This week I thought I would go off course, ever so slightly, with this selection.
A few things you should know about Sam Cooke if you've never heard of him. Just like Elvis is the "King of Rock and Roll" and Michael Jackson is the "King of Pop" most music historians will tell you that Sam Cooke is the "King of Soul". James Brown may be the "Godfather" of soul music but Cooke came first in the heart of the Civil Rights Era where violence and discrimination stained many corners of our great nation. During a seven year period, coincidentally the same years as the Little Rock Nine to the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Cooke had30 top-40 hits. Most of his highest charting singles were typical pop songs about young love and feelings of loneliness and infatuation. Yet his most famous work was a far cry from his mainstream musical repertoire. In 1963, Sam Cooke was denied access to a Holiday Inn in the South since the facilities were segregated. Cooke's anger combined with other folk songs that were openly questioning and critiquing racism in society helped convince the crooner to work on what he hoped would be an anthem. The problem is that a "crossover" artist like Sam Cooke could not dare go political or risk losing his rather large fan base. Although involved in the Civil Rights Movement, Cooke wanted to do more with his music. Hence, "A Change Is Gonna Come" was recorded in early 1964. In December of that year, Cooke once again found himself at a hotel except this day he would be shot and killed by the owner of the hotel. The police officers ruled it a "justifiable homicide" and less than two weeks later this song was released as a single. Revolutions bring about change and sometimes you are living in moments of immense change. You are simply anticipating these moments, the precipice of history. Without question this is one of those times of immense change and tension. This song is over 50 years old but it rings true today. Listen.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorFollow me @MrG_Unit Archives
August 2016
Categories
All
|