Sam Cooke

A teen gospel star known for his uncommon charisma as a frontman, Sam Cooke successfully translated the rousing warmth of church standards to the breezy realm of secular pop.

After leading The Soul Stirrers, Cooke (born Samuel Cook in Clarksdale, Mississippi in 1931) quickly recorded a procession of hit solo singles that continue to endure.

His 1957 breakthrough “You Send Me” distills devotional themes into a romantically pure ballad, while “Chain Gang” similarly repurposes the blues’ classic call-and-response motif.