(July 21, 2017) During the early days of soul music, there was no more prominent family than the Cooke family, led by the legendary Sam Cooke, and his younger brother, L.C. Cooke. They helped transform Gospel music, adding smoother touches and secular lyrics of love that developed an international and interracial audience to the music. We are sad to inform SoulTrackers tonight of the death of L.C. Cooke.
The Cooke brothers and two of their sisters began as child singers in the group The Singing Children. After that, the younger Cooke achieved some success as a member of The Magnificents, before joining brother Sam’s SAR label and scoring a modest hit with the song “The Wobble.” He also worked as a songwriter, being credited some of Sam Cooke’s big hits.
(July 21, 2017) During the early days of soul music, there was no more prominent family than the Cooke family, led by the legendary Sam Cooke, and his younger brother, L.C. Cooke. They helped transform Gospel music, adding smoother touches and secular lyrics of love that developed an international and interracial audience to the music. We are sad to inform SoulTrackers tonight of the death of L.C. Cooke.
The Cooke brothers and two of their sisters began as child singers in the group The Singing Children. After that, the younger Cooke achieved some success as a member of The Magnificents, before joining brother Sam’s SAR label and scoring a modest hit with the song “The Wobble.” He also worked as a songwriter, being credited some of Sam Cooke’s big hits.
Sadly, brother Sam died just as he was working to develop L.C.’s solo career, and that career never took off. An album’s worth of material sat in the vaults for a half century, until released three years ago as The Complete SAR Recordings. We interviewed LC Cooke at the time of the release, and it was a wonderful group of memories he provided about such legendary performers as Little Richard, Jackie Wilson, Bobby Womack, and more.
You can see the interview here.
While L. C. had continued to perform over the years, the 2014 release brought his career full circle and provided for a new generation of fans a taste of the magic that the Cooke family brought to Gospel, Pop and Soul music a half century ago.
L.C. Cooke’s death today also reminds us of that period, and of the special, unheralded talent of this great singer and songwriter. Rest in peace, Mr. Cooke.
Thanks to SoulTracker Colton for letting us know