This day in music - December 2, 1957: Sam Cooke's "You Send Me" hits #1

By Richard K. Barry

Cooke had 29 Top-40 hits in the U.S. between 1957 and 1964. Major hits like "A Change is Gonna Come," "Cupid," "Chain Gang," "Wonderful World," and "Twistin' the Night Away" are some of his most popular songs.

Cooke died at the age of 33 on December 11, 1964, at a motel in Los Angeles. Bertha Franklin, manager of the motel, told police that she shot and killed Cooke in self-defense because he had attacked her. Police found Cooke's body in Franklin's apartment-office, clad only in a sports jacket and shoes, but no shirt, pants or underwear. The shooting was ultimately ruled a justifiable homicide.

A strange death of one of the great talents in popular music. 

"You Send Me" was one of his best. 

(Cross-posted Lippmann's Ghost.)