One of the all-time great figures in American popular music, vocalist Sam Cooke led an extraordinary life and died an extraordinary death—and in the process became the single most influential singer in the history of soul music.
From his apprenticeship as a gospel singer through his move to the secular world of pop stardom, Cooke displayed both a talent and business acumen that was unprecedented in the field of rhythm and blues (R&B). Despite his tragic, early death in 1964,...