I choose Sam. I know I'll get crucified for it, but there it is.

^ Crucified for picking Sam Cooke?! Girl you crazy.

Anyways, of course my biased ass will pick Marvin but Sam's one of the G.O.A.T.'s. Too bad his career ended too brief though.

Yeah, who knows what Sam could have accomplished, esp cause he was a very good businessman.

A couple of years ago, I would have picked Gaye in a heartbeat but the more I get into Sam Cooke it makes me realize the influence he had on Gaye and alot of those soul singers from that era.

I understand why you would pick Cooke but I dont think I would choose. Its toooo hard.

I think Ray Charles, Little Willie John and Clyde McPhatter were more influential. Marvin learned from them mainly. I think the only guy that really GOT Sam was Otis Redding. But that's just me.

Sam Cooke has been sighted as more influential out of all those singers. There are rock, reggae, pop etc singers/bands that sight Sam Cooke as an influence. Sam Cooke was one of the first pioneers of soul/gospel music and I think his important and most of the singers from Marvin's era sight him as an influence even Aretha Franklin but thats my opinion. I do think Ray Charles influence is underrated.

[Edited 4/7/13 13:48pm]

^ I think Sam's kinda more influential on pop and rock artists tbh... Rod Stewart based his entire career on his voice.

He has even influenced R&B and even funk artists I just mentioned other genres outside of those obvious areas of influence to show how much of an impact he has made on the industry.

[Edited 4/7/13 13:58pm]

mjscarousal said:

He has even influenced R&B and even funk artists I just mentioned other genres outside of those obvious areas of influence to show how much of an impact he has made on the industry.

[Edited 4/7/13 13:58pm]

Funk? Hmm...

Bobby Womack and Johnnie Taylor definitely took after him. Considering they were basically his "students".

[Edited 4/7/13 14:00pm]

Some funksters Sam has influenced: James Brown, Sly Family Stone, The Commodores, just to name a few

Sam Cooke is one of the most influential artists of all time are you suggesting he isnt?

I Would say Marvin by a hair... but i actually like cook's voice a little more

And i have to say people can be inspired by artists and take this or that from them but some people have flat out made their entire careers based around Sam's voice like Steve Perry, Rod Stewart, Richard Marx etc.

Gunsnhalen said:

I Would say Marvin by a hair... but i actually like cook's voice a little more

And i have to say people can be inspired by artists and take this or that from them but some people have flat out made their entire careers based around Sam's voice like Steve Perry, Rod Stewart, Richard Marx etc.

Right.

mjscarousal said:

A couple of years ago, I would have picked Gaye in a heartbeat but the more I get into Sam Cooke it makes me realize the influence he had on Gaye and alot of those soul singers from that era.

I understand why you would pick Cooke but I dont think I would choose. Its toooo hard.

Totally agree

But since I'm always stating that Sam is the greatest singer ever.....period....in any genre

Anybody...male or female

Jackie Wilson comes a close second

HuMpThAnG said:

mjscarousal said:

A couple of years ago, I would have picked Gaye in a heartbeat but the more I get into Sam Cooke it makes me realize the influence he had on Gaye and alot of those soul singers from that era.

I understand why you would pick Cooke but I dont think I would choose. Its toooo hard.

Totally agree

But since I'm always stating that Sam is the greatest singer ever.....period....in any genre

Anybody...male or female

Jackie Wilson comes a close second

Jackie could give ANY performer a run for his money and I loved how he moved up on octaves... he was like Minnie Riperton before Minnie Riperton started her career.

HuMpThAnG said:

mjscarousal said:

A couple of years ago, I would have picked Gaye in a heartbeat but the more I get into Sam Cooke it makes me realize the influence he had on Gaye and alot of those soul singers from that era.

I understand why you would pick Cooke but I dont think I would choose. Its toooo hard.

Totally agree

But since I'm always stating that Sam is the greatest singer ever.....period....in any genre

Anybody...male or female

Jackie Wilson comes a close second

I think he is the greatest soul singer of all time and definitly one of the greatest singers ever.

He ranks in the Top 10 for sure.

Jackie was phenomenal as well and I think he is underrated performer wise and vocallly

[Edited 4/7/13 15:13pm]

To be honest, though...

A comparison between Sam and Marvin does seem unfair.

Considering Marvin came way after Sam, he was like Bobby and Johnnie: "a student" though Marvin didn't quite emulate his voice. His voice was sweeter and polished than Sam's was, which was very raw and hardcore even for its time.

Sam was always considered rock'n'roll (before soul music became a term).

I guess a better one would be Sam or Ray Charles?

Definetly Marvin. It'd be hard to find another soul singer with as strong a collection of music as his

aardvark15 said:

Definetly Marvin. It'd be hard to find another soul singer with as strong a collection of music as his

That's mainly why I dug him over the others... those ALBUMS and then the period-era decade hits. Versatile as fuck.

