Soul, Business, and Tragedy: The Sam Cooke Story

Sam Cooke revolutionized American music as a pioneering artist who shaped soul music while building an unprecedented business empire during the segregation era. His distinctive tenor voice, songwriting genius, and business acumen made him a trailblazer whose influence extends from gospel to pop, leaving an indelible mark on music history despite his tragic death at just 33.

• Born in Clarksdale, Mississippi in 1931 before his family moved to Chicago during the Great Migration
• Started singing at age six with his siblings in a group called the Singing Children
• Joined the elite gospel group The Soul Stirrers at 19, where church girls "swooned like they were at a rock concert"
• Transitioned to secular music in 1957 with "You Send Me," which topped both R&B and Pop charts
• Established his own record label (SAR Records), publishing company and management firm in 1961
• Recorded hit "Good Times" in 1964 with legendary studio musicians The Wrecking Crew
• Developed close friendships with Muhammad Ali, Malcolm X and became increasingly politically active
• Died under controversial circumstances at a Los Angeles motel on December 11, 1964, at just 33 years old
• Left an enduring legacy that influenced countless artists from Aretha Franklin to John Legend

Check out the Spotify playlist with my favorite Sam Cooke songs, including some from his Soul Stirrers days. Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast, click the like button, and share with your music-loving friends.

Hear Michael's performance of these two songs on the 2nd Round Music YouTube channel

Transcript

Sam Cooke: The King of Soul

Michael Pezent 0:10

Well, hello, friends, and welcome back to the Two for Tuesday podcast brought to you by 2nd Round Music, where we dive into the lives, the legacies and the lyrics of the artists who shaped the soundtrack of our lives. I'm your host, Michael Pezent, and today, man, we're talking about a true pillar of American music, a man whose voice was silk, whose lyrics were fire, and whose story was both triumphant and tragic. Now, this is a departure from what I usually talk about from a genre standpoint. I'm talking about none other than the one and only Sam Cooke. He's often referred to as the king of soul due to his distinctive voice but, more importantly, his pioneering contribution to not only the genre but to music of all kinds. See, he was one of the first artists to be heavily involved with the business side of music. Now, that was unheard of during that time, especially for a black artist. Sam not only was a great singer and entertainer, but he was also a great songwriter, and he also founded his own record label and publishing company. So his influence was massive and often goes understated. I got turned on to Sam when I was in college and was learning how to play the guitar, but, more importantly, I was listening to a lot of vocalists and just trying to create my own sound. Now, my baritone voice is nothing like Sam's tenor, but I would call him an influence of mine, so let's jump in. So before Marvin, before Otis and before Stevie, there was Sam paving the way.

Michael Pezent 2:09

Sam Cooke was born January 22, 1931 in Clarksdale, Mississippi, the cradle of the blues. But like so many black families during the Great Migration, the Cooke's headed north and landed in Chicago, and that move changed everything. His father was a minister and the gospel was the backbone of his childhood. By age six Sam was already singing with his siblings in a group called the Singing Children. But it wasn't until he joined the Soul Stirrers in 1950 that he really came into his own. Now let me pause right here. This wasn't just any gospel group. The Soul Stirrers were the elite. They broke barriers when they made 19 year old Sam Cooke their lead singer, and I encourage you to listen to their music. Like the old saying goes, if it don't light your fire, your woods wet. Now Sam brought something new a sensual, smooth croon that some called sacrilegious for gospel, but it packed the pews. Church girls were swooning like they were at a rock concert. His delivery blurred that secular line long before he officially crossed over to pop music. He officially crossed over to pop music Now, in 1957, he did exactly that, taking a huge risk, by releasing a song called Lovable, which was a remake of a gospel song called Wonderful. Now he did that under the alias of Dale Cook to try to hide the fact that he was a gospel star dabbling into what was called the devil's music. But people knew that voice everywhere and he made that transition on the blessing of his father. Now, shortly after that, Sam went all in, breaking away from gospel and launching into a solo career that would revolutionize soul music forever. And after this break We'll talk about one of Sam's greatest hits and more on his career and personal activities. So stay tuned.

