Throwback: Happy 94th Birthday, Sam Cooke!

It’s January 2025 y’all! January is a busy month for music birthdays. Let’s get to it. 

• The pioneering and legendary Grandmaster Flash celebrated his 67th birthday on January 1
• Gang of Four co-founder and guitarist Andy Gill was born 68 years ago on January 1
• Led Zeppelin‘s John Paul Jones celebrated his 79th birthday on January 3
• French touch pioneer Thomas Bangalter, best known for his work in Stardust and the multi-Grammy Award-winning duo Daft Punk celebrated his 50th –yes, y’all, 50th! — birthday on January 3
• The legendary Stephen Stills, known for his work with Buffalo Springfield, Crosby Stills and Nash, Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, as well as for being a solo artist, celebrates his 80th birthday on January 3
• Joy Division and New Order founder Bernard Sumner celebrated his 69th birthday on January 4
• Cocteau Twins‘ co-founder, multi-instrumentalist and producer Robin Guthriecelebrated his 63rd birthday on January 4
• Portishead frontperson Beth Gibbons celebrated her 59th birthday on January 4
• R.E.M. s Michael Stipe celebrated his 65th birthday on January 4
• Vanity was born 66 years ago on January 4
• Blondie co-founder and guitarist Chris Stein celebrated 75th birthday on January 5
• Sister Sledge‘s Kathy Sledge celebrated her 66th birthday on January 6
• AC/DC co-founder, rhythm guitarist, songwriter and backing vocalist Malcolm Young was born 72 years ago on January 6
• The Doors‘ Robby Krieger celebrated his 79th birthday on January 8
• The legendary David Bowie was born 78 years ago on January 8
• Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page, one of the greatest guitarists to ever play celebrated his 81st birthday on January 9
• Steely Dan co-founder, multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Donald Fagen celebrated his 77th birthday on January 10
• The legendary Rod Stewart celebrated his 80th — yes, 80th! — birthday on January 10
• Mary J. Blige, the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul celebrated her 54th birthday on January 11
• Wu-Tang Clan’s Raekwon celebrated his 55th birthday on January 12
• Rage Against the Machine‘s  Zack de la Rocha celebrated his 55th birthday on January 12
• Earth Wind and Fire’s Fred White was born 70 years ago on January 13 
• New Orleans‘ greatest sons, the legendary singer/songwriter, pianist, composer and producer Allen Toussaint was born 87 years ago on January 14
• One of the greatest, most commercially successful emcees ever, LL Cool J celebrates his 57th birthday on January 14
•  Nirvana‘s and Foo Fighters‘ Dave Grohl celebrated his 56th birthday on January 14
• Slick Rick, one of the greatest living emcees to ever do it, celebrated his 60th birthday on January 14
• Lisa Lisa and The Cult Jam’s frontwoman Lisa “Lisa Lisa” Velez celebrates her 58th birthday on January 15
• Sade, the queen of the Quiet Storm sound celebrated her 66th birthday on January 16
• Aaliyah was born 46 years ago on January 16
• The Delfonics‘ William Hart was born on this day 80 years ago
• The Bangles’ co-founder and frontperson Susanna Hoffs celebrated her 66th birthday on January 17
• The Temptations‘ former lead singer David Ruffin was born 84 years ago on January 18
• Janis Joplin, arguably one of the greatest, most influential and most beloved vocalist ever was born 82 years ago on January 19
• Robert Palmer was born 76 years ago on January 19
• The legendary and incomparable Dolly Parton celebrated her 79th birthday on January 19
• The Roots‘ co-founder Questlove celebrated his 54th birthday on January 20
• Kevin Parker, the acclaimed Aussie singer/songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer, best known as JOVM mainstay Tame Impala celebrated his 39th birthday on January 20 
• Billy Ocean celebrated his 75th birthday on January 21
• Run DMC‘s Jam Master Jay was born 60 years ago on January 21

Legendary soul singer/songwriter Sam Cooke was born 94 years ago today. Cooke is largely considered to be a pioneer and arguably one of the most influential soul artists, because he helped popularized soul to White audiences. Basically without Cooke, there’s no Motown, no Jackson 5, no hip-hop, none of that.

Happy birthday, Sam! Happy birthday, wherever you are!