Sam Cooke: The Soul Man That Brought A Strong Bond Between Me & My Grandfather
I dedicated to do a blog on father's day about my late grandfather and an artist that brought me and him closer together. I figured since it's father's day I owed him that. Perfect music blog entry about an awesome grandfather. GOD I miss him EVERYDAY!!
Now every Friday on my Instagram, I have the hashtag #throwbackfridays when I go back into the crates and post old soul music songs. I just want my followers to feel good on Friday's and jam to that good REAL soul music. This past Friday I decided to listen to some of my favorite SOUL male artist that included Otis Redding, Bobby Womack, Teddy Pendergrass, Eddie Kendricks, and the great one, Sam Cooke.
Then the memories of my grandfather came to my mind and I started with the tears. Now before then I told my mother what I was listening to, she told me "be prepared for the tears". By the time I got to Bobby Womack I wanted to cry but I realized I was at work but when I got to Sam Cooke, I couldn't hold them anymore.
Come on this musical journey with me
Ahh didn't that sound good!!! My grandfather loved that man, I remember when he heard me sing for the first time and my family realized that I could sing, he said I reminded him of Sam Cooke. To me, that was an honor because he was my favorite male artist and for my grandfather to tell me that was great.
Around 2007, my grandfather had a mild heart attack and became very sick. But a year later after rehab and healing he was able to come home permanently. And when I would come home from college, I would take him for a ride. This ride usually gave my grandma a break from him (LOL) but it also give me a chance to spend some time with him alone. With me, y'all could guess that music must be playing so my grandfather's request was always Sam Cooke. That was one CD I had to have in my car. So, when our rides would begin I wanted to start it on a upbeat so I normally started it with this..
Our first stop would be the liquor store, because liquor will get the flow going the right way (well at least in my family). Then the talks will begin. I felt during this time him and I got to really know each other. He would tell me about his childhood and I would explain my life experiences with him. One thing about my grandfather he was VERY honest, even though you might not like what he said but it was very truthful. Another thing about my grandfather was, he knew a lot of history that consisted of racism. It seemed that Sam Cooke had a song that paralleled our conversations. Sam Cooke had many songs that spoke on racism, one of them was the "Chain Gang"
"Chain Gang" was about prisoners that were chained together to perform physical work. My grandfather used to tell me that a lot of these black men that were on the chain gang was wrong accused. Of course back then racism was a normal. As a result, many black men was jailed because they were black. My grandfather used to tell me that world is evil, and me as a black man will have to deal with a lot it's evil. Sometimes it would hurt when he use to tell about the experience he faced dealing with racism. So, when Barack Obama started to run for the President of The United States, racism was always a major topic. Then when Obama won, my grandfather was the first person I called because I felt like with this win, his generation and my generation was brought closer together. Both generations were able to experience our first black President. Finally the change had come.
Now this one song I can't through, I have to turn it off because it's too emotional for me. Sam Cooke was ahead of his time. It's crazy that people call songs classics today but this song is a classic because it's still relevant today.
Back to the story.....LOL
As I stated during this time, my grandfather was battling cancer so it seem like the only things that made him happy were talking about Obama and our car rides.
But one story from my grandfather that I will always remember is when he heard "(What A) Wonderful World". He used to call the song "Don't Know Much About History" he never said the right title (LOL).
My grandfather said the first time he heard this song it was tragic experience. He was on the bus coming home from school, him and this girl used to get off the same stop. And he used to always get off first. But this day, he heard "What A Wonderful World" on the radio so he wanted to hear the rest of the song, he let the girl get off first. And when she got off first, she was hit by another bus and was killed. Normally, he would get off the bus first but because Sam Cooke had a new song, he had to listen to it. As a result, he felt that Sam Cooke "kinda" saved his life. That's why this song he will always remember, even though he loved this song it had an emotional connection with him.
"(What A) Wonderful World" has such a emotional connection with me when I listen to it now, because I think this was the last song my grandfather heard before he left this world. I remember my mother putting her phone to his ear and she played this song while he was sleeping. It must be great to listen to your favorite song by your favorite artist while you are on your way to be with the LORD.
So, after the death of my grandfather it was really hard for me to listen to Sam, because I would cry but I finally realize that Sam's music is what brought him and I together. And I feel if I stop listening to Sam, a part of my life is gone. Today, it's still a little difficult after 3 years but I gotten better.
Here is two more songs that I can remember my grandfather and I vibing to in the car on our rides together....
Hopefully you enjoy this short musical journey while I discuss my favorite MALE artist of all time and how his music made me and my late grandfather have a bound that can't ever be broken. I just want to tell my grandfather I love him and this world isn't as wonderful with him not here. I love you and miss you....HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!! *cries*
