Sam Cooke

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sam was one of the smoothist cats of this time, and always will be

>>By anthony   (Wednesday, 13 Nov 2002 17:13)



most people, certainly in Europe, everyone knows the songs but not the man. Wonderwul World, Cupid Chain Gang etc. I bought an Otis Redding album and found out my favorite songs were written by a man named Cooke. I searched a little longer and bought The Man and His Music. When living in America I started a page about his songs, hoping more people would get to know him.
His voice is the most natural I know, no forced singing trying to make the notes, he just makes them, seemingly without effort. I still change into a different person when Sam starts singing the words Amazing Grace in the Soul Stirrers song Must Jesus Bear This Cross Alone. Never since the day I bought my first Sam Cooke CD have I heard a better voice. People have wrote better songs, played better music but no one still can't sing like he can. Buy Live at the Harlem Square club and hear him do things he could not do on records, simply amazing. To make a very strange analogy, that album is as good as Underworld's Everything Everything

>>By martyn   (Thursday, 19 Dec 2002 16:58)



different music but both make you part of the audience. Wow!

>>By martyn   (Thursday, 19 Dec 2002 16:58)



Simply the best voice you will ever hear . Listen to the gospel songs and see where soul music came from . As was stated before nobody sings better or more naturally . when most of his songs were recorded there were none of the technical tricks that they use today to smooth out the problems or roughnes in peoples voices .
The guy is without equal . Ask Aretha , Rod , Otis etc they all cite Sam as the best because he was .

>>By Scooke UK   (Saturday, 28 Dec 2002 22:40)



14 years ago I got some of Sam Cookes beautiful songs on a tape, which I did not return to the owner. Ever since, I'm his fan. I love to listen his magical voice and his beautiful songs. I even try to sing some of his songs and for that I got the nick name sam cooke. I'm in the habit singing his songs at home, my work place and everywhere. His songs make me happy. Sam Cook has a lot of admirers in my birth country - Ethiopia. One day I would love to sing his songs on a stage; infront of an audience. That would be the day that I shall express my deepest love for the greatest singer I've ever come across in mylife.

sam cooke (SW) USA

>>By sam cooke   (Monday, 6 Jan 2003 04:21)



Sam Cook is with out a doubt the best singer ever and, touch the helm of his garmount is great but my fav is Sugar dumplin

>>By Soul man mike   (Wednesday, 8 Jan 2003 15:21)



i'm 17 and i love is music that much i bought his box collection at £40 and another album at £10

>>By Soul man mike   (Wednesday, 8 Jan 2003 15:22)



I am 35 yrs. old and I love Sam Cooke's music, I believe, he was b4 his time. May his name and legacy live on. Long Live Sam Cooke.

>>By GOOBY   (Friday, 7 Feb 2003 05:16)



ALOT OF FOLKS LOOK AT SAM AS JUST A SINGER WITH A PRETTY VOICE.BUT THERE IS MUCH MORE TO THE MAN.NOT ONLY WERE HIS SONGS SMOOTH AND ENTICING,BUT HIS LATER SONGS COMMENTED ON AMERICAS SOCIAL DISORDER OF THE 1960'S.AND NOT BEING SATISFIED JUST TO SING, SAM TOOK CONTROL OF HIS OWN FUTURE BY WRITING HIS OWN SONGS AND RELATIVELY EARLY IN HIS CARRER, HE STARTED HIS OWN RECORD LABEL AND PUBLISHING COMPANY.NOT ONLY DO I APPRECIATE HIM AS A SINGER, BUT AS A BUSINESS MAN ,FRIEND ,AND FATHER.HIS DEATH, THOUGH UNSOLVED,CATAPULTED HIM TO LEGENDARY STATUS.MANY ARTIST TODAY SECRETLY STYLE THEMSELVES AFTER HIM...BUT ANY REAL FAN OF SAM CAN TELL WHEN HIS TRADEMARK YODEL,PHRASING, AND CURLICUES ARE BEING COPIED...IN FACT BEING DESTROYED! THERE IS ONLY ONE SAM COOKE...I HAVE EVERY ALBUM AVAILABLE TO MAN AND I SAVE EVRY PICTURE OF HIM I COME ACROSS.I HAVE 3 BOOKS ON HIM AND NUMEROUS NEWSPAPER CLIPPINGS.MANY PEOPLE SAY I LOOK LIKE HIM....WHY? BECAUSE HE IS MY GRANDFATHER!

>>By NO.1 FAN   (Monday, 10 Feb 2003 19:45)



I AM 34 YEARS OLD WHICH MEANS SAM COOKE HAD GONE ON TO GLORY FOUR YEARS BEFORE MY BIRTH BUT SINCE I WAS FOUR YEARS OLD AND HEARD 'CUPID'ON MY GRANDPA'S 8-TRACK,SAM HAS BEEN MY IDOL!!!!!!!!!

