On this day, iconic soul singer Sam Cooke died at age 33 in Los Angeles, California. According to reports, he was shot and killed by Bertha Franklin, the manager of the Hacienda Motel, after a confrontation. The official story stated that Cooke was seeking a woman he had been with earlier that evening and demanded entry into the motel office. Following a struggle, Franklin claimed she shot him in self-defense.
Cooke’s death has long been surrounded by suspicion and calls for further investigation, with many questioning the official account. Despite the controversy, his influence on soul, gospel, and popular music—and his role in the civil rights movement—remains profound.
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