The Life and Bizarre Death of Soul Icon Sam Cooke

Even if his name doesn’t ring a bell, you have probably heard Sam Cooke’s music before. He was an incredibly influential and talented soul artist. There’s a reason why he is often hailed as the King of Soul. The Mississippi-born crooner had 29 different singles make it to the Top 40. “Touch The Hem Of His Garment”, “Cupid”, and “You Were Made For Me” are just a few gorgeous tunes by the singer/songwriter. Unfortunately, Sam Cooke’s legacy has been stained by his sudden and violent death at the age of 33 in 1964.

And many fans of the artist, as well as music historians, still debate the real circumstances of that very death.

The Enigma That Was Sam Cooke

Ahead of his death, Sam Cooke had quite the full life. He seemed to be an at least somewhat admirable person. He was married twice, and paid for his ex-wife’s funeral following a fatal traffic collision that took her life, even though they were divorced.

Cooke was also an important part of the civil rights movement. He often used his influence as a musician to fight for the cause. He campaigned with activists and fellow entertainers for racial equality.

Just as well, his musical legacy has left a mark on the world. His soul, gospel, and R&B tunes have inspired everyone from Otis Redding to Tina Turner to Mick Jagger to Paul McCartney.

On December 11, 1964, Cooke was shot and killed. And the circumstances surrounding his death are still quite mysterious, considering the racial tensions in the United States when he died.

The Death of Sam Cooke

Cooke was found dead with a gunshot wound to the chest at a motel in Los Angeles. The motel manager, one Bertha Franklin, said she had shot the singer in self-defense. According to Franklin, Cooke had checked in earlier that afternoon and had banged on her office door, demanding to see a girl named Elisa Boyer. Boyer had called the police just moments before Franklin shot Cooke.

Cooke, who was partially naked, forced himself into the office, demanding to know where the woman was. After a brief grapple, Franklin retrieved a gun and shot him. His final words were, allegedly, “Lady, you shot me.”

Boyer would later say that Cooke was intoxicated when they met at a nightclub and refused to let her leave his vehicle. He then drove her against her will to the motel and allegedly had every intention to assault her. When he was distracted, she fled, leading to the debacle that would claim Cooke’s life.

Many of Cooke’s supporters have debated whether or not those testimonies were rooted in truth. Some believe that the circumstances were quite different. Others, like Cooke’s friend Muhammad Ali, made the point that “if Cooke had been Frank Sinatra, The Beatles or Ricky Nelson, the FBI would be investigating.”

Singer Etta James also attested that the injuries she saw on Cooke’s body ahead of his funeral seemed to be too severe to align with Franklin and Boyer’s description of events. Some fans believe that Sam Cooke’s manager, Allen Klein, may have had a role in some conspiracy surrounding his death.

Either way, we likely will never know what really happened that day.

Photo courtesy of Legacy Recordings

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