Pause for a moment and take in Sam's rendition of "The Riddle Song." You'll be glad you did.

Sam Cooke graduated from Chicago's Wendell Phillips High School in 1948, where he distinguished himself as an “A” student as well as being voted “most likely to succeed.”

“Sam Cooke At The Copa” was released this month in 1964. What's your favorite track from this seminal album?

Another piece of Sam Cooke history: “Chain Gang” hit #2 on the @billboard Hot 100 chart on this day in 1960! 📸 Jess Rand

“Sam was a prince of a man. He just had everything going for him.” - Aretha Franklin

1, 2, cha cha cha.

Ed Sullivan looks on as Sam performs on @EdSullivanShow in 1957. 📸 Silver Screen Collection

The Gang’s All Here @MuhammadAli

Get your gospel education with this collection of Sam's work with The Soul Stirrers, all in one playlist. Streaming now on @spotify.

For $2.00, you could see Sam "Cupid" Cooke live at New York City's Rockland Palace in 1961.

"You Send Me" was released on this day in 1957, marking Sam's debut as a solo artist and his transition from gospel to secular music. When it hit #1 on Billboard's Rhythm & Blues Records chart and the Billboard Hot 100, his crossover to popular music was complete.

Singer. Songwriter. Producer. Activist. Entrepreneur.

Happy Birthday to Billy Preston, a longtime collaborator and fierce supporter of Sam's career. Here he is performing his soulful rendition of "A Change Is Gonna Come."

Fans gather outside the Royal Peacock Club in Atlanta, GA.

Sam posing with a billboard promoting his appearance at the Copacabana in New York City, 1964.

The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind...

The Man Who Invented Soul 💫

Sam performing "Ain't That Good News" on American Bandstand in 1964.

"I like any song that has a good story…that says what it has to say simply. A repetitious phrase helps put the story across. A song should have a lilting melody.” - Sam Cooke