“This is one of the great tragedies to befall any country,” said Mayor Bloomberg of the earthquake registering a magnitude 7.0 on the Richter Scale at 4:39pm local time southwest of Port Au Prince.
“And the fact that it happened to a country so close to the United States, and particularly close to this city, it’s incumbent upon us to pull together.” Bloomberg joined by Gov. David Paterson, Borough President Marty Markowitz and many other city leaders at the Holy Cross Roman Catholic Church in Brooklyn’s Flatbush section yesterday, also spoke of how the search and rescue teams and other city resources were ready to be deployed and that efforts were being coordinated on the federal level, as well.
“What is needed on the ground right now is communications,” said the mayor, a statement echoed by everyone who spoke. “The already fragile infrastructure of Haiti has been decimated, and there is no meaningful communication capability left.”
The scale of destruction is such that basic infrastructure has to be first put in place, before many aid personell can be put on the ground. “The magnitude is such that it will be the United States government and the United Nations with the capability to bring assistance,” said the mayor. Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly, trying to convey the kind of devastation Haiti has been struck with, a nation that is known for its poverty, shanties, mud slides, hurricanes and coups. “The palace is a very, very substantial building, and the fact that this building collapsed, to think that it crumbled, goes to show you the magnitude of this earthquake.”
Kelly was speaking at a large press conference held at Holy Cross Church in Brooklyn, the spiritual home for “The largest population of Haitians outside of Haiti” according to a conversation that Borough President Marty Markowitz said he had with several members of the Haiti government.
“Brooklynites will be there big time with their checkbooks open,” said Markowitz. “And all the nations of the world, China, Russia, Korea, Japan, should all come together over this tragedy and invest the money necessary to help Haiti overcome this problem.”
“A community that is a part of the great fabric of New York, and today a community that is a part of the great collective prayer of New Yorkers,” is in dire straits said Governor David Paterson. The state is poised to help but “there is an unavailability of communications.” Paterson announced that “Deputy Secretary for Public Safety Denise O’Donnell is creating a registry of New Yorkers known to be in Haiti, so that we can as quickly as possible notify their families of their whereabouts and hopefully, safety.”
All spoke of the need for financial donations, rather than food or clothing. “The ports are closed” there is no communication and the best thing is to give the agencies the money for the flexibility to act where the need can be met. Stressed also was to be watchful for scams and to always give to known relief agencies. Those mentioned were UNICEF, American Red Cross, and Wyclef Jean’s Yele Haiti. go to http://yele.org to make a donation.
“This will be a consistent and lasting effort during this very difficult time for the people who live in that area,” said the governor. “I want to pledge all the resources of the state” for the relief effort that is being mounted for Haiti. “New Yorkers should know that New York has coalesced in a fight to help those, as they helped us, just a little over 8 years ago, when we had our city confronted by tragedy.”
Councilman Matthew Eugene, the first memberof the Haitian community to serve on the City Council said he sent “My prayers to my brothers and sisters” and “thank you to all my colleagues in government for the support for the Haitian community.” Eugene spoke about people calling his office at 2am, not knowing what had happened to their family members. “I want to say to the people of Haiti, You are not alone. You have friends working together as one team, the United States team, to send relief and assistance to you.”
2009 was an absolutely phenomenal year for Blacks in theater from off-Broadway to Broadway. If you came by the way of Brooklyn, you got to enjoy the magnificent writing of Jackie Alexander, as the Billie Holiday Theatre presented, The High Priestess of Dark Alley with an all-Black cast. A superb production of The Good Negro by Tracey Scott Wilson played at the Public Theatre. It featured a mixed cast which was very talented. It was like watching an expose’ on how the FBI and the Ku Klux Klan worked against Blacks during the Civil Rights Movement down South.
A show that features another mixed cast is on Broadway and is going strong at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre, that show is HAIR and it is definitely worth experiencing. When you walk in the theatre and take a seat you are made a part of the Tribe of hippies who believe in free love, flowing drugs and long hair. This show is a blast! Although the show has since closed, the revival of Guys and Dolls on Broadway that starred Titus Burgess in the role of Nicely Nicely Johnson was a pleasure to watch. Burgess rocked the house when he did the character’s signature number “You’re Rocking The Boat.”
