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Quiz about Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Series Sam Cooke

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Series: Sam Cooke Quiz

Sam Cooke was one of the greatest R&B performers of his era. See how much you know of this legendary singer, who some credit with inventing soul music.

A multiple-choice quiz by ralzzz. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
ralzzz

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
174,049

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
780

Awards
Top 35% Quiz

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. In which state was Sam Cooke born? Hint

Alabama

Tennessee

Florida

Mississippi

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Question 2 of 10

2. What is the name of the gospel group that gave Cooke his start? Hint

The Soul Searchers

The Soul Shakers

The Soul Stirrers

The Soul Supremes

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Question 3 of 10

3. What was Sam Cooke's first number one single? Hint

Wonderful World

Chain Gang

You Send Me

A Change is Gonna Come

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Question 4 of 10

4. Cooke left Keen Records after only two years due to a royalty dispute. His first album on his new label was the live "Cooke's Tour". What label did Cooke leave Keen to join? Hint

Decca

RCA

Columbia

Motown

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Question 5 of 10

5. What is the name of the record label Cooke formed? Hint

SAR Records

SAM Records

Cooke Records

Soul Records

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Question 6 of 10

6. Who sang background vocals on the hit "Bring it on Home to Me"? Hint

Otis Redding

Little Richard

Smokey Robinson

Lou Rawls

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Question 7 of 10

7. Sam Cooke recorded the song "Summertime". From what Gershwin work did this song originally appear? Hint

Funny Face

Girl Crazy

Strike Up the Band

Porgy and Bess

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Question 8 of 10

8. The song "A Change is Gonna Come" was posthumously released in 1965. What was the flip side to this single? Hint

Shake

Havin' a Party

Send Me Some Lovin'

Another Saturday Night

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Question 9 of 10

9. Sam Cooke died on December 11, 1964 in Los Angeles, CA. What was the cause of his death? Hint

Drug Overdose

Shooting

Car Accident

Stomach Cancer

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Question 10 of 10

10. What popular girl group recorded a tribute to Sam Cooke after his death? Hint

The Vandellas

The Supremes

The Marvelettes

The Velvelettes

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. In which state was Sam Cooke born?

Answer: Mississippi

Sam Cooke was born January 22, 1931 in Clarksdale, MS. His birth name was Samuel Cook. Cooke moves to Chicago as a youngster where he gets involved with music in the church where his father was the reverend.

2. What is the name of the gospel group that gave Cooke his start?

Answer: The Soul Stirrers

The Soul Stirrers were a gospel group from Texas who featured R.H. Harris on lead vocals. Sam Cooke replaced Harris in 1950. The Soul Stirrers were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989 in the Early Influence category.

3. What was Sam Cooke's first number one single?

Answer: You Send Me

"You Send Me" was released on the tiny Keen Records in 1957 and quickly rose to the top of the pop and R&B charts. The song knocked the Elvis Presley hit "Jailhouse Rock" from its top spot.

4. Cooke left Keen Records after only two years due to a royalty dispute. His first album on his new label was the live "Cooke's Tour". What label did Cooke leave Keen to join?

Answer: RCA

Cooke nearly signed with Atlantic Records, but they wanted publishing rights to his songs. Cooke knew the business side of the industry and realized he needed a deal that would give him rights to his own publishing. RCA offered him the deal he wanted and the rest is history.

5. What is the name of the record label Cooke formed?

Answer: SAR Records

SAR Records released albums by the Soul Stirrers, Bobby Womack and Billy Preston. SAR Records was formed in 1961 and the initial release was by the Soul Stirrers. Cooke also formed the publishing company called Kags Music.

6. Who sang background vocals on the hit "Bring it on Home to Me"?

Answer: Lou Rawls

Lou Rawls was a schoolmate of Cooke's. They were in a group called the Teenage Kings of Harmony and then Rawls later replaced Cooke in The Highway Q.C.'s. In 1958, Cooke and Rawls were on tour together when the car they were riding in crashed. Cooke was unharmed, but Rawls was actually pronounced dead on arrival. Rawls spent over five days in a coma as a result of the crash.

7. Sam Cooke recorded the song "Summertime". From what Gershwin work did this song originally appear?

Answer: Porgy and Bess

"Porgy and Bess" is one of the most famous American operas from the 20th century. The original show opened in 1935 at New York's Alvin Theatre. Cooke's version appeared on the 1962 release "The Best of Sam Cooke, Volume 1".

8. The song "A Change is Gonna Come" was posthumously released in 1965. What was the flip side to this single?

Answer: Shake

Cooke listened to the Bob Dylan classic "Blowin' in the Wind" and wrote "A Change is Gonna Come". This song is considered not only one of Cooke's best songs, but one of the best songs to come out of the American civil rights movement. The song was indicative of the movement that Cooke was moving in at the time of his death.

9. Sam Cooke died on December 11, 1964 in Los Angeles, CA. What was the cause of his death?

Answer: Shooting

Sam Cooke was shot to death in a hotel during a confrotation with the hotel manager. The shooting was determined to be justifiable, triggering a huge controversy to the real nature of the homicide. When Cooke was buried in Glendale, CA, 200,000 fans flocked the funeral to pay their respects to the great man.

10. What popular girl group recorded a tribute to Sam Cooke after his death?

Answer: The Supremes

The Supremes released "We Remember Sam Cooke" in April of 1965, barely four months after the death of Cooke. The album peaked at number 75 on the album charts.

Source: Author ralzzz

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