>>By S. KENNEDY BROWN   (Saturday, 15 Feb 2003 06:04)



surely sam cooke was the greatest soul singer of all time, the only singer to compare was early marvin gaye my favourite song is a change is gonna come. listen to shake rattle and roll on the nightbeat album another great track. everything he does is brilliant.

>>By tushy   (Saturday, 15 Feb 2003 20:15)



Although he lived for only 33 years, Sam Cooke in my view was the greatest singer ever. His silky smooth and enticing voice had many women back in his day go out of their minds and the tunes that he left behind makes many of the women today do the same thing. My favorite Sam Cooke tunes, "You Send Me," "Only 16," "Having a Party," & many others are songs that I'll play over and over again. There is not a song that Sam has recorded that I do not like. Although Teddy Pendergrass was great in his heyday & the late, great Marvin Gaye was no joke either, Sam Cooke was and still is in my opinion, in a class by himself. He was the greatest vocalist who ever recorded in a studio, performed on stage with a microphone, & a great inspiration to many of today's singers, black, white, or otherwise. In my 44 years here on earth, I have yet to see anyone who has a voice that is even close to his. I am hoping one day that his life story is told on the silver screen so that many other people can really appreciate the excellent material that this legendary superstar left behind.

By Gulf.

>>By gulfsierra   (Monday, 24 Feb 2003 08:41)



I'M 45 years old now, but when I was younger, my brother Bill used to play Sam Cooke's album 'The Late & Great Sam Cooke' all the time, and naturally I grew to love his music. Sadly my brother Bill, like Sam, has since died, but I can't listen to a Sam Cooke track without thinking of Bill and smiling at the wonderful memory of him singing along as we listened to the greatest singer, I've ever had the priviledge to hear. My favourite Sam Cooke track is 'Somebody have mercy on me', I also like 'Thats where its at' and 'Shake, Rattle & Roll'

>>By Cassie   (Friday, 7 Mar 2003 16:02)



I Think that Sam Cook was one of the greatest singers of this time, In my opion there will never be another Sam Cook, What a great singer and a lost of talented. Sam Cook Number 1 Fan in the world.

>>By Neat   (Wednesday, 19 Mar 2003 05:04)



I came accross Sam by accident, around 1987 my father who was a Sinatra fan was recording the man and his music LP on to tape, I remember thinking to myself ' hey that guy is some singer', Id already heard of a couple of his songs before and 'Wonderful world 'had just been featured in a levis ad, I borrowed the Lp and from there was hooked !! There are too many songs out there to single out as my favourite but if I were pushed I,d have to say 'Somewhere theres a girl' from the SAR double CD box set is probably my No 1 song .
The Legendary Sam Cooke , is probably my favourite Album.
Scott, Glasgow, UK

>>By Scott   (Friday, 28 Mar 2003 13:37)



i recently was fortunate to attend the 1st annual sam cooke convention in atlanta georgia. the universal opinion was that jerry wexler [ atlantic records co-founder ] who holds that cooke was the greatest [non-classical] singer who ever lived. power, control, phrasing, imagination, articulation, modulation, timing - he had it all -he was a perfect case! p.s. the greatest classical singer was my father! bernard tanner ,jnr.

>>By buncieboy   (Sunday, 30 Mar 2003 05:11)



i..wont..to..talk.a..bout.sam.but.i./dont..no.were.to. sart he was the best

>>By hayesmiller   (Saturday, 26 Apr 2003 00:59)



All that I can say is buy Live at the Harlem Square Club, 1963.
You'll understand when you hear it.
It has instantly become one of my favs, it puts many other albums - live & studio, to shame.
It really is that good.

>>By Will   (Thursday, 8 May 2003 15:09)



It was in the year of 1959, I was in elementary school that year, I had a little friend named Wade Allen and wade to my astonishment could sing and it sounded real good when he sang, and the songs were songs I'd never heard. Wel,l I could sing also, but not like wade and that voice and songs. One day as we were walking home from school wade began to sang and I asked him who made that song he was singing, and he said "Sam Cook", and that was my first time hearing about Sam Cook, so I thought, then came Sunday morning and usually all black families had their radios tuned to the only gospel radio station they had and suddenly, I heard a voice in the quartet music playing that sounded like Wades but smoother, clearer and just down right soul stiring. I couldn't help it but the music and the voice drew me to the radio, even though I was supposed to be getting ready for Sunday school and church, I was motionless and in a trance as I heard that beautiful, melodious voice of Sam Cook and the Soul Stirrers. I began singing Sam's songs and day by day, year by year, I sang and sang Sam's songs, blues, pop as well as his gospel recordings. I sang his songs so much until today when I sing, traces of Sam Cook are in my voice and I can't nor do I want to change it. Many friends, strangers accquaintences all say I sound like Sam Cook when I sing. I've been in a few gospel groups and sang in church choirs, and all have said I remind them of Sam Cook, with all that said, I today sing like Sam Cook, I'm proud. With all the alcolades I've been given concerning my singing like Sam Cook, I could never, ever replace or come anywhere near sounding like my Soul Stirring idol Sam Cook, no one can, there was only one Sam Cook, there will never be another, no matter how hard we try to imitate, simulate and orcharstrate or duplicate, we'll never be Sam Cook. I miss Sam even though I never met him personally, but he is still in my heart, his music, his class, his style. Sleep on my brother . you're gone..... but never forgotten.

