Wissenswertes

His song "A Change is Gonna Come", drastically different from most of his other work, was penned by Cooke after he was moved by Bob Dylan's song "Blowin' in the Wind". This indicated Cooke may have started to make darker, more socially-conscious work if he had lived.

His song, "Somewhere There's a Girl" was written in honor of his first wife, Dolores Mohawk, after she had been killed in a car crash.

He added the "e" to his last name to signify a new start to his life (1957).

Was voted the fourth greatest singer of the rock era in a Rolling Stone magazine poll (2008).

He was a huge influence on other R&B and rock 'n roll singers. Among others, Otis Redding and Marvin Gaye considered him a favorite.

Following his untimely death, he was interred in the Garden of Honor at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California.

Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (1986) (as a charter member) and the American Songwriters Hall of Fame (1987).

Was voted the 16th Greatest Rock 'n' Roll Artist of all time by Rolling Stone magazine.

He was posthumously awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 7051 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on February 1, 1994.

Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (as a member of The Soul Stirrers) (under the category Early Influences) (1989).

Father of Linda M. Womack. Uncle of R.B. Greaves.

He screen-tested for a role in the period drama Cincinnati Kid (1965).

Posthumously inducted into the Rhythm and Blues Music Hall of Fame at Cleveland State University (2013).

First recorded secular songs as Dale Cook on Specialty Records (1956).

Attended and graduated from Wendell Phillips High School in Chicago, Illinois (1948).

Released his first popular single "Lovable" (1956) under the name of Dale Cooke. At the time, there were negative feelings in the gospel singing community about popular music.

Mentioned in the 1974 song "Life Is a Rock but the Radio Rolled Me" by Reunion.

Lead singer of the gospel group The Soul Stirrers from 1950-56.

He was the fifth of eight children of the Reverend Charles Cook and Anna Mae Cook.

Brother of L.C. Cooke, Charles Cooke and Agnes Hoskins. Cousin of Stan Shaw.

Friends with Smokey Robinson, Dionne Warwick, and Lloyd Price.

Father of Tracy Cooke, and Vincent Cooke.