When you go to the theater it is truly a gift when you get to see a dramatic production that teaches you about an injustice that Black people have suffered. It shares their trials, but also the fact that they managed to survive. That is the kind of inspiration and heartfelt message that came across to audiences as they were stunned and captivated, while watching Ruined, a drama by Lynn Nottage that played at the New York City Center. The play shared the true stories of women who had been victimized by soldiers in war torn Democratic Republic of Congo. As you walked around the theatre pictures of actual women Nottage interviewed were displayed on the walls. The play also got Nottage her due, as she received the Pulitzer Prize for it in 2009.
On the lighter side of entertainment, audiences were almost falling out of their chairs onto the floor of the Beacon Theatre when Tyler Perry’s The Marriage Counselor was performed. Perry just has a way with words that make them so down to earth, but hilarious at the same time. The characters he creates remind one of someone you might actually know. His stories are hilarious, but also always have a bit of a religious aspect to them. The marriage counselor’s story reminds one of the expression “physician heal thyself.” It was incredible to watch the revival of August Wilson’s drama Joe Turner’s Come And Gone at the Belasco Theatre on Broadway. It was presented by Lincoln Center and spotlighted the talents of a tremendous, mainly Black cast. In fact, Roger Robinson won the Tony this year for his role.
Tony Award-winner Phylicia Rashad returned to Broadway as Violet Weston in Tracy Lett’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play August Osage County. The comedy/drama played at the Music Box Theatre, and looked at the dysfunctional life of a pill-popping, sharp-tongued mother of three.
Some wonderful shows that had a limited life were Pure Confidence and a revival of The Wiz. Both these shows were wonderful. The first looked at the life story of a slave, who was also a jockey and won races easily. The other production gave Ashanti Singer her chance to debut on stage and it was a magnificent show.
A milestone was reached withDavid Lamb’s Platanos & Collard Greens as it celebrated its sixth year at the Florence Guild Hall on 59th St. The funny production looks at relationships between Blacks and Latinos and discloses stereotypes they have about each other.
Roger Guenvere Smith performed his one-man Frederick Douglass Now at the Irish Arts Center. The Mitzi E. Newhouse Theatre at Lincoln Center premiered Broke-ology, a play by African-American playwright Nathan Louis Jackson. The drama featured an all-Black cast and showed how two brothers struggled over the decision of how to take care of an ill father. FELA! made its explosive Broadway debut and celebrates the life, music and political struggles of Fela Anikulapo Kuti, the father of the Afrobeat. This musical is at the Eugene O’Neill Theatre at W. 49th St.
Some other wonderful shows that happened in 2009 was Sing Harlem Sing at the Dempsey Theatre on W. 127th St. There was River Crosses Rivers-Short Plays by Women of Color at the Castillo Theatre and was presented by New Federal Theatre. It featured plays by Lynn Nottage, Ruby Dee, P.J. Gibson, Naveen Bahar Choudhury, Cori Thomas and Bridgette Wimberly. A new original Broadway musical is Memphis at the Shubert Theatre on W 44th St. Dreamgirls came to the Apollo Theatre before going on tour. Anna Deavere Smith’s Let Me Down Easy made its New York premiere and it was moving to watch. A comedy/drama, Superior Donuts by Tracy Letts played at the Music Box Theatre and served as the Broadway debut vehicle for young African-American actor Jon Michael Hill. Finian’s Rainbow opened on Broadway and is still playing featuring Chuck Cooper. Ragtime has been revived and is being brilliantly presented at the Neil Simon Theatre.
In 2010, let me just mention some of the names that will be on Broadway, Denzel Washington, Vanessa Williams, Norm Lewis, Ron Cephas Jones and Antony Mackie.
Neighbors Voice Their Concerns About the Oversaturation of Public Programs
Community Board 3 opened its first meeting in 2010 with a public hearing addressing the growing concern for the oversaturation of Public Programs in the area. For the past 10 years, residents have been constantly complaining about the numerous and abundance of programs being allowed into our community.
As a resident and home owner in Bedford-Stuyvesant, I can certainly attest to this growing concern. On our block of Bainbridge Street between Malcolm X Blvd. and Patchen Avenue alone has 4 Single-Room Occupancy residents, 2 half-way homes and several other social service programs in operation. Unfortunately, our concern for the quality of life for our neighbors and safety for our children is shared by numerous other blocks. Yet, our cries are going unanswered.
