Sam Cooke

Sam Cooke

The most transcendent artist to come out of the soul genre.

Founded

January 22, 1931 in Clarksdale, Mississippi

Full Name

Date of Birth

January 22, 1931 in Clarksdale, Mississippi

Still Alive

Date of Death

December 11, 1964 in Los Angeles, California

Sam Cooke in the recording studio.
Sam Cooke in the recording studio.

About The artist

"Sam Cooke was the most important soul singer in history, its primary inventor, and its most popular and beloved performer in both the Black and white communities. Equally important, he was among the first Black performers and composers to attend to the business side of the music business."
Bruce Eder, Music Journalist and Critic

Did you know...

Sam Cooke started his own record label in 1961, SAR Records, and later a publishing imprint and management firm named Kags.

Other Artists from this genre

Aretha Franklin

Aretha Franklin

The Queen of Soul.

Nina Simone

Nina Simone

The High Priestess of Soul.

Otis Redding

Otis Redding

The King of Soul and Stax Records' greatest icon.

Bill Withers

Bill Withers

Soul music's unassuming everyman.

Curtis Mayfield

Curtis Mayfield

Revered contributor to gospel, soul, and funk music.

Al Green

Al Green

The Reverend Al

Donny Hathaway

Donny Hathaway

One of the greatest composers and performers of soul ever.

Isaac Hayes

Isaac Hayes

Writer, producer, performer and self-titled "Black Moses."

Genres from this era

Cool & Post-Bop

Cool & Post-Bop

The term covers subgenres like hard bop and free jazz.

Pop/Pop Soul

Pop/Pop Soul

Black music finely crafted and packaged for the masses.

Soul

Soul

Combines rhythm & blues and gospel music styles.

Psychedelic Soul

Psychedelic Soul

Soul gets high.

Rock

Rock

Rock loses the roll but gains amplitude and attitude.