Displaying items by tag: Sam Cook

Samuel Cook was born in Clarksdale, Mississippi in 1931. One of five boys and three girls, his father was Rev. Charles and mother, Annie Mae Cook. In 1933 the Cook family joined the great migration and moved to Chicago. Young Samuel featured as vocalist in his church choir before teaming up with three of his siblings in a quartet dubbed the Soul Children. Sam became a member of the gospel group the Highway QCs. In 1950, he joined the gospel group, Soul Stirrers and stayed with them for the next six years. During this time they recorded "Nearer to Thee" and "Touch the Hem of His Garment."