Sam Cooke is often referred to as the "King of Soul." His smooth, expressive voice and crossover success helped define modern soul music in the 1950s and 1960s.
Cooke began singing gospel with the Soul Stirrers before launching a hugely successful secular career. Songs such as "You Send Me," "A Change Is Gonna Come," "Cupid," and "Wonderful World" combined gospel phrasing with pop accessibility. That blend helped soul reach a much wider audience.
Cooke was also an important songwriter, producer, and music-business pioneer. His songs frequently addressed love, dignity, faith, and civil rights, with "A Change Is Gonna Come" becoming especially associated with the American civil-rights movement.
A common mix-up is calling Cooke the king of gospel because of his early career with the Soul Stirrers. Gospel was his foundation, but the enduring nickname specifically refers to his influence on soul. He died in 1964 at age 33, yet his recordings continued to shape artists across R&B, pop, and soul.