Sam Cooke’s 90th Birthday Celebration Kicks Off With A “Toast To Sam Cooke”

The Sam Cooke Estate is kicking off a social celebration today titled “Toast to Sam Cooke” to commemorate what would have been Cooke’s 90^th birthday. A legend in his own right, Cooke was a visionary artist and entrepreneur who forged a link between soul and pop, and had a diverse repertoire and platform unlike any other during the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s. In honor of his legacy and this monumental birthday, we have onboarded fans of Cooke to celebrate his extraordinary music and work that continues to stand the test of time and evokes change. Celebrity participants for the “Toast to Sam Cooke” include Regina King, Leslie Odom Jr., Jennifer Hudson, Rod Stewart, Al Roker, Dion DiMucci, Billy Porter, Cynthia Erivo, the Muhammad Ali Estate, Aldis Hodge, James Bay, Rachel Zegler, Leona Lewis, Christian Siriano, Jim Belushi, Tichina Arnold, Kemp Powers, Christian Magby and Ruby Stewart to name a few.

Follow the “Toast To Sam Cooke” celebration on the @officialsamcooke Instagram and #ToastToSamCooke

Estate CEO and granddaughter to Sam Cooke, Nicole Cooke-Johnson said: “The music of Sam Cooke has endured decades of hope and progress. It has played a major part in the soundtrack of our history. Today’s celebration speaks to the power of song in our ever-changing lives. To see so many diverse and amazing individuals celebrate and toast to Sam Cooke’s influence on them is an honor and symbol of his enduring message of CHANGE.”

Cooke’s renowned single “A Change Is Gonna Come” was selected by the Library of Congress in 2007 as one of twenty-five recordings inducted into the National Recording Registry and is regarded by many as the definitive song of the Civil Rights Movement, and recently took center stage by becoming an anthem to the Black Lives Matter movement. With the recent release of Regina King’s directorial debut of One Night In Miami, and the inauguration of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, Cooke’s profound legacy endures.

Cooke’s music is in demand now more than ever (he had 185.1M Spotify streams in 2020 alone) with a vast catalog of hits in addition to “A Change Is Gonna Come” that includes “You Send Me” and “Twistin The Night Away.” He is regarded as one of the most influential soul singers of all time.

For more information, visit https://www.officialsamcooke.com/ and the official Sam Cooke social channels on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

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