SINGER

Sam Cooke

1931 - 1964

Photo of Sam Cooke

Icon of person Sam Cooke

Samuel Cooke (January 22, 1931 – December 11, 1964) was an American singer and songwriter. Considered one of the most influential soul artists of all time, Cooke is commonly referred to as the "King of Soul" for his distinctive vocals, pioneering contributions to the genre, and significance in popular music. Read more on Wikipedia

Since 2007, the English Wikipedia page of Sam Cooke has received more than 13,657,062 page views. His biography is available in 51 different languages on Wikipedia (up from 50 in 2019). Sam Cooke is the 248th most popular singer (down from 196th in 2019), the 1,506th most popular biography from United States (down from 1,276th in 2019) and the 81st most popular American Singer.

Sam Cooke is most famous for being the first African American singer to sign a contract with a major record label, and for his song "A Change Is Gonna Come."

Memorability Metrics

  • 14M

    Page Views (PV)

  • 59.96

    Historical Popularity Index (HPI)

  • 51

    Languages Editions (L)

  • 2.75

    Effective Languages (L*)

  • 5.58

    Coefficient of Variation (CV)

Among SINGERS

Among singers, Sam Cooke ranks 248 out of 4,381. Before him are Nena, The Singing Nun, Corry Brokken, Milva, Bessie Smith, and Lepa Brena. After him are F. R. David, Debbie Harry, Shane MacGowan, Sade, Giuseppina Strepponi, and Zdravko Čolić.

Most Popular Singers in Wikipedia

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Contemporaries

Among people born in 1931, Sam Cooke ranks 77. Before him are Adolfo Pérez Esquivel, Caterina Valente, Antonella Lualdi, Don King, Carroll Baker, and Clive Cussler. After him are John Robert Schrieffer, Vujadin Boškov, Charles Taylor, Telê Santana, Ferenc Mádl, and Stephen Boyd. Among people deceased in 1964, Sam Cooke ranks 34. Before him are Maurice Thorez, Prince Pierre, Duke of Valentinois, Paulino Alcántara, Douglas McGregor, Heinrich Neuhaus, and Andriy Melnyk. After him are Peter Lorre, Princess Auguste of Bavaria, Sigfrid Edström, Hugo Koblet, Halide Edib Adıvar, and Pedro Petrone.

Others Born in 1931

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Others Deceased in 1964

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In United States

Among people born in United States, Sam Cooke ranks 1,506 out of 20,380. Before him are Kalākaua (1836), Macaulay Culkin (1980), Patrick McGoohan (1928), Paul Greengard (1925), Matt LeBlanc (1967), and Robert Sheckley (1928). After him are James Van Allen (1914), Gary Ridgway (1949), Charles Mingus (1922), Jake Gyllenhaal (1980), Elias James Corey (1928), and James Brolin (1940).

Others born in United States

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Among SINGERS In United States

Among singers born in United States, Sam Cooke ranks 81. Before him are George Strait (1952), Neil Diamond (1941), Phil Ochs (1940), Kim Carnes (1945), DJ Khaled (1975), and Bessie Smith (1894). After him are Debbie Harry (1945), Lil Wayne (1982), Chris Cornell (1964), Beyoncé (1981), Mariah Carey (1969), and Busta Rhymes (1972).

American born Singers

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