Biography
Samuel Cook (1931 – 1964), known professionally as Sam Cook, was an American singer and songwriter, a pioneer and one of the most important artists of soul music.
Born on January 22, 1931 in Mississippi, he was the fifth of eight children, his father was a pastor. In 1933 they moved to Chicago, at the age of six, he began singing with his brothers in a group called the Singing Children. He first became known as a singer as a teenager with the gospel group The Highway Q.C.'s, which he had joined since the age of 14.
In the 1950s he joined the Soul Stirrers. In 1957, he self-released a number of hit songs including You Send Me, A Change Is Gonna Come, Cupid, Wonderful World, Chain Gang, Twistin' the Night Away, Bring It On Home to Me and Good Times. Over the next seven years, he would release dozens of hit songs, 29 of which would reach the top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100, as well as 20 of the top 10 of the Billboard black music chart. Twistin' the Night Away was one of his best-selling albums. Cook was one of the first modern black musicians to venture into the business side of music as he founded both a record and publishing company. He also took an active part in the Civil Rights Movement using his influence and popularity to fight for equal rights.
Cook was married twice, with his second wife he had 3 children, while he had at least 3 more from extramarital affairs. On December 11, 1964, at the height of his fame, he was killed by the manageress of a Los Angeles motel. The courts ruled that the killer was in self-defense when she shot him. Many questioned that decision and many theories have been heard about the reasons and culprits of his death.