| Author | Message | ||
  roger (roger) 4-Laureate Username: roger Post Number: 79 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 217.35.87.17 |
Hello Everyone. On the "For Rodmann-Latimore's Early Recordings" thread Eva posted links to a site advertising some Deep Soul compilation L.P.s One of the compilations includes a track called "I Lost All Comunications" by THE ENCHANTERS. On seeing this I found myself humming a long forgotten hook line and remembered that I have this track on one of the "This is Loma" compilation L.Ps that were released by WEA in the U.K. in the late 1970s. Last night I decided to give the track a spin. I checked the credits before I played it and could see that it was a JERRY RAGAVOY production, and was co-written by LORRAINE ELLISON. The record itself is excellent, a below-midtempo soul drenched ballad, with the lead vocalist sounding incredibly like SAM COOKE. This made me think .. what other vocalists are there out there that you would swear were SAM COOKE if you didn't know better? Top of my list would have to be WILLIE HUTCH .. to me his "Love Power" song in 1976 sounded to me like SAM COOKE was still with us. I can think of a few others, but I�ll leave that up to you folks out there. Roger | ||
BJL (bjl) 2-Debutant Username: bjl Post Number: 27 Registered: 5-2004 Posted From: 217.205.87.151 |
Louis Williams of The Ovations (Goldwax) and James Phelps (Clefs Of Calvary/Gospel Songbirds/Soul Stirrers) are my picks of the Cooke-a-likes. | ||
Fred (fred) 2-Debutant Username: fred Post Number: 25 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 64.12.116.138 |
In terms of simple influence over other singers, there is probably no one who comes close to Cooke, so there are a lot of people who followed his path. I think this is because while he did not possess the greatest voice in terms of range or power, he was the best at infusing soul into his recordings by technique. You hear a lot of Sam Cooke in Rod Stewart, Bruce Springsteen and Paul Rodgers (all of whom have acknowledged the debt), to just name three singers you might not ordinarily think of as Cooke followers. I highly recommend Daniel Wolff's "You Send Me" as the definitive biography, and an excellent examination of the gospel roots of soul music. | ||
roger (roger) 4-Laureate Username: roger Post Number: 80 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 217.35.87.17 |
Fred. I was wondering when someone might mention ROD STEWART. Who constantly acknowledges SAM COOKE to be an ( quite possibly his main ) influence. I read, ( or heard, can't recall which ) an interview with BOBBY WOMACK some years back .. another "Cook-a-Like" .. love the phrase BJL ... BOBBY WOMACK mentioned how when he met ROD STEWART he had been in awe of Bobby as he had actually worked with SAM COOKE. Apparently Rod had asked him how Sam had managed to get a voice that sounded like it did and Bobby ( thinking it was a silly question ) had jokingly said that Sam had "gargled with whisky" every day. Apparently the next thing he knew Rod started trying this himself!! Roger | ||
Don (don) 5-Doyen Username: don Post Number: 191 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 68.75.187.225 |
One song that comes to mind titled "Don't Let Love Get You Down" by The Phonetics out of LA, I assume? | ||
Eli (phillysoulman) 6-Zenith Username: phillysoulman Post Number: 484 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 68.163.62.135 |
Steve Perry of Journey, for sure. BTW, I read the You send me bok and it IS esential reading! | ||
Vonnie (vonnie) 5-Doyen Username: vonnie Post Number: 191 Registered: 3-2004 Posted From: 152.163.252.200 |
If my memory is correct, I think comedian George Kirby used to do a great Sam Cooke. Can anyone verfify this information? | ||
Juicefree20 (juicefree20) 6-Zenith Username: juicefree20 Post Number: 1219 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 24.46.184.162 |
Roger, Those Loma Lps had some good underated music. I have the US volumes, all 8 of them, mine came out in the mid 80s. Fred: You Send Me was definitely a great book. Also, Etta James' Rage To Survive had some interesting info regarding Sam & Jesse Belvin. Vonnie: Hey there! I believe that to be true. George did an excellent everyone!!! I remember that he'd be on Ed Sullivan or Hollywood Palace doing his thing. Of course, I was only around 6 or 7 at the time! I do believe that memory serves the both of us correctly! | ||
Juicefree20 (juicefree20) 6-Zenith Username: juicefree20 Post Number: 1220 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 24.46.184.162 |
I'd have to go with Bobby Harris. His tribute to Sam sounded a whole lot like Sam. | ||
Robb_K (robb_k) 5-Doyen Username: robb_k Post Number: 332 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 66.81.201.217 |
His brother L.C. sounded an awful lot like him. Of course, they shared the family voice tone. Otherwise, I would also vote for The Ovations' lead singer, over The Phonetics' lead. The latter's voice and delivery was "heavier" than Sam's. To me, it didn't have that light, smooth, gliding quality of Sam's. | ||
Eli (phillysoulman) 6-Zenith Username: phillysoulman Post Number: 493 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 70.16.130.124 |
Major Harris was hybrid of Sam and David Ruffin. | ||
DyvaNaye (westside314) 6-Zenith Username: westside314 Post Number: 472 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 205.188.116.138 |
