Sam Cooke (January 22, 1931 – December 11, 1964) was a leader in the soul genre in the late 1950s and early 1960s, earning him the moniker, “King of Soul.” He had over 30 top 40 hits during his lifetime, with three more after his untimely death. His most famous songs include “Chain Gang”, “A Change Is Gonna Come”, and “Cupid”.

Sam Cooke was killed at age 33 at the Hacienda Motel in Los Angeles, California, by motel manager Bertha Franklin. To this day, the mysterious circumstances of the shooting are disputed by Cooke’s family, as the verdict in the murder was “justifiable homicide”. Despite the infamy surrounding his death, Sam Cooke’s legacy and undeniable talent keep his legacy alive to this day.