On December 11, 1964, legendary singer Sam Cooke was shot and killed by the manager of the Hacienda Motel in South Central Los Angeles, located at 91st and South Figueroa Street.
Police responded to the scene after receiving separate reports of a shooting and a kidnapping at the motel. When they arrived, they found Cooke’s body with a gunshot wound to the chest that had pierced his heart.
Following a police investigation, the courts ruled Cooke’s death a justifiable homicide.
The motel manager claimed she shot Cooke in self-defense, alleging that he had forced his way into her office.
However, Cooke’s family and many of his fans have never accepted the official conclusion or the alleged circumstances surrounding his death, believing that there may have been more to the story.
The motel’s manager, Bertha Franklin, admitted to shooting Sam Cooke but claimed it was in self-defense. She stated that Cooke had forcefully entered her office, prompting her to fire in fear for her safety.
This account was quickly disputed by Cooke’s friends, who raised doubts about the circumstances of his death.
The motel’s owner, Evelyn Carr, supported Franklin’s version, stating she was on the phone with Franklin when Cooke allegedly barged in. Carr reported hearing the gunshot over the phone and subsequently called the police.
Earlier that night, Cooke had checked into the Hacienda Motel. According to Franklin, he began banging on her office door, shouting, “Where’s the girl!”
He was referring to Elisa Boyer, who was reportedly with him that evening. Boyer had left Cooke’s room and, shortly before the shooting, called the police from a telephone booth near the motel.
Her call came just a few minutes before Carr’s call to the police, adding another layer of complexity to the series of events that led to Cooke’s death.
According to Bertha Franklin, she told Sam Cooke that no one was in her office, but he, apparently enraged, forced his way in.
At the time, Cooke was reportedly naked except for one shoe and a sports jacket. Franklin claimed that he grabbed her, demanding to know where Elisa Boyer was. A struggle ensued between the two, during which they fell to the floor.
Franklin said that after getting up, she retrieved her gun and fired at Cooke in self-defense, fearing for her life.
She maintained that the shooting was necessary to protect herself from the enraged singer.
However, her account of the events has been met with skepticism and remains a point of contention among Cooke’s friends, family, and fans.
According to Franklin, he said,
“Lady, you shot me,” confused.
After being shot, Sam Cooke reportedly went after Bertha Franklin again. According to Franklin, she then grabbed a broomstick and struck him on the head, causing him to fall. She stated that this final blow caused Cooke to collapse and die.
The circumstances surrounding Cooke’s death remain controversial. Despite Franklin’s account being accepted by the authorities at the time as self-defense, many people, including Cooke’s friends and family, have questioned the validity of her story and believe there might have been more to the tragic incident.
Sam Cooke’s funeral was held on December 18, 1964, drawing a massive turnout of fans.
Around 200,000 people lined up for over four city blocks to pay their respects and view his body, highlighting the deep impact Cooke had on his fans and the music community.
In the month following his death, two singles and an album were released. Among them was the song “Shake,” which became a hit, reaching the top 10 on both the pop and R&B charts.
The B-side of “Shake,” titled “A Change is Gonna Come,” was also released around this time.
“A Change is Gonna Come” has since been celebrated as one of the greatest songs of all time and is regarded as an anthem of the Civil Rights movement, capturing the spirit and struggles of the era with its powerful lyrics and soulful melody.
After shooting Sam Cooke, Bertha Franklin reported receiving multiple death threats, which led her to leave her job at the Hacienda Motel.
She kept her new location undisclosed for her safety. Franklin later sued Cooke’s estate for damages, claiming emotional distress and financial losses resulting from the incident.
In 1967, a jury ruled in Franklin’s favour, awarding her $30,000 in damages. This decision further fueled the controversy surrounding Cooke’s death, as many continued to question the circumstances and motivations behind the tragic event.
