From: Flippar Date: Tue Jan 22, 2002 11:31 am Subject: Born To Be With You - Sam Cooke SAM COOKE Samuel Cook was born on January 22 1931 at 2:10pm, 4th child to Reverend and Mrs Cook of Clarksdale Mississippi. Died Dec 10th 1964 in LA. They moved to Chicago like many southern families back then. Sam sang in his dad`s church with his family. He formed many gospel groups as he grew up in theBronzeville area before coming under the mentorship of R B Robinson of the legendary Soul Stirrers gospel quartet. When lead tenor Harris retired in 1950 young Sam was promoted into this highly prestigious and influential group. He sang with them until 1956, for a definition of heaven, check out Touch The Hem Of His Garment on Specialty. Specialty`s in house genius Bumps Blackwell persuaded Sam to record pop material. Theses early sides like Lovable were issued under the name Dale Cook to avoid offending the gospel fans. No one was fooled by "Dale`s" distinctive tenor. Cook became Cooke along the way on the Specialty labels. Boss Art Rupe disliked the white female chorus on You Send Me and in, an unusual for him, act of altruism (ie he though it would flop) he leased them their own master in exchange for past royalties due. Leased to Keen it sold 2 million plus and Sam was big time pop star. Follow ups like Only 16 and Wonderful Wolrd confirmed this status, Sam was premier league. Like Wilson and Mcphatter he`d crossed over big time but lost many of his narrow minded gospel fans and there had been anacrimonious split with the aptly named Stirrers! He tried many styles not always successful due to the schmalzy choice of material or the over sweetening which hid that majestic voice but he signed for RCA and later formed his own label SAR records, he was a man driven to succeed and ahead of his time. Great records like Soothe Me, Chain Gang, Sad Mood, Cupid, Twisting The Night Away, Little Red Rooster , Shake, Bring It On Home To Me and the evocative A Change Is Gonna Come in the early 60s confirmed his international hit status, he even toured the Uk memorably with Little Richard and Gene(offstage!!). He cut 2 contrasting live albums at the Copa and at Harlem Square contrast his smooth MOR style with the get down fervour of the latter (not issued until the 80s). He was an icon of black success in turbulent times and his friendship with Cassius Clayand, Reverend King, as well as his forthright business manner and involvement with music mogul tuff guy Allan Klein, didn`t fit into the mould of a nice " coloured" showbiz star likesome of his predecessors. Sadly in tragic and mostly still unexplained circumstances it was all over, Sam was allegedly shot to death in a flophouse motel by the elderly black manageress on Dec 10th 1964. LAPD`s hasty investigation has left more questions than answers. Check out the official Sam Cooke web site run by his family. Listen to Gene Vincent`s moving Bring It On Home To Me on the Rollin Rock Forever GV lp to hear what an impact he had on rockers evrywhere. He was rightly elected into the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland. Despite all this Sam`s status and influence remains undiminished with artists as diverse as Bobby Womack, Marvin Gaye, Otis, RodStewart and Al Green all owing chunks of their success to Sam`s sweet lilting voice. A belated hit with Wonderful World in 1986 thanks to the Levi Ads in the UK, brought him back in the general public eye, ironically this number 2 was his biggest UK hit! Recommended reading the epic You Send me, Life and Times of Sam Cooke by Daniel Wolff, Virgin books UK. A must. Listening almost everything he`s ever done!!! Gospel/ early pop - Ace/Specialty cds Sam Cooke & Soul Stirrers Pop career - The Hits BMG/RCA mid price Man and His Music , RCA cd/2lp (deleted but handy for later sides not on the boxset ) Rhythm and the Blues Night Beat Live at the Harlem Square Club Miami 63 4cd Man Who Invented Soul ( great RCA set containing much of the above but minus the post Sept 63 sides due to a legal dispute) 2cd SAR Record Story inc rare Cooke demos Recommended web site http://members.tripod.com/clarkkauffman/