The Sam Cooke Fan Club
The Sam Cooke Fan Club (SCFC) is an organization dedicated to preserving the legacy of Sam Cooke, considered by music historians as "the man who invented soul." Many of our fan club members gather yearly not only to honor and remember Sam Cooke, but to visit with Sam's family and fans. We have begun to announce details for the sixth tribute. See below for information. Please consider attending. Until then, please explore our web site and post a comment or question on our message board.
Plans Announced for 'Sam Cooke Day' Activities in Atlanta
“Sam Cooke Day” in the City of Atlanta will be celebrated with a special program to be held at the Tupac Amaru Shakur Foundation (TASF) Center for the Arts & Peace Garden on Friday, October 14, 2011, commencing at 11:00 a.m. Admission to this fundraising event is $5.00 per person. The TASF Center is located at 5616 Memorial Drive, Stone Mountain, GA 30083.
A proclamation issued by the Atlanta City Council will be presented to Cooke’s two surviving siblings, L. C. Cooke and David Cook, both of Chicago, IL. Featured speakers will discuss Cooke’s prominence in the history of American popular music as well as his contributions to the 1960’s civil rights movement.
The program is the first of several weekend activities sponsored by the Sam Cooke Fan Club as part of its 6th Sam Cooke Tribute. A buffet lunch and an afternoon bus tour of historic Atlanta sites, including a visit to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Historic Site in the Sweet Auburn District, will follow the program. The Fan Club will also host a Friday night dance party, as well as a dinner and show on Saturday, October 15, at the Marriott Marquis Hotel, located at 265 Peachtree Center Ave NE.
Room reservations can be made by contacting the Marriott Marquis at 404-521-0000 and requesting the Sam Cooke Fan Club rate of $139 per night.
The program at TASF brings together fans of two legendary musical performers, both of whom were nearing the peak of their popularity at the time of their untimely deaths. Cooke was shot and killed on December 11, 1964 in Los Angeles; Shakur was shot on September 7, 1996 in Las Vegas, where he died six days later.
“It is symbolic that a program honoring Sam Cooke should take place at the center dedicated to the memory of Tupac,” said Carlos Coleman, Community Outreach Director for TASF. “Tupac was very much aware of Sam Cooke and his contributions,” Coleman added, “and he even mentioned Cooke in his poetry.”
For more information about the Sam Cooke Day program contact the TASF Center at (404) 298-4222. For additional information and to register for the Fan Club’s 6th Tribute activities, contact Greg Alldredge, Fan Club President, at 310-701-9653 or Toni Cook Howard, Fan Club Vice President, at 312-550-1078. Reservation forms are available here.
For the official news release, please click here.
Information on Tribute Program Ads
For those who would be interested in purchasing an ad for inclusion in the Tribute Program, here is the information you need: Ad prices are as follows: $100 for full page; $60 for half page; $35 for 1/4 page (this size is perfect for anyone who wants to submit a business card for their ad). Please fill out the attached application form and mail it, along with any photos or artwork you want to include in your ad, as well as your check or money order (made payable to Toni Cook Howard) to the following address:
Toni Cook Howard
c/o Sam Cooke Fan Club
P. O. Box 933
Tinley Park, IL 60477
If you would prefer to submit photos or artwork electronically, you can email them to Don Piper. Please note on your ad application form that you will be submitting photos/artwork electronically.
We thank you very much for your support of the Tribute.
Sixth Tribute Update
The Marriott Marquis Hotel in Atlanta is now accepting room reservations for attendees at the Sixth Sam Cooke Tribute. You can make your reservations on line here. Or, you can call the hotel directly at (404) 521-0000. Please note that hotel expenses are your responsibility and are separate and apart from the attendance fees for the Tribute Events.
For additional information, please see the attached flyer, which you are welcome to download and distribute to friends and family who are interested in attending.
We look forward to seeing everyone in Atlanta this October.
Click here for a mail-in registration form.
