Sam Cooke: podcast appearances and interviews

Samuel Cooke was an American soul singer and songwriter born on January 22, 1931. Recognized as one of the most influential soul artists in history, he is often called the 'King of Soul' due to his distinctive vocal style, pioneering contributions to the genre, and impact on popular music. Over a career spanning thirteen years, Cooke released 29 singles that reached the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100 chart and 20 singles that made it into the Top 10 of Billboard's Black Singles chart. His work helped shape the development of soul music and left a lasting legacy in the industry. Cooke's life was tragically cut short when he was shot and killed by the manager of a motel in Los Angeles in December 1964. An inquest and investigation concluded that his death was justifiable homicide, although his family has questioned the circumstances surrounding his death. To this day, he is remembered as a central figure in the history of rhythm and blues, with recognition including a ranking of number 28 on Billboard magazine's list of the 35 Greatest R&B Artists of All Time in 2015.