Here is Sam Cooke with the Soul Stirrers singing "Touch the Hem of His Garment."

(MUSIC)

SHIRLEY GRIFFITH: Although Sam Cooke was a star with the Soul Stirrers, he wanted to sing other kinds of music. So, he decided to sing popular music instead.

Cooke's decision to "cross over" to pop music shocked many blacks. That was because making such a change was not as easy then as it is today.

Racial tensions were high between blacks and whites in the nineteen fifties. And gospel music was popular among black people. It was considered an important part of black culture.

The company that recorded the Soul Stirrers' records urged him not to start singing pop music. They thought it would offend the group's fans.

RAY FREEMAN: Cooke, however, wanted to sing to all groups of people. He wanted to express his racial identity without offending whites. At that time, most records by black artists were not played on radio stations that had white listeners. So, he left the gospel music world where he was extremely popular with blacks. But the move was not a mistake. He soon became a big star singing pop music.

His smooth voice and musical style were popular with both blacks and whites.

Sam Cooke's first pop record was released by a small company, Keen, in nineteen fifty-seven. It was "You Send Me." It was a huge success. It sold one million seven hundred thousand copies in the first year alone. It is one of his most memorable recordings. Here is the first version he recorded of that song. It was made to show Cooke's ability to sing.