Sam Cooke was a singer, a songwriter, producer, businessman, a civil rights icon and a hero to many …me included. A man who used his talent and fame to help others and to create a much-needed social change. (Listen to his song … “A Change Is Gonna Come”). With that said … today is the anniversary of SAR Records, a Record company/label that promoted both Gospel and Secular music. Sam Cooke cut his music teeth singing Gospel and got his start as a member of the Highway QC’s before becoming a member of the Soul Stirrers in 1950. Along with his long-time singing partner, J.W. Alexander, he started his own record label (SAR Records) that featured both Gospel and Secular records. There are several explanations to the name SAR Records but the one that makes the most sense is … using the intials “S” for Sam Cooke, “A” for J.W. Alexander and “R ” Roy Crain his manager from his Soul Stirrer Days. The label was not used to feature Sam Cooke’s singing but rather to strengthen his writing and producing skills and a home for struggling African-American artists to record during a racially charge time in the 1960’s. The label featured the Valentino’s/Womack Brothers, his younger brother L.C. Cooke, Johnny Morissette, Johnnie Taylor, the Simms Twins, Billy Preston and Mel Carter to name a few. A few years ago, I came across a documentary on Netflix called “Two Killings of Sam Cooke” … a must if you want to see the turmoil created for Sam during his rise to fame. It talks about his relationships with Mohamad Ali (World Boxing Champ), Jim Brown (H.O.F. running back for the Clevland Browns) and Malcom X. Sam Cooke’s Life was cut short when he was murdered at the young age of 33. I can only imagine what the man, Sam Cooke, would have accomplished … Sam Cooke … King of Soul … Super Star!