Dream Boogie: The Triumph of Sam Cooke

Peter Guralnick

Little, Brown, 2005 - African American sound recording executives and producers - 750 pages

One of the most influential singers and songwriters of all time, Sam Cooke was among the first to blend gospel music and secular themes--the early foundation of soul music. He was the opposite of Elvis: a black performer who appealed to white audiences, who wrote his own songs, who controlled his own business destiny. No biography has previously been written that fully captures Sam Cooke's accomplishments, the importance of his contribution to American music, the drama that accompanied his rise in the early days of the civil rights movement, and the mystery that surrounds his death. Bestselling author Peter Guralnick tells this moving and significant story, from Cooke's childhood as a choirboy to an adulthood when he was anything but. With appearances by Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, James Brown, Harry Belafonte, Aretha Franklin, Fidel Castro, The Beatles, Sonny and Cher, Bob Dylan, and other central figures of this explosive era, DREAM BOOGIE is a compelling depiction of one man striving to achieve his vision despite all obstacles--and an epic portrait of America during the turbulent and hopeful 1950s and 1960s. The triumph of the book is the vividness with which Peter Guralnick conveys the astonishing richness of the black America of this era--the drama, force, and feeling of the story.

What people are saying

LibraryThing Review

User Review  - froxgirl - LibraryThing

The excellent film One Night in Miami brought me to this bio, my first by Guralnick, who is known for his profoundly comprehensive examinations of music and musicians. Even beyond Sam Cooke’s riveting ...

Dream boogie: the triumph of Sam Cooke

User Review  - Not Available - Book Verdict

In 1951, Sam Cooke became the lead singer for the Soul Stirrers, one of gospel music's most popular groups. Six years later, he crossed over into pop music success, writing most of his hits (e.g ...

Contents

• The QCs Are in the House 1948: 3
• The Teen Age Highway Que Cees Radio and Concert Artists: 29
• Soul Stirring December 19501952: 65
• The Further Education of Sam Cook 19531955: 94
• Lovable 1956May 1957: 130
• How He Crossed Over June 1957January 1958: 171
• The Biggest Show of Stars for 1958 1958: 218
• Sam Barbara and Linda Christmas 19581959: 268
• Having Fun in the Record Business 1960: 315
• Another Country 1961: 355
• BoogieWoogie Rumble JanuaryJuly 1962: 393
• Another Saturday Night July 1962February 1963: 416
• Scenes from Life March June 1963: 463
• Independence Day JuneDecember 1963: 503
• Long Time Coming December 1963June 1964: 537
• The Piper JuneNovember 1964: 576
• Uncloudy Day NovemberDecember 1964: 609
• Aftermath: 639
• Notes: 653
• Bibliography: 707
• Index: 721

Bibliographic information

• Title: Dream Boogie: The Triumph of Sam Cooke
• Author: Peter Guralnick
• Edition: illustrated, annotated
• Publisher: Little, Brown, 2005
• ISBN: 0316377945, 9780316377942
• Length: 750 pages