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Sam Cooke (1931–1964) -

On December 11, 1964, Sam Cooke, considered one of the most influential soul singers of all time, was murdered in circumstances that, 60 years on, are still shrouded in mystery. 

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A message from the grave -

Eleven days after his death, the single 'A Change Is Gonna Come' was released. The song, inspired by events in Cooke's life and in particular his experiences at the sharp end of American racism and segregation, served as a strident and empowering farewell message from a man who was just 33 when he died. 

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Early career -

Sam Cooke was born on January 22, 1931, in Clarksdale, Mississippi. He first developed his musical talents in the church and began his professional career singing gospel music as a member of the legendary Soul Stirrers. 

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Singing with The Soul Stirrers -

The group was a pioneer in the development of the quartet style of gospel. One of the early singles with Cooke was 'Jesus Gave Me Water,' a major hit that brought The Soul Stirrers considerable acclaim.

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Rise to prominence -

Cooke had begun recording secular music in 1956 under the pseudonym "Dale Cook" in order not to alienate his gospel fan base. In 1957, he left The Soul Warriors to pursue a solo career. That same year, Cooke's unique and distinctive vocal style was showcased on national television, on shows such as ABC's 'The Guy Mitchell Show' and 'The Ed Sullivan Show.' 

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Hit record -

By now, signed with Keen Records, Cooke's first hit, 'You Send Me,' was released at the end of 1957, becoming a No. 1 hit on both Billboard's Rhythm & Blues Records chart and the Billboard Hot 100.

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Debut studio album -

It was with Keen Records that Cooke released his eponymous debut studio album, in 1958. He's seen here in Los Angeles with an admirer. 

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Marriage -

It was also in 1958 that Cooke married his second wife, Barbara Campbell. His first wife, Dolores, died in a road traffic accident in 1959, a year after the couple had divorced.

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Family man -

Sam and Barbara had three children: Linda, Tracy (pictured), and Vincent, who tragically drowned in the family swimming pool when he was just 18 months old. Three other women would also have children by the singer. 

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Signing with RCA Victor -

Cooke signed with RCA Victor in 1960. The move elevated his status and his earnings, and propelled him to superstardom. 

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Music success -

With RCA, Sam Cooke enjoyed one of the most successful periods of his recording career. One of his first singles with the label was 'Chain Gang,' which reached No. 2 on the Billboard pop chart.  

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Hitmaker -

More hits followed, including 1961's 'Cupid,' 'Bring It On Home to Me' and 'Twistin' the Night Away,' both released in 1962, and 1963's 'Another Saturday Night.' 

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First album with RCA -

'Cooke's Tour' was the singer's first album on the RCA Victor label. The album's orchestra comprised an R&B rhythm section and a fifteen-piece string ensemble. 

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Busy schedule -

In the same year, Cooke recorded 'Hits of the 50's,' his versions of songs originally sung by such artists as Nat King Cole, Frankie Avalon, and Doris Day. In all, 11 studio albums were released in Cooke's lifetime. At times, the singer found the schedule quite exhausting. 

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SAR Records -

Besides being a gifted singer-songwriter, Sam Cooke was an astute businessman. In 1961, he started his own record label, SAR Records, which operated out of an address on Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles. The label didn't feature Cook himself; instead he signed African-American acts, including the Valentinos (who were Bobby Womack and his brothers), and Billy Preston. 

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Huge vocal range -

Cooke's vocal ability was extraordinary. Possessed of a pure tenor voice, his manner of singing was effortlessly soulful. And he was pitch perfect—Cooke could hit a high C without losing clarity or volume. His voice would go on to influence Otis Redding, James Brown, Tina Turner, and Stevie Wonder, among many others. 

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In tune with the civil rights movement -

Cooke worked in an era of racial segregation and exclusion. In defiance of such entrenched inequality, he used his influence and popularity with the white and black populations to fight for the emancipation of African-Americans. In doing so, Cooke became a central figure in the civil rights movement.  

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Packing a punch -

Cooke's activist leanings brought him into the orbit of Muhammad Ali and Malcolm X. He was also friends with NFL star Jim Brown. Together, they campaigned for racial equality. In 1963, Cooke collaborated with Ali, then known as Cassius Clay, on the 'The Gang's All Here,' a track that was included on Clay's comedy album, 'I am the Greatest.'  

