What iconic civil rights anthem did Sam Cooke record in 1964?

The iconic civil rights anthem Sam Cooke recorded in 1964 was “A Change Is Gonna Come.” Cooke wrote the song after experiences with racial segregation, including being turned away from a whites-only motel in Louisiana. Its orchestral arrangement and lyrics transformed personal frustration into a sweeping statement of hope and determination.

Cooke recorded the song at RCA Studios in Hollywood on January 30, 1964, with an arrangement by René Hall. He first performed it on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson in February. The track appeared on Ain’t That Good News and was later released as a single in December 1964, shortly after Cooke’s death.

Listeners sometimes confuse it with other influential protest songs, such as Curtis Mayfield’s “People Get Ready” or Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On.” Cooke’s recording became especially significant because it connected the civil rights struggle to the mainstream soul audience. In 2007, the Library of Congress selected it for preservation in the National Recording Registry.