A Sam Cooke Tribute

It was forty-five years ago today that this world lost one of its superlative voices, that of the late, great Sam Cooke. In the early hours of December 11, Sam was fatally shot at the Hacienda Hotel in Los Angeles by the hotel’s manager. He was thirty-three years old.

When I saw that Sam’s death fell on a Friday, I got pretty excited about writing a tribute post. Since, the task has come to appear more daunting. I don’t tend to subscribe to the axiom that “writing about music is like dancing about architecture,” but as I try to write about Sam Cooke, I begin to see the wisdom behind it.

It just seems to me that Sam’s appeal is so obvious, it takes little clarification: It’s his voice, stupid. The music is simple, and the lyrics are simple, yet his vocals set each song apart. Take “(I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons.” It’s such a straightforward song—Sam just croons sweet nothings over a basic heart-and-soul progression, but it’s unforgettable. His voice just has such a charm to it that you’re bewitched; you believe him.

Or listen to “Having a Party.” It’s a song that is made up of just four or five chords, and the lyrics are as simple as the title: “We’re having a party / everybody’s swinging / dancing to the music / on the radio.” But as Sam’s voice rises urgently during the choruses, he gives you the sense that there's something profound about this party; that maybe it’s your last, so party your heart out. In the final years of his life, he would end most of his shows with this song, stretching it out to 5+ minutes as the audience begged for the concert to continue.

And then, of course, there’s his magnum opus, “A Change is Gonna Come,” which takes on greater complexity to stunning effect. It’s a heartbreaking glimpse at the trajectory Sam’s artistry may have followed if his life had not been cut short, forty-five years ago today. Yet, in listening to the song, it’s hard not to be thankful that the world held him for the time that it did. So give thanks, today, for Mr. Soul, Sam Cooke!

Sam Cooke – (I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons (YSI) (filesavr)
Sam Cooke – Having a Party (Live) (YSI) (filesavr)
Sam Cooke – A Change is Gonna Come (YSI) (filesavr)