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Harlem Square Club -

Back on the road in 1963, Cooke appeared at the Harlem Square Club in Miami, Florida. The show was recorded by RCA Victor with the intention of releasing a live concert album called 'One Night Stand.' In the event, it only hit the shelves in 1985 as 'Live at the Harlem Square Club, 1963.' 

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Appearing in the Big Apple -

A busy touring schedule throughout 1964 saw Cook perform in, among other places, New York City. He was billed as 'THE BIGGEST COOKE IN TOWN.' 

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Performing at the Copa -

Over a two-week stand in July 1964, Cooke thrilled audiences at the Copacabana Club in New York. 'Sam Cooke at the Copa' was released in October of that year, a live album that was well received by critics. However, it's the earlier Harlem recording that is generally considered among the best live albums by contemporary music critics. 

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A tragedy unfolds -

On the evening of December 10, 1964, with the festive season in full swing, Sam Cooke was dining with buddies at Martoni's restaurant in Los Angeles. He ended up chatting with a young woman at the bar. Later, he failed to turn up at the nightclub his friends had gone to.

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Same Cooke is murdered -

In the early hours of the following morning in response to a reported shooting, police officers were dispatched to the Hacienda Motel. There they found the body of Sam Cooke. He'd been shot to death.  

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Suspicious circumstances -

Police later arrested the motel's manager, Bertha Franklin, who'd claimed she'd shot Cooke in self-defense after the singer had allegedly attacked her.  

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A date with destiny -

Further investigations revealed that Cooke had left Martoni's restaurant with Elisa Boyer. They checked in to the Hacienda Motel as man and wife. However, Boyer became convinced that Cooke planned to assault her. 

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Witness accounts -

In the witness box, Boyer, wearing a disguise, testified that, fearing for her welfare, she grabbed her clothes (and Cooke's trousers containing a substantial amount of cash) and fled. She called the police from a street phone, claiming she'd been kidnapped.  

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"Lady, you shot me" -

In her statement, Franklin said a furious Cooke, wearing just a jacket, burst through her door in the belief she was shielding Boyer. He then lunged towards her, allegedly threatening her life. That's when Franklin grabbed a pistol and fired three shots, the third hitting Cooke in the chest. His final words were, "Lady, you shot me."  

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A justifiable homicide -

Friends and family of Cooke immediately disputed Franklin's account, insisting the violent and abusive person she described was completely out of character with the Sam everybody knew and loved. Ultimately, the courts ruled in Franklin's favor, stating that Cooke's death was a justifiable homicide. Pictured is the singer's widow, Barbara, attending the coroner's inquest. 

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The mystery deepens -

Most who knew the singer refused to accept the official story. As well as being shot, Cooke appeared to have been badly beaten. Franklin claimed she'd hit the singer with a broom handle after shooting him, but the extent of the bruising suggested he'd been the victim of a far worse assault. Many, including Muhammad Ali, criticized the fact that the LAPD conducted only a cursory investigation. 

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Conspiracy theories -

Even as Same Cooke was laid to rest, lurid conspiracy theories began circulating about the circumstances of the singer's death. Some suggested that he'd been killed elsewhere, by a third party, before his body was dumped at the Hacienda Hotel. 

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Pointing the blame -

Others pointed the finger of blame at his business manager, Allen Klein, whose nefarious dealings Cooke had uncovered in the weeks leading up to his murder and had vowed to sack. 

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Funeral service -

The first funeral service for Cooke was held on December 18, 1964, at A. R. Leak Funeral Home in Chicago. A second service was held in Los Angeles at the Mount Sinai Baptist Church on December 19. The "King of Soul" was interred at Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, California.  

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Legacy -

Sam Cooke's shocking demise left a lot of questions unanswered. But his music wasn't silenced. Released posthumously, 'A Change Is Gonna Come,' became an anthem for the civil rights movement, while his voice remains the most important in the history of soul music.

Sources: (History) (Independent) (Remind Magazine) (The New York Times) 

See also: Tribute songs written for dead musicians.  

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