Timeline Sam Cooke: A Change Is Gonna Come

Gospel star, soul pioneer, businessman and civil rights voice — the short life of Sam Cooke.

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Dashed left edge = started before this timeline · Dashed right edge = still ongoing

Sam Cooke: A Change Is Gonna Come 12

1931 Sam Cooke born in Clarksdale, Mississippi Raised in Chicago The son of a minister, he grows up singing in Chicago.
1950 Sam Cooke joins the Soul Stirrers Gospel star Becomes lead singer of the leading gospel quartet.
1956 Sam Cooke releases Lovable as Dale Cook Secret crossover Uses a false name to avoid angering gospel fans.
1957 Sam Cooke releases You Send Me Number one His first pop single tops both charts.
1959 Sam Cooke founds SAR Records Owner One of the first Black artists to own a label and his publishing.
1960 Sam Cooke releases Chain Gang RCA hit A top-two hit on RCA Victor.
1962 Sam Cooke releases Twistin' the Night Away Dance hit A worldwide hit.
1963 Sam Cooke records Live at the Harlem Square Club Miami A raw live set shelved until 1985.
1963 Sam Cooke turned away from a Shreveport motel Segregation Turned away from a whites-only motel and arrested.
1964 Sam Cooke records A Change Is Gonna Come Civil rights anthem Inspired by Blowin' in the Wind and his own experience of racism.
1964 Sam Cooke shot dead in Los Angeles Hacienda Motel Killed at 33 in disputed circumstances.
1986 Sam Cooke inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame First class One of the first ten inductees.