The King Of Soul
Dubbed The King of Soul, Sam Cooke had a remarkable influence on popular music, despite a career that lasted only a few years. His life was tragically cut short in December 1964, when he was shot at the Hacienda Motel in Los Angeles.
The motel manager, Bertha Franklin, claimed she had acted in self-defence, but the circumstances surrounding his death have continued to attract debate.
Between 1957 and 1964, Cooke established himself as one of the defining voices of American Soul. His debut single, You Send Me, topped the U.S. charts and made him a star. The B-side was a version of Gershwin’s Summertime, an early indication of his ability to take an existing tune and make it his own.
A subsequent cover of Blue Moon failed to make much of an impression, but Only Sixteen reached No. 13 in 1959. The following year brought one of his most enduring recordings, Wonderful World, also known as What a Wonderful World.
Released in 1960, Wonderful World became Cooke’s biggest hit since You Send Me. The track was written by a songwriting team, although Cooke rewrote some of the lyrics himself. It reached No. 2 in both the U.S. and the U.K., and its popularity has grown over the decades.
Plenty of artists have recorded their own versions, including Art Garfunkel, Don McLean, Michael Bolton, James Taylor, Otis Redding and Herman’s Hermits. The latter recording has an interesting guitar footnote: Jimmy Page played on the session and reportedly received just £12 for his contribution.
That same year, Cooke released Chain Gang, another major hit whose distinctive rhythm and vocal hooks have continued to inspire later artists, including through sampling.
From Sweet Soul to Something More Serious
Cooke continued to deliver memorable hits, including Cupid and Bring It On Home to Me in 1961, followed by Twistin’ the Night Away in 1962. These recordings showcase the warmth, melodic charm and effortless vocal delivery that made him so popular.
But Cooke was also paying attention to the changing world around him. In 1962, Bob Dylan released Blowin’ in the Wind, a tune that became a powerful statement about civil rights and social justice. Cooke was deeply affected by it and wanted to write something equally meaningful in response.
The result was A Change Is Gonna Come, one of the most important recordings of his career.
Inspired in part by the racial discrimination he had personally experienced, Cooke wrote a song that moved beyond the sweetness of his earlier hits. Its sweeping arrangement, emotional vocal and message of hope gave it a significance that reached far beyond the charts. It became an anthem of the American Civil Rights Movement and, decades later, was used during Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign.
Sadly, Cooke never lived to see the tune’s impact. He died in December 1964, before A Change Is Gonna Come reached its wider audience. Released on the album Ain’t That Good News in 1964, it became a lasting symbol of the struggle for equality and the hope of a better future.
The tune has since been performed by an extraordinary range of artists, including Dylan, Aretha Franklin, Redding, The Supremes, Al Green, Tina Turner and Lizzo. Its message continues to resonate because it is both deeply personal and universal.
A Legacy That Keeps Growing
Cooke’s influence extends well beyond his own recordings. His tunes have been covered by artists such as Eric Clapton, Van Morrison, John Lennon and The Beatles, Harry Nilsson, Otis Redding, The Supremes and Aretha Franklin. His catalogue has also been sampled extensively, carrying his voice and songwriting into new musical styles.
Cooke was both a brilliant interpreter and a songwriter who could make a melody feel instantly familiar. Whether delivering the gentle optimism of Wonderful World or the profound emotion of A Change Is Gonna Come, he understood how to make a tune connect.
For guitarists, his repertoire offers plenty to explore: memorable chord progressions, clear song structures, rhythmic accompaniment and melodies that leave room for the vocal to shine. Learning these tunes is a way to understand the foundations of Soul while building a repertoire of tunes that still work beautifully with a singer or a band today.
Sam Cooke’s career was tragically brief, but his music continues to speak across generations (have a listen to Leon Bridges!). That’s why the title The King of Soul still feels deserved.
Sam Cooke Tunes | Related Pages
A Change Is Gonna Come | Chords + TAB
You can learn how to play A Change Is Gonna Come by Sam Cooke using chords, lyrics, a chord chart, chord analysis, and Spytunes video guitar lessons.
| G | G | Am | Em |
I was born by the river, in a little tent, oh and just like that river I’ve been…
Start learning with the full lesson series: A Change Is Gonna Come (Sam Cooke) Guitar Lessons with TAB.
Blowin’ In The Wind | Chords + TAB
You can learn how to play Blowin’ In The Wind by Bob Dylan using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, a chord chart, and Spytunes video guitar lessons.
| G C G/B | D/A D G | G C G/B | G |
How many years can a mountain exist, before it’s washed to the sea…
Start learning with the full lesson series: Blowin’ In The Wind – Guitar Lessons with TAB.
Blue Moon | Chords + TAB
You can learn how to play Blue Moon by Billie Holiday using chords, lyrics, a chord chart, TAB, and the backing tracks in three keys!
| Abmaj7 Fm7 | Bbm7 Eb7 | Abmaj7 Fm7 |
Blue moon, you saw me standing alone…
Summertime | Chords + TAB
You can learn Summertime by Billie Holiday using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, a chord chart, TAB, and backing tracks.
| Bbm7 F7b9/C | Db6 F7b9/C | Bbm7 F7b9/C | Db6 F7b9/C |
Summertime and the living is easy…
Wonderful World | Chords + TAB
You can learn how to play Wonderful World by Sam Cooke using chords, lyrics, a chord chart, TAB, and backing tracks.
| B | G#m |
Don’t know much about history…
Sam Cooke on the web
