January 22, 2006

Happy birthday Sam Cooke

Today is the 75th birthday of Sam Cooke, one of the sweetest, purest soul voices I know. Born Samuel Cook in 1931, he added the “e” to the end of his last name later in life – he thought it added class. As a Browne-with-an-”e” myself, I have to agree. Classy.

Starting as a gospel singer, he gave the world 33 years of his music before he died in 1964 – the victim of a motel shooting whose details are still disputed. What a loss; think of all the beautiful music he still had inside.

There’s a sweeping new biography about Cooke out now, “Dream Boogie: The Triumph of Sam Cooke” by pop music writer and Elvis chronicler Peter Guralnick. I have heard excellent things about it, and intend (!) to read it this year.

I know I said this before, but Sam Cooke always sounds like slow-dancing barefoot in the kitchen, especially this song. It is absolutely my favorite by him:

Bring It On Home To Me” – Sam Cooke

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2 Comments

  • Wow…that’s seriously one of my favorite songs of all-time. Sam Cooke was brilliant, and nowhere moreso than on that song. You got some damn good taste!

    Chad — January 23, 2006 @ 12:51 am

  • also my favorite sam cooke song. have you heard the version on live at the harlem square club (1963)? i think he does it in a medley with “sentimental reasons.” if you haven’t heard that album, try to get your hands on it.

    donsky — January 25, 2006 @ 11:16 am

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Bio Pic Name: Heather Browne
Location: Colorado, originally by way of California
Giving context to the torrent since 2005.

"I love the relationship that anyone has with music: because there's something in us that is beyond the reach of words, something that eludes and defies our best attempts to spit it out. It's the best part of us, probably, the richest and strangest part..."
—Nick Hornby, Songbook
"Music has always been a matter of energy to me, a question of Fuel. Sentimental people call it Inspiration, but what they really mean is Fuel."
—Hunter S. Thompson

Mp3s are for sampling purposes, kinda like when they give you the cheese cube at Costco, knowing that you'll often go home with having bought the whole 7 lb. spiced Brie log. They are left up for a limited time. If you LIKE the music, go and support these artists, buy their schwag, go to their concerts, purchase their CDs/records and tell all your friends. Rock on.

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