Douglas (Bronzeville) in Chicago in Cook County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Sam Cooke

1931-1964

— Bronzeville Walk of Fame —

Sam Cooke Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, August 14, 2026

1. Sam Cooke Marker

Inscription.
Gospel and pop vocalist

Erected 1996 by City of Chicago.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Arts, Letters, Music. In addition, it is included in the Bronzeville Walk of Fame series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1931.

Location. 41° 50.44′ N, 87° 37.021′ W. Marker is in Chicago, Illinois, in Cook County. It is in Douglas (Bronzeville). It is on South Martin Luther King Drive south of East 29th Street, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2937 South Martin Luther King Drive, Chicago IL 60616, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American Midwest.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Great Lakes,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Florence B. Price

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(within shouting distance of this marker); Chester A. “Howlin’ Wolf” Burnett (within shouting distance of this marker); Oscar G. Brown, Sr. / Oscar Brown, Jr. (within shouting distance of this marker); Elijah Muhammad (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Robert S. Abbott (about 300 feet away); Harold Washington (about 400 feet away); Lou Rawls (about 400 feet away); Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong / Lil Hardin-Armstrong (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Chicago.

More about this marker. Roughly 100 Bronzeville Walk of Fame markers are found around the neighborhood along Martin Luther King Drive between 25th and 35th Streets.

Regarding Sam Cooke. Cooke was born in Mississippi and moved as a young child to Chicago, where he became active as a gospel singer. He later attended Wendell Phillips High School, where Nat King Cole had previously gone to school.

Also see . . . Sam Cooke's Beginnings in Chicago. From WTTW-TV Chicago.

Excerpt: "Although he died in Los Angeles, the majority of Cooke’s short life was spent in Chicago. Born in Clarksdale, Mississippi to a minister, his mother
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, August 14, 2026

2. Sam Cooke Marker
and siblings (he was the fifth of eight children) followed his father to Chicago when Sam was two. The family eventually settled in Bronzeville on Cottage Grove Avenue near 35th Street, blocks from the lake and Doolittle Elementary School, where Sam and his siblings would attend classes. Sundays were taken up entirely by church, with Sunday school and multiple services. The Reverend Cook led a congregation at the Christ Temple Church in Chicago Heights, south of the city, and he always introduced his sermon with a song. Recognizing the musical talent of his children, he organized them into a quintet that he called the Singing Children. Sam, the second youngest, sang tenor; his four-year-old brother L.C. took bass."

(Submitted on August 17, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

Credits. This page was last revised on August 17, 2026. It was originally submitted on August 16, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 5 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 16, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.