Demetrius Mills, who resides on the northern tip of Bedford-Stuyvesant, was one of the first to state his grievances. Since 2000, he has been fighting to have some of the numerous programs infiltrating the community designated to other areas. However, so far it has been a losing battle. Currently his area alone houses a women’s shelter, domestic violence facility, a methadone clinic and numerous other social service programs. According to Mr. Mills, there were over 1 thousand agencies listed in Bed-Stuy in CB3 alone; today, that number is estimated to have doubled.
As a father and homeowner, Mr. Mills has witnessed drug usage and sexual acts performed right under his window. On more than one occasion he, as well as his teenage son, have been propositioned. In addition to the prostitution, Mr. Mills fears for the safety of his family and had an alarming encounter when a mentally ill patient wandered in his home and confronted his wife and son.
Nancy Russell, a former manager at NYC Department of Homeless Services, and current President of the Tri Block Association, argued that the concern of most residents is not “rejection of the homeless, needy or poor, but equality and fairness.” She suggested that CB3 identify alternative sites where these programs can be housed.
Linda Simmons, Vice President of the Jefferson Avenue Block Association lives in fear. Within a 2-block radius, she shares residence with 2 schools, 3 day care centers and several Level 3 sex offenders. This fear has created an unhealthy lifestyle for her children who are forbidden to go out and spend most of their time in the house. “With physical education classes being taken out of the school system, my kids and grandchildren unfortunately have no means of exercise. I am too afraid to let them go to the park fearing they may encounter the sex offenders.”
Ms. C. Doris Pinn, who co-chairs The Housing Land/Use Committee, assured those in attendance that their complaints have been heard and that Community Board 3 has been and will continue to utilize all of its resources to combat and resolve the issue.
Other concerns addressed included the renaming of The Bradford Apartments which is scheduled to undergo construction this year. The site, which is located on the corner of Fulton Street and Albany Avenue, is currently scheduled to be named after the unsavory “Bradford” pear tree that produces an inedible nut and large white flowers with a pungent odor. CB3 is currently holding a contest to rename the block in honor of something, or someone with significance. Pradine Content, a representative from the Census Bureau, ended the evening by asking everyone to encourage others to fill out their census form. According to Ms. Content, Bedford-Stuyvesant is considered a “hard to count” community with less than 60% of its residents participating in the 2000 census.
There are many events, activities and initiatives that are taking place in the month of January. However, one in particular merits mentioning. On Saturday, January 16, Voices of Action Against Violence, Parents United to Rally for Gun-Violence Elimination (PURGE) and Calvary Fellowship AME Church are joining forces for Step Up and Take a Stand. The special forum will address the issue of the growing concern of gun violence in our community and will include special guest speaker Graham Weatherspoon of Black Law Enforcement Alliance.
The 2010 inauguration attracted a broader cross section of NYC residents than in years past. The marked increase in cultural diversity was due to the inauguration of John Liu, the first Asian-American to be elected to the position of comptroller, a citywide office.
During his inaugural speech on the steps of City Hall, Liu hinted at the direction of the comptroller’s office under his leadership. Liu promised he would “work every day for the taxpayers as the chief financial officer of this city to serve as a watchdog over use of funds for its infrastructure and generate sustainable opportunities for residents and local businesses and for the future of our retirees through responsible management of investments and protecting the assets of the city’s pension funds.” He promised he will examine past and future development agreements and ensuring tangible promises of affordable housing and job creation are actually delivered. Liu said he will “work every day for the democratic principles of shared prosperity by ensuring that women and minority-owned businesses receive equal access to city contracts.” Comptroller Liu said he would “work everyday to realize promises of reform, eliminating waste and fraud from the city’s budget by examining the millions of dollars in no-bid contracts where justifications are weak at best.”
After the formal ceremonies, attendees – Blacks and white, Chinese, Sikh, Korean – trekked to Liu’s reception. A diverse group of city, state and federal elected officials congratulated Liu. Michael Mulgrew, UFT President thanked “John personally for standing up to people who don’t like when people stand up to them. John has demonstrated this throughout his career.” State Senator John Sampson said “Immigrants have built this country. It is time we get our just due.” Congressman Jerrold Nadler noted Liu’s remarkable story: “Almost all of us are the children or grandchildren of immigrants. It is rare to see someone who was born in a different country, speaking a different language be sworn into an office this high. That is quite an achievement.”
Bill Thompson introduced Liu with sentimental, heartfelt remarks. “This is my first speech as former comptroller of this city. I feel honored and privileged on this inaugural day – a time of renewal, hope and promise – to celebrate our new city comptroller, John Liu. We celebrate John’s family – his wife, his son, his parents, and all that they have done. Congratulations to all of you. I know that John will serve with the same dedication, commitment, and enthusiasm that he has shown throughout his entire public life.”
