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Sam Cooke Trivia Quiz

Sam Cooke was a music legend. Test your knowledge with these ten questions.

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

Author
Elanor

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
102,669

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
7 / 10

Plays
1118

Awards
Top 20% Quiz

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. With what name was Sam Cooke born? Hint

Samuel Cooke

Sam Cooke

Dale Cooke

Samuel Cook

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Question 2 of 10

2. Where was Sam born? Hint

Ohio

Tennesee

Mississippi

Kansas

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Question 3 of 10

3. To which big city did the Cooke family move in 1933? Hint

St Louis

Cincinatti

New York

Chicago

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Question 4 of 10

4. Sam Cooke sang with his sisters in a group called The Singing Children?

True

False

5. Sam's first professional singing job was with a vocal quartet called The Teenage Highway QCs. They toured the midwest and the southern states. But Sam's big break came when he was asked to replace the lead singer of which well-established gospel group? Hint

The Soul Shakers

The Soul Stirrers

The Spirit Shakers

The Spirit Stirrers

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Question 6 of 10

6. Sam launched his pop career with record label Keen. His first hit was released in 1957. What was it called? Hint

Wonderful World

You Send Me

Everybody Loves To Cha Cha Cha

Chain Gang

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Question 7 of 10

7. Sam's most famous song was probably "Wonderful World". Which of these lines is not part of the song? Hint

Don't know much biology, don't know much trigonometry

Don't know much about algebra, don't know what a slide rule is for

Don't know much about a science book, don't know much about the French I took

They are all lines from the song

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Question 8 of 10

8. What is Sam's complaint in his hit "Another Saturday Night"? Hint

I ain't got no money

I ain't got nobody

I ain't got no place to go

I ain't got no home

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Question 9 of 10

9. Sam Cooke died on December 11th, 1964. How did he die? Hint

shot by his father

drug overdose

killed in a car crash

shot by a hotel manageress

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Question 10 of 10

10. Which of these Sam Cooke hits was not one of his own compositions? Hint

Twistin' the Night Away

They are all his compositions

Sad Mood

Bring It On Home To Me

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. With what name was Sam Cooke born?

Answer: Samuel Cook

He added the extra 'e' out of superstition. He wanted a stage name that had an even number of letters. He did record a single under the name Dale Cooke early in his career.

2. Where was Sam born?

Answer: Mississippi

He was born in Clarksdale, Mississippi, on January 22nd 1931. He was one of five brothers and three sisters.

3. To which big city did the Cooke family move in 1933?

Answer: Chicago

Sam's father, Charles, was a church minister in the Bronzeville district of the city, and it was here that Sam began singing gospel songs, at an early age.

4. Sam Cooke sang with his sisters in a group called The Singing Children?

Answer: True

Sam was nine at this point, and together with two of his sisters they formed a gospel trio.

Answer: The Soul Stirrers

Sam Cooke recorded several albums on the Speciality label with The Soul Stirrers, and began to make a name for himself as a talented singer, who could sound both spiritual and extremely sexy.

6. Sam launched his pop career with record label Keen. His first hit was released in 1957. What was it called?

Answer: You Send Me

The other songs were all hits for Sam Cooke too, but "You Send Me" was his first. Within two years Sam moved to a new record label, RCA.

7. Sam's most famous song was probably "Wonderful World". Which of these lines is not part of the song?

Answer: They are all lines from the song

"But I know that one and one is two, and if this one could be with you, what a wonderful world this would be ... " What a classic!

8. What is Sam's complaint in his hit "Another Saturday Night"?

Answer: I ain't got nobody

"I got some money 'cause I just got paid, now how I wish I had some chick to talk to..." This was another of Sam's self-penned songs, and was a hit in 1963. It is full of humour. "Another fella told me, he had a sister who looked just fine. Insead of being my deliv'rance, she had a strange resemblance, to a chap named Frankenstein."

9. Sam Cooke died on December 11th, 1964. How did he die?

Answer: shot by a hotel manageress

It was Marvin Gaye who was shot by his own father. The details surrounding Sam Cooke's early death, at the age of only 33, are sketchy, and much debated. Try a quick search on the internet, and find all the different conspiracy theories.

However, it is known that he was shot and killed by the manageress of a cheap motel, that his last words were "Lady, you shot me!" and that she was found guilty of justifiable homicide.

10. Which of these Sam Cooke hits was not one of his own compositions?

Answer: They are all his compositions

In fact it is quite difficult to find one of Sam's hits that wasn't self-penned.

His songs could range from stylish to sexy, from funny and upbeat to soulful and moody. His voice was always sublime, and he was a much imitated and sadly missed icon of a musical genre.

Source: Author Elanor

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor gtho4 before going online.
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