645 a song called “Our Years Together”: J.W. gave permission for the lyrics to be printed in a NARA memorial program, August 6, 1965, and then again the following year. He announced his plans for a SAR memorial LP in January, as reported in the Los Angeles Sentinel, January 7, 1965, but nothing ever came of it due to the almost immediate disintegration of the label. His own double album, Our Years Together (one LP consisted of vocals by J.W., the other of instrumental arrangements under René’s direction), did not come out until 1970.
645 a story headlined “A Change Is Gonna Come for Barbara”: Gertrude Gipson, Los Angeles Sentinel, February 11, 1965; see also Brad Pye Jr., “‘Sam Would Want It,’” in the same issue.
646 L.C. had already approached RCA himself: L.C. told me this. Also I have an undated clipping from Bill Millar which refers to Sam’s recent death and, with a New York dateline and headlined “Sam Jnr,” states: “L.C., who is 28, told reporters that he has gone into rehearsal to cut an album in the near future.”
646 “Sam’s good-looking singing brother”: Poster for Raleigh, North Carolina, show, January 22, 1965 (courtesy of Hank Thompson).
647 a claim against the estate for $200,000: Numerous newspaper stories, transcripts of Case No. 857058 in California Superior Court, filed March 25, 1965.
647 “Although Miss Lisa Boyer has no police record”: “What Was Cooke’s Date?,” front-page story, Los Angeles Sentinel, January 14, 1965; “Nab Sam Cooke’s ‘Date’ in Hollywood Vice Raid,” Sentinel, January 21; Jet, January 28; Rudy Villasenor, “Judge Overturns Police Procedure on Call Girls,” Los Angeles Times, May 13, 1965.
647 Bobby and Barbara showed up at the Los Angeles county courthouse: “Mrs. Cooke Controls 50G Estate,” Los Angeles Sentinel, February 25, 1965, and Gertrude Gipson, “Barbara’s Fiance Becomes of Age,” Los Angeles Sentinel, March 4, 1965.
648 the application was “flatly refused”: Getrude Gipson, Los Angeles Sentinel, March 4, 1965. Jet, March 11, 1965, “Barbara Cooke Sidetracked on Her Way to Altar with Guitarist,” shows René Hall and a tuxedoed Walter Hurst and describes Barbara’s and Bobby’s ensembles.
648 “Womack’s mother . . . allegedly stated she ‘wanted no part of it’”: Gipson, “Barbara’s Fiance Becomes of Age,” Los Angeles Sentinel, March 4, 1965.
648 “Let’s go to Cleveland anyway”: “Mrs. Sam Cooke’s Fiance ‘Too Young to Marry,’” Amsterdam News, March 6, 1965.
648 to finally wed on March 5: The wedding itself was covered in “Barbara Cooke Marries Dead Hubby’s Guitarist; Says Sam Would Approve It,” Los Angeles Sentinel, March 11, 1965.
648 the “big plans” Sam had had for the Valentinos: “Sam Cooke’s Widow Marries Guitarist,” Amsterdam News, February 27, 1965.
648 Bobby followed up with an interview: “Mrs. Sam Cooke’s Fiance ‘Too Young to Marry,’” Amsterdam News, March 6, 1965.
648 the loss of her “sweet,” “thoughtful,” “wonderful” child: Thelma Hunt Shirley, “Friends, Fans Chorus ‘Sam Was a Good Guy,’” Chicago Defender, December 16, 1964.
649 Charles had come to demand his royalties: “Cooke Family Feuds Over ‘Chain Gang,’” Amsterdam News, July 17, 1965. Most of the detail comes from interviews with Bobby Womack, Barbara Cooke, and Charles, L.C., and other members of Sam’s family. So far as credit for “Chain Gang” goes, Charles has never fully abandoned his claim of co-authorship, though he says it is of little consequence and it was certainly not his primary motivation for going to Bobby and Barbara Womack’s hotel room that day.
649 the charges were dropped: “Sam Cooke’s Widow Drops Beating Charge” (NPI), Amsterdam News, July 31, 1965, plus interviews as above.
650 in July [she] sued to dissolve the Kags Music Corporation: Daniel Wolff, with S. R. Crain, Clifton White, and G. David Tenenbaum, You Send Me: The Life and Times of Sam Cooke, p. 350, refers to court documents indicating that papers were filed in July, though I haven’t found them. The Amsterdam News, October 2, 1965, reported that Barbara had filed a petition in Superior Court for the “dissolvement” of Kags.
650 a deadlocked corporation: My perception of the events leading up to Barbara’s sale of her half comes from interviews with Allen Klein, J.W. Alexander, Barbara Cooke, Bobby Womack, and Luigi Creatore. Details of the sale—both sales—come from the legal documents and contracts.
651 Sam’s “smooth voice . . . was like medicine to the soul”: The quote is from Douglas Brinkley, Rosa Parks, p. 205. The description is from a conversation with Doug Brinkley.
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