Michael Pezent 4:12

Are you ready to take control of your finances and build a brighter future? Are you sick and tired of being sick and tired, feeling broke all the time? My name is Michael Pezent, a certified master coach, and I created 2nd Round Financial to provide personalized financial coaching based on the proven principles of Dave Ramsey's Seven Baby steps. Our services include, but are not limited to, one-on-one financial coaching through Zoom conference or face-to-face, budgeting strategies, debt reduction plans, emergency fund creation, retirement planning and investment guidance. But why choose us? Because we believe in empowering our clients with the knowledge and tools they need to achieve financial peace. With our guidance, you'll gain clarity over your financial situation, develop a realistic and achievable plan, and experience hope and confidence in your financial future. I have over 15 years experience teaching and guiding families in the Ramsey Principles, along with a degree in finance and work experience in the banking and insurance industries. So let's get started today. Go to 2ndRoundFinancialcom and click book now to schedule your free consultation today. Welcome back, all right.

Michael Pezent 5:27

Now let's talk about the first song that sent Sam soaring. Boy say that three times fast. A song called you Send Me. Now, this is a song that he also wrote, but now he recorded and released it in 1957. And this wasn't just a hit, it was a revolution. It topped both the Billboard Pop and R&B charts, selling over 2 million copies and in a segregated America now, that was monumental. But it would be Sam's only number one hit on the Billboard pop charts. But its mark, not only on the soul genre which Sam helped create, can't be understated. This song is listed on the 2005 Rolling Stone magazine list of the 500 greatest songs of all time, and in 1998, it was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.

Michael Pezent 6:24

Now here's something wild. Sam didn't even originally want to record this song, much less for it to be an A-side song. Sam was in a contract battle with his original publisher, so he gave the writing credits to his brother, LC. Now, he also hoped that LC would record the song, but everyone who heard it, from his producer, Robert 'Bumps' Blackwell, to his label, Keen Records, knew that this was the one. Now, Sam recorded a demo of it in 1955, with just him and an acoustic guitar. Then, in December of 1956, he recorded the first track in New Orleans, during the session that produced the first release, Loveable. But the version of the song that we now hear was recorded in Los Angeles in June of 1957. Now, during this recording session, he recorded a cover of a song called Summertime, and it was supposed to be the A-side song, with You Send Me being the B-side song. But the disc jockeys, they decided otherwise. They favored You Send Me, and quickly it climbed the charts, reaching number one in December of 1957, and by the end of the year it had already sold a million and a half copies.

Business Pioneer and Civil Rights Activist

Michael Pezent 7:44

With a simple backing of a bass, a guitar and light percussions, Sam's voice danced effortlessly, his phrasing, that subtle lilt of darling you send me. The way Sam sings it, w ell, that was just magic You Send Me wasn't flashy, but it was intimate, warm and authentic. And for black artists in the 50s, Sam's crossover success was groundbreaking. He was one of the first to truly breach the color line on the pop charts, laying the foundation for Motown, Philly soul and beyond. Sam was a groundbreaker. .

Michael Pezent 8:49

Now, while Sam was singing love songs, he was also quietly becoming one of the most powerful black men in the music industry. As mentioned earlier, he started his own record label, SAR Records, in 1961, and that was a bold move for a black artist at the time. This was years before artists like Prince or Jay-Z would do the same. He also created a publishing company and his own management firm. Sam didn't just want to sing, he wanted ownership. And beyond business, Sam was waking up politically and as an activist. He became close friends with Muhammad Ali, Malcolm X and other civil rights figures, and he was deeply aware of what it meant to be a black man in America and that awareness and activism began to make its way into his music. So let's dive into his second song now.

Michael Pezent 9:58

Now let's look back at a song that showcases a very different side of Sam Cooke, his feel-good, laid-back summertime groove side. I'm talking about Good Times, written by Sam and recorded and released in 1964. Good Times doesn't get the same cultural reverence as A Change Gonna Come, but musically it's just as vital. It's a masterclass in minimalism and vibe. The lyrics are simple and conversational. "Let the good times roll, we're gonna stay here till we soothe our soul. And the groove, oh, oh, it's deep. Cook's voice is buttery, smooth, relaxed and almost teasing. The rhythm section lays back into the pocket, just enough to feel like you're swaying on a hot summer night with a drink in hand and the windows down.

Michael Pezent 10:56

Now here's the kicker. The band backing him on Good Times was none other than the legendary Wrecking Crew, the same elite group of studio musicians who played behind the Beach Boys, Frank Sinatra and countless other hits in the 1960s. Now the Wrecking Crew is going to be the topic of episodes, coming up down the line too. So stay tuned for that. So, while the sound is chill, it was also precision crafted to feel that way. The song became a top 20 hit number 11 actually and its legacy lives on Country artist Dan Seal, once known as England Dan, recorded and released the song in March of 1990, and he had a number one hit with it. Good Times showed that Sam could swing between soul and sophistication without missing a beat. Even his party songs had soul.

