Stereogum — R&B hitmaker The-Dream has just released the surprise album IAMSAM, a collection of Sam Cooke covers originally recorded with guitarist Pat Thrall in 2010 during the sessions for Beyoncé’s 2011 album 4. “My Mother loved a lot of Artist growing u... more info

Stereogum — Leon Bridges, the young Texan singer who’s carved out a space by reviving that old early-’60s Sam Cooke soul sound, is having a hell of a breakout year. After dropping the fully-formed, endlessly listenable debut album Coming Home, he’s now got... more info

L.A. Times - Entertainment — Imagine a homeless street musician with a soulful singing voice that earns him comparisons to R&B great Sam Cooke and, as it turns out, he also writes songs that are lauded alongside those of Kris Kristofferson, Curtis Mayfield and Tom Waits. It woul... more info

Stereogum — The Texan retro-soul singer Leon Bridges seems destined for big things. His entire aesthetic seems beamed in directly from 1963, which is not an accident, and he’s a confident enough revivalist to tackle the sorts of sounds that old masters like Sa... more info

The Telegraph — A new Sam Cooke film aims to reveal a conspiracy behind his murder 50 years ago more info

The Telegraph — Sam Cooke, one of the greatest singers of the 20th century, was gunned down 50 years ago, on December 11 1964, at the age of 33 more info

Core News — “After many requests, tonight’s show will be a Mod Jazz special. We’re taking you back to an era when the DJ was experimenting and looking to rediscover new dance sounds from the 50s and 60′s. You’ll be hearing classics from King Kurtis, Bo... more info

KEXP Seattle — Soul legend Bobby Womack has passed away today at the age of 70. Cause of death is not currently being reported. Womack began performing music in the mid-’50s, and was discovered by Sam Cooke who signed his band, The Valentinos, to SAR Records. The... more info

Stereogum — Apparently Steve Perry really liked returning to the stage last week because he showed up again with the Eels again last night in Washington, DC. He sang the same songs as last time — the Eels’ “It’s A Motherfucker” and Journey’s “Open ... more info

Stereogum — “Don’t chase the money,” Aloe Blacc intones, in a Sam Cooke croon over a Stevie Wonder romp, about halfway through his new album Lift Your Spirit. “You can’t chase the money,” he pleads. What exactly has Blacc been doing these past few ye... more info