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Soul Stirrers

Wonderful

• gospel group with lead vocalist Sam Cooke during the 50s
• Characteristics of Cooke's style:
  • vocal melismas
  • soulful interpolations ("I know, I know, I know," "whoa-oh-oh" etc.)
  • "urban" enunciation

Sam Cooke

1956 - began releasing his own singles ("Lovable"), hoping not to offend his gospel fans

Specialty records dropped him for deserting the "Soul Stirrers," just the year before his release of ...

You Send Me (video)

(#1, 1957)

had a series of hit singles through 1964, when he was shot to death (12/11/64) by Berth Franklin (manager of the Hacienda motel in L.A.)

she claimed self-defense after Cooke had allegedly tried to rape a 22-year old woman before turning on Franklin

questions still remain about the shooting and there has been recent discussion of reopening the investigation

Comparison of "Wonderful"
and "You Send Me"

Compare the following brief excerpts from "Wonderful" and "You Send Me"

• Wonderful
  • excerpt 1 - 1:31 to 1:34
  • excerpt 2 - 2:05 to 2:08
• You Send Me
  • excerpt 1 - 0:18 to 0:21
  • excerpt 2 - 0:58 to 1:01
  • excerpt 3 - 1:37 to 1:40

 

• gospel musical inflections are used identically in his hit singles ... both Gospel & Soul!!
• Cooke became a model for other gospel artists to cross over to the white audience
• considered a groundbreaking independent black music capitalist; owned his own ...
  • record label (SAR/Derby)
  • music publishing concern (Kags Music)
  • management firm
• his influence can be heard in the music
  • Otis Redding
  • Al Green
  • Michael Jackson
• 1986--one of the first inductees into the R&R Hall of Fame
  • 3 yrs later, the Soul Stirrers entered separately

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