The King Of Soul!
Dubbed The King of Soul for his profound impact on the genre, Sam Cooke’s career was tragically cut short when he died at the age of thirty-three, shot at the Hacienda Motel in 1964. The hotel manager, Bertha Franklin, claimed she acted in self-defence, but the mystery surrounding his death has lingered ever since.
Despite his brief career, spanning just six years from 1957 to 1963, Cooke amassed an extraordinary 29 top 40 hits. His debut single, You Send Me, topped the U.S. charts, catapulting him to fame overnight. The B-side of that release was a cover of Gershwin’s Summertime—a remarkable start to his legendary career.
Cooke’s next notable release, a cover of Blue Moon, did not chart, but in 1959, Only Sixteen reached #13, becoming a hit that is now embedded in his legacy. In 1960, he released one of his most enduring songs, Wonderful World, a track that has been covered countless times, but none as iconic as Cooke’s original. The same year, he released Chain Gang, which went on to be sampled over 15 times, most famously by 50 Cent in 2003 for 50 Shot Ya.
The following years saw Sam release more timeless tracks: Cupid (1961), Twistin’ the Night Away (1962), and Bring It On Home to Me (1962). These songs were sweet, innocent, and perfectly in line with what was expected of singers in the late 50s and early 60s. But then, in 1962, Bob Dylan released Blowin’ In the Wind, a powerful protest song that marked a pivotal moment in popular music. Its impact was massive, and it led Cooke to write his own masterpiece, A Change Is Gonna Come. Inspired by the racial segregation he had personally experienced, it became one of the defining anthems of the Civil Rights Movement.
Tragically, Cooke never lived to see the full impact of A Change Is Gonna Come, which was released in 1964 on the album Ain’t That Good News. The album’s title track is another of Cooke’s classics. A Change Is Gonna Come was later ranked #3 on Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, solidifying Cooke’s place in music history.
Sam Cooke’s influence only grew after his death. His songs have been covered by an array of legendary artists, including Eric Clapton, Van Morrison, John Lennon, Harry Nilsson, Otis Redding, The Supremes, Aretha Franklin, and many more. His legacy is alive and well, with his tracks continuing to resonate in the music world. You can explore a comprehensive list of his covers and the artists who have sampled him at whosampled.com.
Cooke was also known for his ability to interpret others’ music, from Bob Dylan’s Blowin’ In the Wind to his soulful renditions of countless other songs. He embraced and elevated those tunes while simultaneously leaving his own mark on music. Sam Cooke’s legacy is a testament to his role as a true innovator in soul music, and it’s clear why he was crowned The King of Soul.
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, and the original recording. Practice in three keys!
| Abmaj7 Fm7 | Bbm7 Eb7 | Abmaj7 Fm7 |
Blue moon, you saw me standing alone…
Check out the full TAB lesson here: Blue Moon (Billie Holiday) Guitar Lesson with TAB.
Summertime | Chords + TAB
You can learn how to play Summertime by Billie Holiday using chords, lyrics, a chord chart, chord analysis, and the original recording.
| Bbm7 F7b9/C | Db6 F7b9/C | Bbm7 F7b9/C | Db6 F7b9/C |
Summertime and the living is easy…
Check out the full TAB lesson here: Summertime (Billie Holiday) Guitar Lesson with TAB.
Wonderful World | Chords + TAB
You can learn how to play Wonderful World by Sam Cooke using chords, lyrics, a chord chart, and the original recording.
| B | G#m |
Don’t know much about history…
Check out the full TAB lesson here: Wonderful World (Sam Cooke) Guitar Lesson with TAB.
Sam Cooke on the web
