#67 Sam Cooke

Sam Cooke was a soul singer that strung together 29 Top 40 hits over an eight year period. He was innovative and ahead of his time with songs such as “You Send Me.” He tapped into the dance craze with ‘Twistin’ The Night Away.” Cooke also defined the Civil Rights Movement with “A Change Is Gonna Come.” He was gunned down in a Los Angeles hotel by the hotel manager. Cooke took a woman up to his hotel room, she stole from him, and he chased her through the hotel. The manager saw a naked black man chasing a woman through the hotel and shot him. Cooke was 33.

Rock n Roll Moment: A Change is Gonna Come became a defining song in the Civil Rights Movement.

Essential Sam Cooke: Portrait of a Legend: 1951-1964 (2003)

Sam Cooke’s Top 10:
You Send Me
Chain Gang
Twistin’ The Night Away
Another Saturday Night
A Change Is Gonna Come
Shake
I’ll Come Running Back To You
Wonderful World
Bring It On Home To Me
Cupid