Thompson spoke of his friendship with Liu. “I have had the pleasure of knowing Comptroller Liu for a long time. I have had the opportunity to work with him on a number of pressing issues. I can tell you from experience that he is a man who never lets pettiness or politics get in the way of principles or progress. A man who focuses on the next generation, rather than the next election. A man who never substitutes rhetoric for results. The city confronts an historic economic crisis, one that will continue to shape our communities and test our resolve. I leave office confident because we have a public servant like John Liu taking the helm as our city’s chief financial officer. I am confident because throughout his whole life Comptroller Liu has demonstrated a remarkable ability to rise and meet challenges. His journey to this moment is not a typical tale. It is a journey that stretches from Taiwan to Flushing to the City Council and now to the comptroller’s office. Throughout all, he has defied odds. That is why his unique and inspiring story is in so many ways part of the larger New York story. It is proof that our city remains a beacon of hope and a place where anything is possible. I know that with his passion, his energy and ideas John Liu will be committed to ensuring that future generations will have the same opportunities that he has had.”
Thompson concluded his remarks with this: ” I know that Comptroller Liu will build on many of our successes as well as set a new course that is guided by his own ambition, priorities, and ideas. A course that will uphold NBY’s great tradition as a city of opportunity by using the office to empower communities, help New Yorkers build better lives and better futures. I have no doubt that New York’s brightest days are ahead. However, those days will not come quickly or easily. Hard work lies before us. The next four years will be a time of great change and challenges. Although much of our future remains uncertain – we not know what the future holds – I do know that New York will be served well by our new comptroller.”
Liu thanked Bill Thompson, and said he was “a great comptroller for 8 years. Thank you Bill, for keeping our city on sound fiscal footing. For holding people’s feet to the fire in this City, and for making sure our people are well served. And thank you Bill, for the past several weeks, for the smoothest, most efficient transition anybody coming into office could hope for. Bill leaves me with an office of 700 people as public servants in their own right. Ensuring that the people of this city are taken care of.”
Thanking his parents, Liu said, “Without my mom and dad, giving up everything in Taiwan and moving here.so that me and my brothers can grow up American, none of this would have been possible. They made the transition 30-something years ago. To this day, they continue to work hard.” Liu also thanked his brothers Robert and Edward, and his wife Jenny Lee Liu.
Acknowledging the significance of the moment, Comptroller Liu said, “This year has been historic. It was never my intention to be the first Asian to be elected to the City Council, or now to sit in my office as NYC Comptroller. This is an important time for our community. It is our time to have a seat at the table. It is also our time to realize with that seat comes responsibilities. A rising tide lifts all ships. As the Asian-American community continues to grow, so will the rest of NY. As you look at this room, we have NYers of all stripes, all backgrounds, all nationalities, all religions. That is what NY is about.”
Liu addressed the crowd by saying, “We have to make sure we unlock the synergy of the diversity of NYC. It is no longer acceptable just to talk about diversity. That is the only way we can unlock the true potential of NYC. We have to do so in a way that allows everybody the same fair share of equal opportunity. I will use every power of the Office of the Comptroller to ensure that everybody does have that economic fair share. Equal opportunity. Fair access. A government that protects everybody on a level playing field. A lot of us have seen the other side of the equation when we were left out. No longer. Nobody gets left behind. Going forward as we get through this economic time, we will make sure that everybody rises all together. That is what NYC is about. I will never forget that. Thank you for this opportunity to serve.”
Representing the excitement in the crowd, one young Asian-American woman beamed with pride. Tina, age 21, said, “John Liu represents a new hope that Asian-Americans can take part in the process. We are no longer just observers.”
A military officer who served 6 tours in Iraq and Afghanistan said he came from Texas to witness the historic event. David C. said, “I want to learn how to be a good public servant. You see [Liu] as a fellow Asian American, being in a situation where he can make a difference. It is inspiring to me. It has given me ambition; something to follow. I came here from Texas at Thanksgiving. I found out about John Liu from my friends. I wanted to witness this day. It is a proud day for Asian Americans. A proud day for America. A proud day for NYC. I am privileged to be here. One day, I will be Mayor of NYC. That is my goal. When I get out, I want to serve as a public servant.”
