Popular RCA Artist Found Shot Dead Inside L.A. Motel
LOS ANGELES — Sam Cooke, one of RCA Victor’s top pop artists, was shot and killed at a motel here Thursday night (December 10). It was reported that Cooke was mistaken for a prowler. He was 29 years old.
Cooke has been a steady seller since he joined the Victor label in 1960. This past year he had three single clicks and two best selling albums. Victor has a new Cooke single in the works which was being planned for release within the next few weeks.
In addition to his Victor activities, Cooke operated his own label, SAR Records, on the Coast. Surviving are his widow and two daughters.
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Credit, information and news source: Billboard, December 19, 1964
