Songs & Times of Sam Cooke

The soulful Songs & Times of Sam Cooke: A Change is Gonna Come makes its Australian premiere at Brisbane Powerhouse from January 31 to February 2.

Written by acclaimed theatre director, Greg Carroll, Songs & Times of Sam Cooke explores the remarkable life of the legendary American singer songwriter credited by many as “the inventor of soul music”.

This must-see concert event stars ARIA Award-winning, Australian performer Gary Pinto as Sam Cooke, backed by a live six-piece band, The Fabulous Champions of Soul.

Born in Mississippi, the son of a Baptist minister, Cooke began singing gospel music in church alongside his seven siblings before joining gospel quartet The Soul Stirrers at 19. He launched his solo career at 26, blending gospel with pop music and paving the way for generations of soul and R&B artists.

This new stage show recreates the spirit of Cooke’s Harlem Square Concerts in the 1960’s while Pinto captures the soul singer’s smooth voice and soulful lyrics on gospel hits and soul classics like You Send Me, A Change Is Gonna Come, Cupid, Chain Gang, Wonderful World, Another Saturday Night and Twistin’ the Night Away.

By Deb Lidster

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