Sam Cooke
1931 – 1964

Sam Cooke

American singer and songwriter (1931–1964)

soul musicianrecording artistsongwriterguitaristsinger-songwriter
Born
1931-01-22, Clarksdale
Died
1964-12-11
Birthplace state
Mississippi

Biography

Samuel Cooke was an American soul singer and songwriter. Considered one of the most influential soul artists of all time, Cooke is commonly referred to as the "King of Soul" for his distinctive vocals, pioneering contributions to the genre, and significance in popular music. During his thirteen-year career, Cooke released 29 singles that charted in the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100 chart, as well as 20 singles in the Top 10 of Billboard's Black Singles chart. In 1964, he was shot and killed by the manager of a motel in Los Angeles. After an inquest and investigation, the courts ruled Cooke's death to be a justifiable homicide. His family has since questioned the circumstances of his death. In 2015, Cooke was ranked number 28 in Billboard magazine's list of the "35 Greatest R&B Artists of All Time".

Occupation

Sam Cooke is recorded as a soul musician, a recording artist, a songwriter, a guitarist, a singer-songwriter, a musician, a pianist, a singer and a composer, born in Mississippi (1931–1964).

Connections to Mississippi

Sam Cooke was born in Clarksdale, Mississippi in 1931. Explore other notable figures from Mississippi, historic sites connected to this era, and the full colonial and statehood history of the state using the links below.

Other notable figures from Mississippi›Mississippihistory ›Historic sites in Mississippi›
Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Clarksdale

Sam Cooke came from Clarksdale. A full Aubrey report on Clarksdale pulls together everything the historical record holds about that place, from the first settlers to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Clarksdale report
Or see a real report first

More notable figures from Mississippi

Other historical figures born in Mississippi, ranked by historical prominence.

Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
American singer and actor (1935–1977)
William Faulkner
William Faulkner
American writer (1897-1962)
Tennessee Williams
Tennessee Williams
American playwright (1911–1983)
James Earl Jones
James Earl Jones
American actor (1931–2024)
Muddy Waters
Muddy Waters
American blues musician (1913–1983)
Jim Henson
Jim Henson
American puppeteer (1936–1990)
John Lee Hooker
John Lee Hooker
American blues musician (1912 or 1917–2001)

Frequently asked about Sam Cooke

Who was Sam Cooke?
Sam Cooke was American singer and songwriter (1931–1964), born in Mississippi (1931 – 1964).
When and where was Sam Cooke born?
Sam Cooke was born on 1931-01-22 in Clarksdale.
When did Sam Cooke die?
Sam died on 1964-12-11.
What was Sam Cooke known for?
Sam Cooke is recorded as a soul musician, a recording artist, a songwriter, a guitarist, a singer-songwriter, a musician, a pianist, a singer and a composer.
Source

Biographical content adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Source: Wikipedia.

Aubrey Research

Research the history of any US location

Aubrey searches federal archives, archaeological records, historic registers, and primary sources to build a full historical report for any address or place in the United States.

Research your locationView a free sample report