Monday, January 26, 2009

Sam Cooke, A Change is Gonna Come, Jon Bon Jovi, Bettye Lavette

Today I again watched Obama’s Inaugural Concert. This song, A Change is Gonna Come, written in 1963 by popular gospel, R&B, and pop singer, Sam Cooke (1931-1964), was recorded in 1964. During the concert it was very well done by Bettye Lavette and Jon Bon Jovi.

And I think Jon and Bettye singing A Change is Gonna Come said it all. It brought forth the sentiments, the emotions, that so many of us were feeling with our new President and the change we are undergoing. The shift of energy, the acceptance of diversity that has been so evident.

Sam Cooke, a young talented black man, was active in the Civil Rights Movement and it was that and Bob Dylan’s Blowing in the Wind (Peter, Paul and Mary) that inspired his writing of A Change is Gonna Come. From 1957-65 he apparently had 29 Top Forty Hits. I loved his music. Probably my favorite of his was You Send Me. I remember playing the 45 rpm record over and over again. But I think I also loved every song he sang.

Read more about Sam Cook and listen to an award winning Documentary “Sam Cooke, A Change is Gonna Come,” by radio station (90.3 WCPN) on his life and music. Funding provided by the United Black Fund of Greater Cleveland, Inc. It’s very good.




~Linda

1 comment:

William said...

It is a great song and the performance by Bettye Lavette and Bon Jovi really captured the emotion of the song.

Interesting to know who wrote the song, thanks for the link.

Bill