One of the most influential singers and songwriters of all time, Sam Cooke was among the first to blend gospel music and secular themes--the early foundation of soul music. He was the opposite of Elvis: a black performer who appealed to white audiences, who wrote his own songs, who controlled his own business destiny. No biography has previously been written that fully captures Sam Cooke's accomplishments, the importance of his contribution to American...

Sam Cooke, the most influential black pop star of his time, was shot dead at the young age of 33 in a seedy motel in South Los Angeles at the height of his music career. Uncover the mystery surrounding the death of The King of Soul, civil rights activist, and writer of such songs as "(What a) Wonderful World," "Twistin' the Night Away," and "Chain Gang" and who contributed to the rise of the world's best-known soul icons.