SINGER
Sam Cooke
1931 - 1964

Sam Cooke
Samuel Cooke (né Cook; 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. During his eight-year career, Cooke released 29 singles that charted in the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100 chart, as well as 20 singles in the Top 10 of Billboard's Black Singles chart. In 1964, he was shot and killed by the manager of a motel in Los Angeles. Read more on Wikipedia
His biography is available in different languages on Wikipedia. Sam Cooke is the 269th most popular singer (down from 248th in 2019), the 1,815th most popular biography from United States (down from 1,506th in 2019) and the 98th 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
Page views of Sam Cooke by language
Among SINGERS
Among singers, Sam Cooke ranks 269 out of 4,381. Before him are Melanie C, Nicolai Ghiaurov, John Fogerty, Tito Gobbi, Lisa, and Neil Diamond. After him are Eduard Khil, Rosé, Nena, Chavela Vargas, Asmahan, and Phil Ochs.
Most Popular Singers in Wikipedia
Go to all RankingsMelanie C
1974 - Present
HPI: 66.70
Rank: 263
Nicolai Ghiaurov
1929 - 2004
HPI: 66.68
Rank: 264
John Fogerty
1945 - Present
HPI: 66.68
Rank: 265
Tito Gobbi
1913 - 1984
HPI: 66.67
Rank: 266
Lisa
1997 - Present
HPI: 66.63
Rank: 267
Neil Diamond
1941 - Present
HPI: 66.54
Rank: 268
Sam Cooke
1931 - 1964
HPI: 66.54
Rank: 269
Eduard Khil
1934 - 2012
HPI: 66.51
Rank: 270
Rosé
1997 - Present
HPI: 66.51
Rank: 271
Nena
1960 - Present
HPI: 66.46
Rank: 272
Chavela Vargas
1919 - 2012
HPI: 66.44
Rank: 273
Asmahan
1917 - 1944
HPI: 66.44
Rank: 274
Phil Ochs
1940 - 1976
HPI: 66.42
Rank: 275
Contemporaries
Among people born in 1931, Sam Cooke ranks 82. Before him are Anthony de Mello, Ivan Rebroff, Vujadin Boškov, Reizo Fukuhara, Ronald Dworkin, and Silvia Pinal. After him are Angie Dickinson, Stephen Boyd, Nick Adams, Carroll Baker, Hanoi Hannah, and Telê Santana. Among people deceased in 1964, Sam Cooke ranks 39. Before him are Prince Pierre, Duke of Valentinois, Alan Ladd, Tatyana Afanasyeva, Max Aitken, 1st Baron Beaverbrook, Maurice Thorez, and Pedro Petrone. After him are Douglas McGregor, Adib Shishakli, Princess Auguste of Bavaria, Peter Lorre, Heinrich Neuhaus, and Cole Porter.
Others Born in 1931
Go to all RankingsAnthony de Mello
RELIGIOUS FIGURE
1931 - 1987
HPI: 67.38
Rank: 76
Ivan Rebroff
SINGER
1931 - 2008
HPI: 66.96
Rank: 77
Vujadin Boškov
SOCCER PLAYER
1931 - 2014
HPI: 66.94
Rank: 78
Reizo Fukuhara
SOCCER PLAYER
1931 - 1970
HPI: 66.88
Rank: 79
Ronald Dworkin
PHILOSOPHER
1931 - 2013
HPI: 66.73
Rank: 80
Silvia Pinal
ACTOR
1931 - 2024
HPI: 66.60
Rank: 81
Sam Cooke
SINGER
1931 - 1964
HPI: 66.54
Rank: 82
Angie Dickinson
ACTOR
1931 - Present
HPI: 66.53
Rank: 83
Stephen Boyd
ACTOR
1931 - 1977
HPI: 66.52
Rank: 84
Nick Adams
ACTOR
1931 - 1968
HPI: 66.48
Rank: 85
Carroll Baker
ACTOR
1931 - Present
HPI: 66.20
Rank: 86
Hanoi Hannah
POLITICIAN
1931 - 2016
HPI: 66.11
Rank: 87
Telê Santana
SOCCER PLAYER
1931 - 2006
HPI: 66.10
Rank: 88
Others Deceased in 1964
