Sam Cooke Born January 22, 1931: Clarksdale, Mississippi , US. Died December 11, 1964: Los Angeles, California , US. Origin: Chicago, Illinois, US. Instruments: Vocals, piano, guitar Years active 1951–1964 Sam Cooke 's been called the King of Soul. Rolling Stone magazine ranked him number 16 in their 100 Greatest Artists of All Time issue. They also ranked him number 4 of their 100 Greatest Singers of All Time." In 2023, the publication numbered him 3 of The 200 Greatest Singers of All Time. His string of hits includes "You Send Me," "A Change Is Gonna Come," "Wonderful World," and "Twistin' the Night Away." AllMusic biographer Bruce Eder wrote that Cooke was " the inventor of soul music" and possessed "an incredible natural singing voice and a smooth, effortless delivery that has never been surpassed ."