Sam Cooke

As is the case with so many of my FamilyFirst picks, today’s choice involves what I’ve been listening to on my car stereo.
This morning, I was blasting “One Night Stand,” a live album by the immortal Sam Cooke.
Unfortunately, there is not a killer site doing tribute to the great performer. One obvious choice was plagued with technical problems. So I’m going with the Wikipedia entry.

Sam Cooke, the son of a Mississippi Pentecostal preacher, was born into the Depression in 1931. When his incredible singing talent made itself manifest, he naturally started singing gospel music, eventually winding up in a group called the Soul Stirrers, who had been around since before he was born.
The group sailed high with Sam in the 1950′s. In 1956, with his father’s encouragement, he left to pursue a solo career.
Sam defined soul music in its early days. His voice made such standards as Twistin’ the Night Away, You send Me, Chain Gang, What a Wonderful World, and many other Top Forty hits part of teenagers’ memories from the time. He was an accomplished songwriter, penning most of his hits himself.
In 1964, he was gunned down under bizarre circumstances in a cheap motel in Los Angeles. Questions still abound about his demise, and can be explored in the site linked here called The Death of Sam Cooke.
Many of the songs I loved throughout my life were Sam Cooke originals covered by the likes of James Taylor, the Animals, Rod Stewart Van Morrison, and many more.
It’s sad to think of how many more classic compositions were in Sam’s heart when he was killed. Enjoy the website.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Cooke