar, much less succeed at doing, and between generations.

Chuck Berry and Little Richard brought white and black teenagers together, James Brrown sold thousands of records to whites and blacks alike and Muddy Waters got young folkies and older black transplants on the same page, but Cooke appealed to all of the above and white teenagers' parents too and yet, he never lost his touch with his core black audience. In a way, Sam's appeal anticipated that of The Beatles in depth.

It is very heartbreaking that Sam Cooke was taken from us so early, but the the music that he created with songs like "You Send Me", "A Change is Gonna Come" and "Twistin' the Night Away" have influenced some of the giants of soul like Al Green, Otis Redding, Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye and Rod Stewart.

God bless you, Sam!

Posted by Andrew on Friday, 05/24/2013 @ 20:16pm

If I was to pick the presenters of the inductees of 1986, they would be:

Keith Richards and Joe Perry for Chuck Berry
Michael Jackson for James Brown
Steve Winwood for Ray Charles
Rod Stewart for Sam Cooke
Billy Joel for Fats Damino
Barry Gibb for The Everly Brothers
Paul McCartney for Buddy Holly
Elton John for Jerry Lee Lewis
Daivd Bowie for Little Richard
Tom Jones for Elvis Presley

Johnny Cash for Jimmie Rodgers
Eric Clapton for Robert Johnson
Ahmet Ertegun for Jimmy Yancey

Bruce Springsteen for John Hammond

Casey Kasem and Scott Muni for Alan Freed
Jerry Lee Lewis for Sam Philips

Posted by Andrew on Monday, 01/6/2014 @ 22:49pm

If Live at the Harlem Square Club was recorded in 1963, it was only published in 1985.

So, 1985 should be its "album year" and it shouldn't be inducted before 2010.

Posted by Florian on Wednesday, 01/8/2014 @ 14:44pm

Considered by many to be the most important singer in soul music, Sam Cooke could blend sensuality and spirituality, sophistication and soul, idol looks and gospel pose. He was also soul's most beloved performer in the white and black communities.

His warm voice won him a devoted following first as led singer of The Soul Stirrers and sent his first secular song "You Send Me." to the top of the pop and R&B charts in 1957. It would be the first of 29 Top Forty hits for the son of a Baptist minister. Sam's career is defined by his early embrace of gospel and his move into the pop and R&B world.

Joining The Soul Stirrers at age 15, he was the lead vocalist from 1950 to 1956. He recorded his first secular song, "Loveable" using a false name so as not to endanger his following in the gospel community. Nonetheless, with this recording, he had crossed a line that made it impossible to carry on with The Soul Stirrers. His first solo success came when he recorded songs like "You Send Me," and "Wonderful World." In 1960, the hits kept coming for Cooke with "Chain Gang," "Cupid," and "Twistin' the Night Away."

A versatile singer who never settled on just one style, Sam could do everything from sophisticated balladry to raw, raspy rhythm & blues.

In addition, Cooke was among the first modern black performers to attend to the business side of the music industry and founded both his own publishing company and a record label. Yet, these business interests didn't stop him from getting involved in the issues of the day, including the struggle for civil rights.

Sam's own career bridged the gap between black and white audiences that few artists have tried to overcome, much less succeeded in doing. Chuck Berry or Little Richard brought black and white teenagers together, James Brown sold thousands of records to white teens and black listeners of all ages, and Muddy Waters got young white folkies and black transplants on the same page. Sam appealed to all of the above, and the parents of white teenagers as well, yet he never lost his believability with his core black audience. In a way, his appeal anticipated that of The Beatles, in great extent and depth.

Sam Cooke is to me the quintessential soul artist whose voice reiterates every time one hears a Rod Steward or an Otis Redding song. It’s extremely sad that he was taken from us at a young age, but his music will always be there.

Posted by Andrew on Tuesday, 02/25/2014 @ 21:28pm

Sam Cooke, an original voice and gift that will be heard, felt and inspired by throughout generations! As long as there is the Sound of Music, your sound and influence will be there!
Love you Sam
Posted by Calvin. on 4-11-2020 @ 5:50 pm

Posted by Calvin Allen on Saturday, 04/11/2020 @ 16:53pm