Michael Pezent 11:52

And after this short break I'll talk about the tragic end of Sam Cooke. See you on the other side.

Michael Pezent 11:57

Hey guys, thank you for listening today and I hope you're enjoying this podcast. If you are, please subscribe or follow the podcast. Click the like button, share it with other music lovers and please consider giving it a five-star rating so we can reach a bigger audience. Now back to the show.

The Mysterious Death at 33

Michael Pezent 12:13

Sadly, just a few months after Good Times was released, Sam Cooke's life came to a shocking end. On December 11, 1964, he was shot and killed at a motel in South Central Los Angeles. The official story, as told by the motel's manager, Bertha Franklin, was that Sam had checked in earlier that night with a woman that he had just met, according to Franklin, Cooke became agitated and burst into the office and allegedly in search of the woman. But from the very beginning the details didn't sit right with many. So as the story goes, at least from what I could find was that Sam had had dinner and drinks with a lady named Elisa Boyer. According to her account of the evening's happenings, when they left the establishment she asked Sam to take her home. She said he appeared to be intoxicated and continued to drive to the motel. Now, once there, she said, he forced her onto the bed and removed all her clothes, down to her unmentionables. Now, once he left the room to go to the bathroom, she quickly gathered up her belongings but in her haste collected some of Sam's also. She redressed and ran to the manager's office. But when she didn't get a quick enough response she went to the nearest pay phone to call the police and then she left the scene altogether.

Michael Pezent 13:46

Now once Ms. Franklin, again the motel manager, perceived this disturbance so she got on the phone with motel owner Evelyn Carr. Now they were on the phone together when Sam arrived at the door, very agitated. Now Ms. Carr could hear what transpired the intrusion and the ensuing conflict and gunshot over the phone, since Ms. Franklin evidently didn't hang it up. Now Franklin did tell police that once she shot Sam, he turned and said in a perplexed voice, "lady, you shot me. Before advancing on her again, franklin said. This time she hit Sam in the head with a broomstick before he finally fell to the floor and died.

Michael Pezent 14:32

Now there was no investigation, no grand jury, only a coroner's inquest would conclude mainly because all the living parties passed a polygraph test that this was a justifiable homicide. Sam's friends, on the other hand, including Muhammad Ali and blues singer Etta James, believed something more sinister was at play. Etta, who viewed Sam's body, later said it looked as though he had been beaten severely, far more than what the official report had suggested. So why was there not a deeper probe? Why did the music industry stay largely silent? Many believe that Sam was just too powerful a black man in control of his art, his business and his message, and in 1964, that made him very dangerous. Whether it was a setup, a robbery gone wrong or something even darker, we may never know the full truth, but what we do know is that music lost one of the brightest lights that night. Sam Cooke was just 33 years old, but what he left behind it echoes forever.

Michael Pezent 15:42

Sam Cooke shaped the sound of soul, inspired everyone from Aretha Franklin to Al Green to Otis Redding and even modern artists John Legend, Leo Bridges, HER they all carry pieces of his DNA. Rolling Stone Magazine ranked him one of the greatest singers of all time. But more than that, Sam Cooke gave us dignity in song. He gave us hope and he gave us an unforgettable voice. Whether you first heard him through an old record, a movie soundtrack or your parents' car stereo, that voice, well, it stays with you.

Michael Pezent 16:24

So thank you for spending your time with me today on the Two for Tuesday podcast brought to you by 2nd Round Music and your host, Michael Pezent. If you've never done a deep dive into Sam Cooke's catalog, I encourage you to do so and start with these two songs You Send Me and Good Time. I've also attached a link to my Spotify Sam Cooke playlist in the show notes, where you can listen to all of my favorite songs by Sam, including some of my favorites of his from the Soul Stirrers days. Now, this is not an exhausted list, just many of my favorites. So let me hear your thoughts on this episode. I'd love to hear from you. Just type your comments below if you're listening on YouTube and drop me a message through Just many of my favorites, so let me hear your thoughts on this episode. I'd love to hear from you. Just type your comments below If you're listening on YouTube, drop me a message through the fan mail section. On the podcast, you can also click the link in the description to hear me perform these two incredible songs. And don't forget to subscribe or follow this podcast. Click the like button and share it with all your music loving friends. So just remember we love you and we need you, and tune in next time as we continue to explore the stories behind the music we love. Until next time, god bless you.