Singer and songwriter Sam Cooke is born in Clarksdale, Mississippi.
At a Glance
- Date
- 22 January 1931
- Location
- Clarksdale, Mississippi
- Key people
- Sam Cooke
- Category
- Music
- Source
- Recordings; biographical records · Britannica
What It Meant Then
He pioneered soul music and built one of the first Black-owned record labels.
What It Means Now
Cooke's 'A Change Is Gonna Come' became an anthem of the civil rights era.
Cite this page
- MLA
- “Sam Cooke Is Born.” Black-History.com, 30 Sept. 2026, https://black-history.com/on-this-day/sam-cooke-is-born/.
- APA
- Black-History.com Editors. (2026, September 30). Sam Cooke Is Born. Black-History.com. https://black-history.com/on-this-day/sam-cooke-is-born/
- Chicago
- Black-History.com Editors. “Sam Cooke Is Born.” Black-History.com. September 30, 2026. https://black-history.com/on-this-day/sam-cooke-is-born/.
Editorial Note
By the Black-History.com editors. Last reviewed 30 September 2026. To suggest a primary source or a correction, write to editors@black-history.com or use our corrections form.