Sam Cooke
By: Jordon Myers
History of Sam Cooke
Cooke had 30 U.S. top 40 hits between 1957 and 1964 including "Only Sixteen", "Wonderful World", "Chain Gang", and "Cupid". Cooke was also among the first modern black performers and composers to attend to the business side of his musical career. Cooke had also focused mainly on singles when releasing his music just like many other R&B singers. He also had written most of the music he recorded. In 1961, Cooke started his own record label, SAR Records, with J.W. Alexander and his manager, Roy Crain.
Cooke was honored with the Grammy Lifetime Achievement in 1999 and named the fourth "Greatest Singer of All Time." He was also inducted into the R&B Music Hall of Fame in 2013.
Event that Propelled Cooke to Fame
Top Songs
- "Cupid"
- "You Send Me"
- "Chain Gang"
- "Only Sixteen"
- "That's Heaven to Me"
- "Little Red Rooster"
- "Lost and Lookin'"
Top Albums
- The Best of Sam Cooke- 1962
- Night Beat- 1963
- Ain't That Good News- 1964
- Hits of the 50's- 1960
- Cooke's Tour- 1960
Characteristics of R&B/Soul
- Originated in the 1940's and went on until the 1950's until it was being considered as soul and funk
- Term was used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans
- Usually consisted of piano, one or two guitars, bass, drums, saxophone, and sometimes background vocalists
- Lyrical themes often talk about the African-American experience of pain and the quest for freedom and joy
- Contributed to the development of rock and roll
- Lyrics focused heavily on triumphs and failures in terms of sex, relationships, religion, freedom, and economics
"You Send Me"
H- Guitar, drum set, backup vocals
M- Main vocals
R- Slow, in 4
G- Intro, chorus, verse 1, verse 2, chorus, verse 3, chorus, outro
Moderate-soft
1/2 Plateau
R&B/Soul
Citations
"Sam Cooke Discography." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 22 Apr. 2015.