'Sam Cooke Story' celebrates a musical trailblazer

/
Cecil Washington Jr. has the title role as an iconic singer in "The Sam Cooke Story," an original biographical musical at the Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe. DON DALY PHOTO/WBTT

Cecil Washington Jr. has the title role as an iconic singer in "The Sam Cooke Story," an original biographical musical at the Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe. DON DALY PHOTO/WBTT

During his all-too-brief life, pop and soul singer Sam Cooke made himself heard on the radio, television and concert stages, with more than two dozen top-40 hits that remain popular more than 50 years after he was shot to death at age 33 in 1964.

The Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe is celebrating the life and lasting legacy of the singer and songwriter in “The Sam Cooke Story,” which opens Saturday, featuring many of the hits he introduced and songs that he covered.

“This man was a legend and he left an incredible imprint on the world; his songs are still being sung like ‘A Change is Going to Come.’ That song will never die,” said Cecil Washington Jr., who plays Cooke in the original musical play created by artistic director Nate Jacobs, who also directs the production.

The musical follows past shows that Jacobs and his troupe have presented exploring the lives and music of such prominent artists as Lena Horne, Aretha Franklin, Harry Belafonte, Cab Calloway and Marvin Gaye.

The show will feature such Cooke hits as “You Send Me,” “Cupid,” “Wonderful World,” “Chain Gang” and “Twistin’ The Night Away.”

Cecil Washington Jr. plays singer Sam Cooke and Joel Patrick King is his brother, Charles, in the Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe's "The Sam Cooke Story." DON DALY PHOTO/WBTT

Cecil Washington Jr. plays singer Sam Cooke and Joel Patrick King is his brother, Charles, in the Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe's "The Sam Cooke Story." DON DALY PHOTO/WBTT

He had 43 hits on Billboard’s pop charts between 1957 and 1966, and 17 of them were in the top 20.

He was also aggressive as a businessman, Jacobs said.

“He just had an incredibly successful music career,” he said. But he was also determined to be in control of the songs he wrote and started a record label with the hope of nurturing and motivating young artists in their own careers.

“He was building an empire somewhat like Berry Gordy did in Detroit with Motown. If he hadn’t died, there’s no telling how far he would have gone with that company,” Jacobs said.

Until two weeks ago, Jacobs wasn’t sure how much of Cooke’s life he was going to be able to include in the show because of concerns from his estate, which asked for several revisions before agreeing to allow the company to use Cooke’s now iconic songs.

Final approval came less than two weeks before Saturday’s official opening night.

Cooke’s life was cut short at the age of 33, when he was shot and killed in California by a hotel manager who claimed she was acting in self-defense. It was ruled a justifiable homicide, though there have long been questions about the situation that surrounded the shooting.

Jacobs said Cooke’s music may be well remembered and featured in an assortment of films and television series, but “people know less about the man than the songs, or they’ll hear a song and say, ‘Oh, that’s Sam Cooke? I didn’t know he did that one.’ I think the show will definitely open up the world and history of this man.”

He had roots in gospel, which was a big part of his life, and he began recording with gospel groups before branching off and recording solo pop and soul records.

Washington was seen last fall as Mister in the troupe’s production of “A Color Purple,” and Jacobs said it wasn’t until the end of the run that he began to see the actor as Cooke.

Camilla Harris, left, and Cecil Washington Jr. star in the Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe's "The Sam Cooke Story." DON DALY PHOTO/WBTT

Camilla Harris, left, and Cecil Washington Jr. star in the Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe's "The Sam Cooke Story." DON DALY PHOTO/WBTT

“He’s an incredible actor and singer, and he really applies himself to the material and brings a lot to whatever role he’s playing,” Jacobs said. “I told him that as a director I’m not looking for you to be someone you’re not. You’re not Sam Cooke. But what you can do is kind of funnel the spirit of this man through who you are, through your acting and singing.”

Washington said the offer was scary and comes with a great responsibility.

“Any performer who plays someone who actually walked this earth, that’s a huge task and you want to do it right, do it respectfully, especially with someone so important in the music industry,” Washington said. “I just want to make sure I give homage to him in the right way.”

Washington said that there are some songs where he can use his natural voice to sound a bit like Cooke “where I can be dead on, but there are other things, I know I can just use my voice to tell the story. It took me a second to swallow that because I want to sound exactly like Sam Cooke, but my mother said nobody can sound exactly like Sam Cooke except Sam Cooke. I was hired for the way I tell stories and for my voice. What I’m trying to do is marry our voices.”

He shares the stage with Joel Patrick King as Sam’s brother, Charles, who served as his road manager. King also appeared in “The Color Purple” and in last season’s “Knock Me a Kiss.” Camilla Harris, Ariel Blue and Ashley Brooks play the women in Cooke’s life. The cast also includes WBTT regulars Michael Mendez and Leon S. Pitts II and local actors Raphael Petlock and Walter Price.

Donald Frison is choreographing the production, which features music direction by James E. Dodge II, costumes by Cristy Owen, scenic design by Donna Buckalter and lighting by Nick Jones.

Below, Sam Cooke is heard singing his hit "Wonderful World"

THEATER PREVIEW
THE SAM COOKE STORY
Runs March 2-April 9 at the Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe, 1646 10th Way, Sarasota. Tickets are $38, $27 for students and active military. For more information: 941-366-1505; westcoastblacktheatre.org

THEATER PREVIEW
THE SAM COOKE STORY
Runs March 2-April 9 at the Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe, 1646 10th Way, Sarasota. Tickets are $38, $27 for students and active military. For more information: 941-366-1505; westcoastblacktheatre.org
avatar

Jay Handelman

Jay Handelman is the theater and television critic for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, where he has worked since 1984. He also is President of the Foundation of the American Theatre Critics Association and a two-time past chairman of the association's executive committee. He can be reached by email or call (941) 361-4931. Follow him at @jayhandelman on Twitter. Make sure to "Like" Arts Sarasota on Facebook for news and reviews of the arts.
Last modified: February 27, 2016
All rights reserved. This copyrighted material may not be published without permissions. Links are encouraged.