David explained. “To see a man like that rise above all the tribulations as an Asian American, that is a proud day. When he talked about his family, what they sacrificed to come to the land of the free, America. That is what my parents did as well. My parents are from Seoul, South Korea. They gave up so much, done so much for me and my brother to live this dream, I want to live this dream in NYC, come back home and help the people of NYC and America. I am going to quote a movie – Spiderman – ‘with great power comes great responsibility.’ I have a lot of power, but it does not compare to the power Liu will have. And if he becomes Mayor of NYC… with power, you can help people. I brought my friends to witness this day. This is a great day for all of us.”
Writer/Author Erik Greene, Great Nephew of Sam Cooke,
Responds to Our Time Press Article
Bernice,
First of all, I commend you for the article you wrote last week on Sam. Our Time Press seems to be a quality source of information, and I imagine you have a strong following.
Secondly, thanks for bringing light to Sam and the upcoming “Crossing Over” documentary. My book is cited in the credits and I had actually filmed a couple of segments for the piece, but my mom’s testimony was so compelling that the director ran extra footage of her and I ended up on the cutting room floor! I was proud of her performance and supported his decision 100%.
I noticed you referenced Peter Guralnick’s Dream Boogie. For the record, I wasn’t pleased with the dark nature in which he portrayed Sam. Think about the stark difference in the tone of his book vs. Etta James’ summation of Sam. Etta knew Sam personally; Guralnick got most of his information from Allen Klein at ABKCO Records, the company who controls the rights to most of Sam’s hits. Klein only knew Sam professionally, and even then only for the last year and a half of his life.
Best of luck to you and your publication in the future!
Sincerely,
Erik Greene
Author, Our Uncle Sam www.OurUncleSam.com
Sam Cooke: LEGEND in SOUL
by Erik Greene
Exclusive to Our Time Press
It was November of 2002. I had just returned from a life-changing weekend in Atlanta, having attended the “Premier Tribute to Mr. Sam Cooke.” I left there filled with a sense of pride and fellowship, but I also knew I had a task to complete. I left Atlanta on a mission.
The “Tribute” was the culmination of Sam’s fans from around the world, fans who decided to meet face-to-face after chatting the previous few years on a Yahoo! message board. Sam’s youngest sister, my great-aunt Agnes, found out about the Tribute and a dozen or so family members joined the die-hard “Cookies,” some of whom came from as far as England and Canada to attend.
Until then, I was vaguely familiar with my uncle’s fame throughout the 50’s and 60’s. Stories of Sam came up regularly at family gatherings, and my mom played his music religiously as I was growing up. But it wasn’t until that Atlanta get-together did I understand how his music had touched lives around the world, and how “relevant” he still was even decades after his death. The knowledge shared between people who studied every aspect of Sam’s life from a distance and family who knew him intimately was profound. I knew my Uncle Sam was a wonderful singer and songwriter, but I had no idea how dynamic a person he really was. A fan club member from California suggested “a book from the family would be a wonderful gift.” Something inside compelled me to carry Sam’s torch.
GOOD TIMES: An exuberant Sam Cooke is seen here on the day of his wedding to Barbara Campbell (not pictured), flanked by family members he cherished and never forgot. From left to right are his brothers Charles and L.C.; his father, Rev. Charles Cook, Sr.; Sam; his mother, Annie Mae Cook; his sister Hattie; his brother David; his sister Agnes,; and niece Gwendolyn, author Erik Greene’s mother, who is interviewed at length on American Masters Sam Cooke: Crossing Over premiering nationally, Monday, January 11, 2010 at 9 p.m. (ET) on PBS (check local listings). Photo: Courtesy of Erik Greene
Once I returned to Chicago, I sat down with members of my family who grew up around and lived with Sam-from his brothers and sister, to his children, nieces, and nephews-and I got a sense of just how incredible a person Sam Cooke really was. He gained his no-nonsense attitude from his father and my great-grandfather, the late Rev. Charles Cook, Sr., “Papa”, as he was affectionately called, didn’t take no mess, and Sam lived his life in much the same way. A lot of Sam’s monumental accomplishments were a result of the strong-willed spirit he inherited from Papa. Sam’s older brother Charles often said “You didn’t tell Sam what to do, and you damn sure didn’t tell him what he couldn’t do!”