>>By James A. McCormick   (Thursday, 8 May 2003 16:17)



When I was a boy my mother would play "Send Me Some Lovin'', Nothing Can Change This Love' and " Bring It On Home To Me" One day, I was at the home of my aunt - my mother's older sister. She said she had the "Best Of Sam Cooke" Album , the one with the yellow and black cover. I played all the songs and right from the first time I love them all. Then I asked the questions "who is he? is he still living ?" Lo and behold I found out that he was dead. (He was the same age as my mother and my father, but my father died earlier that year) I remember watching TV on channel 11 WPIX when I saw a preview of "The Clay Cole Show, and they said they had film clips of the late Sam Cooke. At the time I saw that preview I didn't know who he was. But after hearing his music and finding out he had been killed, Isaid "man, what a loss to the music world" My aunt not only had his R&B songs, but his Gospel music, too. Whwn she let me listen to them, it was hard to understand how a man with so much to give in the music world was gone. As an older man today I not ashamed to say I love this man and his music. I know we all must die in this lifetime, but he didn't have to die the way he di. I have collected all his music- from the original " Good Times" in mono from 1964 (and in good condition) to "Good Times" in stereo. I also record the "Legends" Special from VH-1 last January, and I made three copies. Also I have the book, "You Send Me: The Life & Times Of Sam Cooke," which I purchased in 1995.

>>By Robert G Paulin   (Friday, 9 May 2003 06:16)



On the film "Ali" what was the name of the song Sam Cooke was singing

>>By APA   (Wednesday, 14 May 2003 17:31)



I LOVE SAM COOKE , HE WAS BACK IN MY FATHERS DAY WHEN HE WAS YOUNG , I REMEMBER ALL HIS SONGS MY FATHER WOULD PLAY , AND NOW THAT I AM 41 YEARS OLD , I HAVE ALL THE GREAT SONGS BY SAM COOKE , IT WARMS MY HEART TO HERE HIM SING ANY SONG , BUT MY FAVORITES WOULD HAVE TO BE ANY GOSPEL SONG BY HIM , MY FATHER IS NONE FOR BEING THE SAM COOKE KING , BECOUSE HE HAS ALL OF HIS SONGS I BELIVE , HAHAHAHAH
I WISH I HAD THE OPPORUNITY TO MEET SAM WHEN HE WAS LIVING IT WOULD HAVE BEEN AN HONOR. MY NAME IS VANESSA RICHARDS   (Saturday, 7 Jun 2003 00:01)



I,m 15 and I totally love the man and his music. I started listing to Sam Cooke,s music when I was just 3 years old. My granparents used to always play his music and talk about him. I didn,t really know who he was until I was eight but I have always admired him. Most of my class mates think im kind of an oddball because I listen to such old music. To me this music today is to racy and dirty. I love the songs Sam Cooke sings because they are so soulful and passionate. His voice is so "Wonderful". I really wish he was here today so I could meet him. It would have been such a pleasure to meet him.

God rest his soul

>>By Baby Rae   (Friday, 18 Jul 2003 23:53)



This comment is for APA. The song he was singing was a "Change gone come". I will never forget that song its my favorite one.

>>By Baby Rae   (Friday, 18 Jul 2003 23:58)



i have him on video & what a legend this guy's talent is

>>By star   (Thursday, 13 Nov 2003 09:45)



Sam Cooke...wow. what an amazing, soul stirring, smooth voice that man possessed. My friend sent me some of his songs and I absolutely love them. His voice sends shivers down my spine and at the same time it warms my soul. My favourite song is Jesus gave me water, and I also love this little clip my friend sent me of this guy asking him to hum 8 bars of what soul is. That's gotta be one of the most soulful things I've ever had the pleasure to hear. Artists today can't even compare. I have great respect for the soul stirrer himself, Sam Cooke, he is right up there with my idol, Aretha Franklin. Let soul live on in the sound of this man's extraordinary voice.
by the way, if anyone wants to chat, my email address is independent_diva@telus.net and I'm an 18 year old girl who has, within the past few months, discovered the amazing thing we call soul music.
Jessi

>>By arethafanatic85   (Friday, 9 Jan 2004 01:18)



without Sam and his elegant and stylish way of singing, the music of the young people wouldnt be the same :).

WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD this would be with more Sam Cooke songs playing JUST FOR YOU on the radio!! it would be like HAVING A PARTY all the time, or being ONLY SIXTEEN forever

:D please, Mr DJ, play those wonderful oldies goldies!! :)

>>By Jim_Hawkins   (Sunday, 27 Nov 2005 21:56)



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