Go to all RankingsPrince Pierre, Duke of Valentinois
POLITICIAN
1895 - 1964
HPI: 67.70
Rank: 33
Alan Ladd
ACTOR
1913 - 1964
HPI: 67.47
Rank: 34
Tatyana Afanasyeva
MATHEMATICIAN
1876 - 1964
HPI: 67.39
Rank: 35
Max Aitken, 1st Baron Beaverbrook
POLITICIAN
1879 - 1964
HPI: 67.27
Rank: 36
Maurice Thorez
POLITICIAN
1900 - 1964
HPI: 67.25
Rank: 37
Pedro Petrone
SOCCER PLAYER
1905 - 1964
HPI: 66.86
Rank: 38
Sam Cooke
SINGER
1931 - 1964
HPI: 66.54
Rank: 39
Douglas McGregor
ECONOMIST
1906 - 1964
HPI: 66.50
Rank: 40
Adib Shishakli
POLITICIAN
1909 - 1964
HPI: 66.38
Rank: 41
Princess Auguste of Bavaria
NOBLEMAN
1877 - 1964
HPI: 66.33
Rank: 42
Peter Lorre
ACTOR
1904 - 1964
HPI: 66.30
Rank: 43
Heinrich Neuhaus
MUSICIAN
1888 - 1964
HPI: 66.08
Rank: 44
Cole Porter
COMPOSER
1891 - 1964
HPI: 65.62
Rank: 45
In United States
Among people born in United States, Sam Cooke ranks 1,815 out of 20,380. Before him are Walter Mondale (1928), Kobe Bryant (1978), Linda Gray (1940), Black Dahlia (1924), Martha Stewart (1941), and Neil Diamond (1941). After him are Frederick Douglass (1818), Jennifer Coolidge (1961), Angie Dickinson (1931), Pat Brown (1905), Tom Skerritt (1933), and Clara Bow (1905).
Others born in United States
Go to all RankingsWalter Mondale
POLITICIAN
1928 - 2021
HPI: 66.57
Rank: 1,809
Kobe Bryant
BASKETBALL PLAYER
1978 - 2020
HPI: 66.56
Rank: 1,810
Linda Gray
ACTOR
1940 - Present
HPI: 66.56
Rank: 1,811
Black Dahlia
CELEBRITY
1924 - 1947
HPI: 66.55
Rank: 1,812
Martha Stewart
BUSINESSPERSON
1941 - Present
HPI: 66.54
Rank: 1,813
Neil Diamond
SINGER
1941 - Present
HPI: 66.54
Rank: 1,814
Sam Cooke
SINGER
1931 - 1964
HPI: 66.54
Rank: 1,815
Frederick Douglass
SOCIAL ACTIVIST
1818 - 1895
HPI: 66.53
Rank: 1,816
Jennifer Coolidge
ACTOR
1961 - Present
HPI: 66.53
Rank: 1,817
Angie Dickinson
ACTOR
1931 - Present
HPI: 66.53
Rank: 1,818
Pat Brown
POLITICIAN
1905 - 1996
HPI: 66.53
Rank: 1,819
Tom Skerritt
ACTOR
1933 - Present
HPI: 66.53
Rank: 1,820
Clara Bow
ACTOR
1905 - 1965
HPI: 66.52
Rank: 1,821
Among SINGERS In United States
Among singers born in United States, Sam Cooke ranks 98. Before him are Otis Redding (1941), Dionne Warwick (1940), Stevie Nicks (1948), Courtney Love (1964), John Fogerty (1945), and Neil Diamond (1941). After him are Phil Ochs (1940), George Benson (1943), Kim Carnes (1945), Connie Francis (1938), "Weird Al" Yankovic (1959), and Travis Scott (1991).
Otis Redding
1941 - 1967
HPI: 66.84
Rank: 92
Dionne Warwick
1940 - Present
HPI: 66.76
Rank: 93
Stevie Nicks
1948 - Present
HPI: 66.73
Rank: 94
Courtney Love
1964 - Present
HPI: 66.73
Rank: 95
John Fogerty
1945 - Present
HPI: 66.68
Rank: 96
Neil Diamond
1941 - Present
HPI: 66.54
Rank: 97
Sam Cooke
1931 - 1964
HPI: 66.54
Rank: 98
Phil Ochs
1940 - 1976
HPI: 66.42
Rank: 99
George Benson
1943 - Present
HPI: 66.39
Rank: 100
Kim Carnes
1945 - Present
HPI: 66.21
Rank: 101
Connie Francis
1938 - Present
HPI: 66.11
Rank: 102
"Weird Al" Yankovic
1959 - Present
HPI: 66.11
Rank: 103
Travis Scott
1991 - Present
HPI: 66.09
Rank: 104