There was a group in the 90's called SOLO who's lead singer was a dead ringer of Sam's voice...in particular Sam at the Copa, 1963. That young man should have been in a solo effort now... | ||
Eli (phillysoulman) 6-Zenith Username: phillysoulman Post Number: 499 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 70.16.130.124 |
The lead singer of the Cornelius bros. Too late to turn back now | ||
1wicked (1wicked) 3-Pundit Username: 1wicked Post Number: 59 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 24.126.64.72 |
Dyva: Eunique Mack of SOLO has been seen singing near the subway stations in NY...but is also reported to be working on a solo project. Do a Dogpile or Google search under his name & you'll find the info. | ||
Don (don) 5-Doyen Username: don Post Number: 192 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 68.75.160.203 |
Hello DyvaNaye, The lead singer for SOLO is Sam's younger cousin that we're produced by Jimmy Jam & Terry Louis. Don | ||
Robb_K (robb_k) 5-Doyen Username: robb_k Post Number: 334 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 66.81.16.81 |
Isn't that amazing, that although every person has an unique tone in their voice, voice characteristics (like tone, range, etc.) are shared among close relatives, like facial features, artistic and athletic abilities! Sam and L.C. Cooke and Eunique Mack of Solo (cousin) share the family voice! I noticed the same thing with Dionne and Dee Dee Warwick, Cissy and Whitney Houston and even a couple of others of their family members in The Drinkard Singers. They all share a certain tone. When I hear a few notes from a song by one of them that I've never heard before, before I've heard enough to know who the singer is, I hear that tone and think, "that's got to be a Warwick or a Houston. L.C. Cooke and Sam are easier to identify in less notes, as L.C.'s voice has a heavier feel to it, yet on a few phrases in a few songs he's been spot on Sam's sound. I noticed some of that phenomenon with The Womack Brothers as well. I guess that's a tool we could use to determine who the "real" brother and sister acts are and not get fooled by acts such as "The Knight Brothers? Hey! I made MY first SD joke!!! | ||
Don (don) 5-Doyen Username: don Post Number: 194 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 68.75.160.203 |
Hey Robb K, you forgot about Thelma Houston too. | ||
Eli (phillysoulman) 6-Zenith Username: phillysoulman Post Number: 502 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 68.163.21.19 |
Thelma Houston is not a relative of Whitney. | ||
~medusa~ (~medusa) 4-Laureate Username: ~medusa Post Number: 168 Registered: 3-2004 Posted From: 68.79.92.30 |
Calvin Richardson on his recording of "Keep On Pushing"...and the music sounds like Sam Cooks 'A Change Is Gonna Come' to me. | ||
Soul Sister (soul_sister) 6-Zenith Username: soul_sister Post Number: 603 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 68.21.244.254 |
Hi Everyone; I'm back and Atlanta was incredible, a great Jazz Festival!! A beautifil city too!! Need I say this again!LOL!! GERALD ALSTON, " Sam" was his idol and NO ONE can blow "A Change Is Gonna Come" like Gerald in LIVE performance, my beautiful brotherman will leave you totally drained!!!!!!! Whew, I get chills just thinking about it.  ! Ooowee!LOL!!!!!!! S.S. | ||
DyvaNaye (westside314) 6-Zenith Username: westside314 Post Number: 495 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 152.163.252.200 |
ELi: There have been reports where even Thelma had said they were related distantly. | ||
Kdubya (paladin) 3-Pundit Username: paladin Post Number: 44 Registered: 5-2004 Posted From: 206.185.64.23 |
Funny isn't it, how no one sounds exactly like him but many singers borrow his trademark delivery, some are very good at it like E. Mack, Philippe Wynne, Ali Woodson , Gerald Alston and dam near every other soul singer who likes to get his croon on, that is except for R Kelly who has been on Lenny Williams case a tad much lately.........ya'll smile for me now... Kdub | ||
Soul-Brother (soulbrother) 4-Laureate Username: soulbrother Post Number: 111 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 217.234.177.129 |
Excellent thread...some have been listed.. and can be found on the webpage James Phelps..who is still around and remembers Sam well. Louis Williams.. recently passed away...recorded soul.. maybe showing the way Sam would have taken. Bobby Harris...now singing Gospel.. so close to Sam's voice.. his tribute song 'We Can't Believe You're Gone'....Sam lives! Clay Hammond.. recently in Europe and if you like Sam's voice..Clay will supply. Spencer Wiggins...southern soul man...influenced by Sam. Lattimore Brown...check out his 'It's A Sad Sad World' on Sound Stage 7. All the above on the webpage www.soulcellar.co.uk Others who occasionally tipped the hat.. Little Johnny Taylor Billy Perry and L.C.Cooke.. who had a fine voice in his own right.. who knows what he would have become if he hadn't had a famour bro? Barry | ||
zebop (zebop) 3-Pundit Username: zebop Post Number: 49 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 152.163.252.200 |
James Taylor can do a good Sam Cooke type of vocal run. Others I've liked are Bobby Womack (That's Heaven To Me), John Edwards, Gerald Alston, etc. Al Green did a lot of Sam Cooke type stuff on "Truth N' Time" and of course a lot of his work calls on Sam. |