Timmy84 said:

aardvark15 said:

Definetly Marvin. It'd be hard to find another soul singer with as strong a collection of music as his

That's mainly why I dug him over the others... those ALBUMS and then the period-era decade hits. Versatile as fuck.

Thats a better comparision because they come from the same era.

Sam and Ray Charles are gospel/soul rooted I have never heard them labeled as "rock"

mjscarousal said:

Thats a better comparision because they come from the same era.

Sam and Ray Charles are gospel/soul rooted I have never heard them labeled as "rock"

Sam was a STAR in 1956. Marvin was still in high school. Technically that's two generations. Sam was like eight years older so no.

And you have to go back at news archives. They surely weren't calling Sam a "soul" or "R&B" artist. It was all "rock and roll teen idol Sam Cooke..." seriously google it lol they called Ray Charles a blues artist lol

MotorBootyAffair said:

Have an "e".

You know it's interesting that despite the fact that they started becoming stars in different decades (Sam in the '50s and Marvin in the '60s), both of them kinda grew up similarly: their fathers were preachers, they both were born with no "e" in their last names, they sung in church, etc. Difference is Sam became a star WHILE in gospel music. Marvin had became a doo-wopper by the time he entered the business and he wasn't even the lead singer of the group (I don't know if the Marquees/Harvey and the Moonglows had a designated lead singer). Also a big difference between the two: one found success with a major label (RCA) while another found success with a vanity label (Motown). Sam had more smarts than the average "R&B" performer. When dude talked about owning musical publishing, Fats Domino and Chuck Berry looked at him crazy. Marvin started becoming a star when Sam was already well established (and getting bigger) hence why this comparison kinda don't make sense. They were both great at what they did but they were two different cats.

Gunsnhalen said:

I Would say Marvin by a hair... but i actually like cook's voice a little more

And i have to say people can be inspired by artists and take this or that from them but some people have flat out made their entire careers based around Sam's voice like Steve Perry, Rod Stewart, Richard Marx etc.

Most definitely Marvin but

Timmy84 said:

mjscarousal said:

Thats a better comparision because they come from the same era.

Sam and Ray Charles are gospel/soul rooted I have never heard them labeled as "rock"

Sam was a STAR in 1956. Marvin was still in high school. Technically that's two generations. Sam was like eight years older so no.

And you have to go back at news archives. They surely weren't calling Sam a "soul" or "R&B" artist. It was all "rock and roll teen idol Sam Cooke..." seriously google it lol they called Ray Charles a blues artist lol

I meant the comparision between Sam and Ray Charles was a better comparision because they come from the same era, I was actually agreeing with you. (I probably could have been clearer)

Also, Sam and Ray Charles both started out as gospel singers and when they crossed over incorporated gospel/soul style singing and elements in their music which is why I said they were gospel/soul rooted.

Regardless of what the media called Sam it is very clear he was soul singer. I wouldnt call Ray a soul artist per se but his particular style of singing was soulful. He fused alot of elements in his music for me to just label him as "soul"

mjscarousal said:

HuMpThAnG said:

Totally agree

But since I'm always stating that Sam is the greatest singer ever.....period....in any genre

Anybody...male or female

Jackie Wilson comes a close second

I think he is the greatest soul singer of all time and definitly one of the greatest singers ever.

He ranks in the Top 10 for sure.

Jackie was phenomenal as well and I think he is underrated performer wise and vocallly

[Edited 4/7/13 15:13pm]

nah friend

he's THEE greatest singer...period

That means topping Sinatra, Bing, and yes Elvis

mjscarousal said:

Timmy84 said:

Sam was a STAR in 1956. Marvin was still in high school. Technically that's two generations. Sam was like eight years older so no.

And you have to go back at news archives. They surely weren't calling Sam a "soul" or "R&B" artist. It was all "rock and roll teen idol Sam Cooke..." seriously google it lol they called Ray Charles a blues artist lol

I meant the comparision between Sam and Ray Charles was a better comparision because they come from the same era, I was actually agreeing with you. (I probably could have been clearer)

Also, Sam and Ray Charles both started out as gospel singers and when they crossed over incorporated gospel/soul style singing and elements in their music which is why I said they were gospel/soul rooted.

Regardless of what the media called Sam it is very clear he was soul singer. I wouldnt call Ray a soul artist per se but his particular style of singing was soulful. He fused alot of elements in his music for me to just label him as "soul"

Oh. I got you now.

This isn't a really fair comparison, their styles are way too different and both are from two different eras.

missfee said:

This isn't a really fair comparison, their styles are way too different and both are from two different eras.

Though I kinda appreciate the effort lol yeah totally different.

Both before my time but Sam's voice resonates more with me than Marvin's. I respect Marvin of course, and like some of his music, but the stuff Sam did stirs me up.