Rod Stewart on the singer who changed his life: “Without Sam, there may not have been a Rod”
Rod Stewart has said Sam Cooke was the singer who most shaped his decision to become a vocalist, calling him “my one and only influence”. Stewart’s tribute highlights Cooke’s lasting effect on later musicians and the missed chance for the two singers to meet or work together.
In 2021, Stewart marked what would have been Cooke’s 90th birthday with social media tributes, recalling how he spent thousands of hours trying to emulate Cooke’s voice. Cooke was killed in a Los Angeles hotel in 1964, aged 33, before Stewart’s career took off; Stewart later imagined they might have become friends.
In short
- Sam Cooke was Rod Stewart’s greatest vocal influence.
- Stewart said Cooke helped shape his career.
- Cooke died in 1964, before they could meet.
Explained simply
Sam Cooke was an American singer who rose to prominence in the 1950s and became known for his smooth, expressive voice. He began in gospel music before finding success with songs including “You Send Me” and “A Change Is Gonna Come”.
Rod Stewart is a British singer whose career took off in the late 1960s. Cooke died in 1964, aged 33, before the two could meet; his music continued to influence singers who came after him.
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