Sam Cooke, born in 1931, was a pioneering American singer and songwriter known as the “King of Soul.” Rising from gospel roots, he transitioned to secular music in the late 1950s, delivering hits like “You Send Me” and “A Change Is Gonna Come.” Cooke’s smooth voice and poignant lyrics played a pivotal role in shaping soul music. Beyond music, he was a successful entrepreneur, founding his own record label and advocating for civil rights. Tragically, he was shot and killed at age 33 in 1964, leaving behind a lasting legacy in music and activism. Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986, Cooke’s influence continues to resonate in popular culture.

Sam Cooke Quotes

1. “It’s been a long time coming. But I know a change is gonna come.”
— Sam Cooke

2. “There been times when I thought I couldn’t last for long But now I think I’m able to carry on It’s been a long, been a long time coming But I know a change is gonna come, oh yes it will.”
— Sam Cooke

3. “I was born by the river, in a little tent, and just like the river I’ve been running ever since.”
— Sam Cooke

4. “Don’t know much about history, don’t know much biology, don’t know much about a science book, don’t know much about the French I took.”
— Sam Cooke

5. “Ooh, ah, ooh, ah, that’s the sound of the men working on the chain gang.”
— Sam Cooke

6. “You know, I’ll always be your slave ’til I’m buried, buried in my grave.”
— Sam Cooke

7. “Don’t know much about history Don’t know much biology.”
— Sam Cooke

8. “Well that’s very kind of you, but voices ought not be measured by how pretty they are. Instead they matter only if they convince you that they are telling the truth.”
— Sam Cooke

9. “Man, if I was back home, I’d be swinging with two chicks on my arms.”
— Sam Cooke

10. “Another fella told me, he had a sister who looked just fine. Instead of being my deliverance, she had a strange resemblance to a cat name of Frankenstein.”
— Sam Cooke

11. “It was something I enjoyed doing and decided to give it a couple years, though I’m not making a lot of money now either!”
— Sam Cooke