Talking intimately with my family helped me get an appreciation of how routinely Sam Cooke broke down barriers in his 33 years of life. He first defied the odds at the tender age of 19 by becoming lead singer of the Soul Stirrers, the most popular gospel group of the day. From there, he made what could’ve been a career-ending move by relinquishing his throne as the marquee name in gospel music to venture into Pop-seen by many Bible-thumpers at the time as the “devil’s music.” Sam stumbled briefly out of the gate, but he landed on his feet in short order, selling 1.7 million records with his smash hit “You Send Me” in 1957. His gospel undertones bled through on the R&B single, creating what is widely recognized as the first “Soul” song. “You Send Me” reached #1 on both the Pop and R&B charts because Sam intentionally targeted the song for black and white audiences. Music had historically been divided along racial lines, but Sam saw that the line was becoming more and more blurred, and he struck at the opportune time.
Sam’s time with the Soul Stirrers also honed his business sense. The hard knocks of the music industry taught him that it was the record label owners who made the real money, mainly through ownership of their artists’ music publishing. In March of 1959, Sam incorporated SAR Records with the help of some of his old gospel partners, becoming the first black artist to own a record label. He had been told no other black artist had pulled off such a feat to which he responded, “I guess I’ll just have to be the first.” Sam Cooke recognized the talents of Bobby Womack and Billy Preston, signing both on SAR Records as teenagers. He signed ex-Soul Stirrer Johnnie Taylor on SAR as well.
In January of 1960, when Sam was looking for a new record company, he held steadfast to the demand he control ownership of his publishing rights. It was unheard of for an artist, especially an artist of color, to make such a demand. But RCA had only one Pop star in Elvis Presley, and they gave in to Sam’s unique request. Sam didn’t know it at the time, but his forward-thinking actions would empower artists’ royalty negotiations for generations to come.
Sam became a bigger star on RCA as an artist, arranger, producer and songwriter (in all, he wrote 25 of his 34 Top 40 R&B hits). His success as an artist, along with his lucrative publishing agreement and profitable record label, brought attention from unscrupulous figures who wanted a piece of the action. Sam more than once directed these characters to a certain part of his anatomy, but their threats became more frequent and more pronounced. In late 1963, Sam unofficially took on his accountant Allen Klein as manager. Klein had the reputation of being a hard-nosed negotiator who had the juice to keep the underworld characters off of Sam’s back, but it turned out to be a move Sam would regret.
In December of 1964, Sam Cooke was shot dead in a motel room in a seedy section of Los Angeles. The official story said he tried to take advantage of a woman who was a known Hollywood prostitute and the motel’s manager ended up shooting Sam in self-defense. The story was full of inconsistencies and actions that defied human logic, many of which I talk about in the biography written from my family’s perspective, Our Uncle Sam.
The pressure Sam Cooke was under was tremendous. Besides the threats, he discovered in his final days that the holding company for his businesses was actually incorporated in Allen Klein’s name. Klein’s ABKCO Records still holds the publishing rights for most of Cooke’s hit songs, and his brothers and sisters have never received direct royalties from his music sales-a fact that violated Sam’s vision of economic independence for his family. Cooke had begun establishing an empire built with his own grit, will.and talent, and his murder took from us one of the greatest pioneers of the 20th century.
Even still, the music he left behind has withstood the test of time. Sam Cooke’s is a story worth being told in its truth and its entirety, and his legacy is one worthy of recognition.
Erik Greene, based in Chicago, is the grandson of Sam’s oldest sister, Mary. His biography, Our Uncle Sam: The Sam Cooke Story From His Family’s Perspective, can be found on his www.OurUncleSam.com Website.
Publisher’s Note: Sam Cooke (January 22, 1931 – December 11, 1964) put the indomitable spirit of the Black Church into popular music, creating a new American sound and setting into motion a chain of events that forever altered the course of popular music and race relations in America.
This young gospel performer embraced secular music and almost singlehandedly proved with his pop/gospel hybrid, that it was, indeed, possible to win over the entire world and keep his faithful church followers intact. In 1957, Mr. Cooke became the first African American artist to reach #1 on both the R&B and the Pop charts. But he was a legend before then.
Narrated by Danny Glover, American Masters Sam Cooke: Crossing Over, a documentary exploration of the man and his music, premiers nationally this Monday, January 11, 2010 at 9:00 PM, ET on PBS (check local listings). We recommend it!
Erik Greene, the grandson of Cooke’s oldest sister, sends a message to Our Time Press readers, and in it, reveals that for his family, Mr. Cooke’s life-song has not ended. The melody lingers on.