You might not know the name Sam Cooke but you've probably heard at least one of his songs. Probably the most obvious place is a certain movie scene where John Belushi's slovenly student is stuffing himself in a cafeteria. Cooke was behind some of the songs that defined the early '60s.
But there was another Cooke. Oh he was the same man, all right. But he wasn't just the melodious voice singing "nice" songs. He also addressed political issues of the era, and befriended Muhammad Ali. His murder in a motel led to theories that it was an assassination to prevent him from leading a movement.
Netflix's "ReMastered: The Two Killings of Sam Cooke" looks at this. The title refers to the murder, and the recording companies' subsequent efforts to suppress Cooke's political stances so as to make him palatable to white audiences. The viewers can draw their own conclusions about what happened in that motel that night, but let's not forget Cooke's activism. He was a great singer and a great man, if flawed. Not the greatest documentary - it prods you to think some things - but I recommend it.
But there was another Cooke. Oh he was the same man, all right. But he wasn't just the melodious voice singing "nice" songs. He also addressed political issues of the era, and befriended Muhammad Ali. His murder in a motel led to theories that it was an assassination to prevent him from leading a movement.
Netflix's "ReMastered: The Two Killings of Sam Cooke" looks at this. The title refers to the murder, and the recording companies' subsequent efforts to suppress Cooke's political stances so as to make him palatable to white audiences. The viewers can draw their own conclusions about what happened in that motel that night, but let's not forget Cooke's activism. He was a great singer and a great man, if flawed. Not the greatest documentary - it prods you to think some things - but I recommend it.