Extraordinary Family Account of the Incredible Life of Sam Cooke
Sam Cooke's great-nephew Erik Greene compiles the intimate memories and never-before-seen photographs of Soul music's first and foremost pioneer.
Tinley Park, IL (PRWEB) March 12, 2007 -- Who hasn't heard of Sam Cooke? An exceptional talent whose music has stood the test of time, Sam Cooke still maintains legendary status today. From his beginnings as Gospel standout, to his remarkable rise to Soul and R&B stardom, Sam's contribution to music history is irrefutable and his controversial death, a tragedy.
Cooke's great-nephew Erik Greene has collected intimate stories and personal memories from the people who new him best in "Our Uncle Sam: The Sam Cooke Story From His Family's Perspective" (ISBN 978-1412064989, Trafford Publishing, 2006). Also included are little-known issues the singer dealt with in his last days, as well as a chilling alternative that contradicts the "official" version of Sam's death.
"There were glaring inconsistencies and omitted facts surrounding his death that have never been explored," Greene says. "My intention is to let readers know the truth about my uncle's life."
Born 18 months after Sam's death, Greene was constantly exposed to the impact of Sam's legacy growing up. "Hearing Sam's records regularly at home, as well as stories from aunts, uncles and cousins made Sam larger than life," says Greene. With many biographies already written about Sam, Greene noted that none managed to tell what he felt was the complete story. In researching his book, he spent several years talking intimately with family members and feels confident in his account.
"Sam Cooke was a visionary, and was responsible for many monumental firsts in the music world, most notably the first to refuse to sing to segregated audiences," says Greene. "Sam had the insight to pursue both black and white audiences, making him one of the first artists to conquer the crossover market." Sam also recognized the importance of ownership. "He was not only the first black artist to own a record label, he was one of the first artists, black or white, to demand ownership of his publishing rights. Sam truly was the 20th century's most gifted and influential contributors to popular music."
Greene's intimate and candid dialog, coupled with his lively collection of stories and personal photos, reveals the strong bond Sam had with his family. He skillfully interprets how Sam's ever-growing presence in the music industry as well as his outspoken opposition to the way record companies treated their artists made him unpopular in certain circles.
Sam Cooke was often considered "a truly magical man." Greene notes Aretha Franklin once said Sam "had the ability to make you feel like you're the most important person in the world, even in a room full of people." His book, "Our Uncle Sam," is a captivating introspective look into not only Sam Cooke the performer, but Sam Cooke, the man.
Erik Greene was born and raised on Chicago's South Side. Greene is the grandson of Sam Cooke's oldest sister, Mary. He attended both the University of California at Los Angeles and the University of Illinois at Chicago, where he graduated with a B.S. in Chemistry. "Our Uncle Sam: The Sam Cooke Story From His Family's Perspective" (ISBN 978-1412064989, Trafford Publishing, 2006) was recently voted "Best of 2006" by Soul-Patrol.com. Author-autographed copies can be purchased through www.ourunclesam.com. "Our Uncle Sam" can also be purchased through traditional online bookstores. Review copies available upon request.
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