Unraveling Sam Cooke’s 1964 Murder Mystery

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    Sam Cooke died tragically on December 11, 1964, at 33.

    Cooke rescued himself from what he considered financial insolvency by leaving the Gospel industry, an industry that even in 2018 is still reputed to be outrageously frugal, for the more generous and profitable secular music industry.

    He admitted to Dick Clark when posed with the question, “Why did you leave Gospel?” responding, “For financial reasons,” Cooke also had greater plans and wanted to be a music industry executive.

    Unraveling Sam Cooke's

    At the time of his death, Sam Cooke was living in the Los Feliz section of Los Angeles. He entered the music industry at a time when it was wholly ruled by corruption, broken legs, extremely shady deals, and ass-kickings. It was a dangerous world that many in the gospel industry thought the former singer was selling his soul for … some even prophesied his early demise.

    The gospel industry didn’t see Cooke’s bigger picture in mind as his friend Lou Rawls stated, “Sam would have been the first Berry Gordy.”

    Sam Cooke, said to be an astute businessman, wanted to create a vehicle for other black singers to get out of being pigeonholed on the Billboard R&B charts and chitlin’ circuits and to make money for the work they deserved.

    He crossed over in the days when very few Black artists had the opportunity. In addition, Cooke owned his work and masters, which didn’t sit well with some people, according to elders in the industry.

    Sam Cooke is Murdered

    Unraveling Sam Cooke's
    Sleezy quick sex motel where Cooke was murdered. The site has since been demolid

    On the night that Sam Cooke was murdered, he stopped by Lou Rawls’s house to visit, and Lou’s newborn baby would not stop crying.

    Rawls stated Cooke picked the baby up and said “What’s wrong man?” but the baby continued to cry and Rawls stated his German Sheppard, who was always under the baby’s crib, got up and left when Cooke came by as if he knew something was wrong. Rawls’ mother later revealed to him that babies and animals keenly know when someone is about to die or tragedy is about to occur.

    Rawls stated even after Cooke left, his son would not stop crying, and he told Sam he couldn’t go to PJs because he thought his son was sick.

    Sam Cooke’s Fateful Night: A Series of Events Leading to Tragic Consequences

    Sam first stopped by Martoni’s Italian restaurant in the San Fernando Valley outside of Los Angeles to meet friends for dinner, where he spotted an attractive Asian woman sitting with three men named Elisa Boyer, who was 22 at the time.

    Within no time, Sam was cuddled up with Boyer in the booth. Not much was said about the three men, but Sam was with her and hanging out with some music industry people there.

    It’s unclear if this or PJs is where he met up with the KDAY DJs. But he and Boyer eventually left and went to PJs. The bar was a hangout for entertainers in LA, and Sam allegedly got into a heated argument with a few men in the club who were hitting on Boyer; Boyer stated asked Sam to take her home around 2 am, knowing Sam was inebriated and agitated, instead of calling a cab, willingly got in Cooke’s new Ferrari, and said he was speeding on the 101 Freeway.

    She stated Sam got on the freeway against her repeated requests to take her home and drove towards the hood to go to the sleazy motel Hacienda Heights, notorious for one-night stands and one-hour rentals.

    Cooke and his wife were living separate lives because of the death of their youngest son, who drowned in the family pool. Cooke blamed his wife, Barbara but also felt guilty for not being there. The marriage was in shambles, and there were reports of extramarital activity on both ends, but the story continued to take more strange turns.

    Unraveling Sam Cooke's
    11 Dec 1964, Los Angeles, California, USA — Police said Mrs. Berth Lee Franklin, 55, shown here smiling 12/11, fired the shot that killed Sam Cooke, a popular singer with the teenage set, when he kicked in the door of her apartment. According to police, Mrs. Frankin, manager of a motel, had been previously warned on the telephone by another motel resident that there was a prowler on the premises. Officers said they learned he was searching for a female companion who was located later. — Image by © Bettmann/CORBIS

    Once Cooke and Boyer arrived at the hotel, Cooke got out of the car, leaving Boyer alone in the passenger seat while he went to register for the hotel room.

    The clerk, Bertha Franklin, peered to the side of Cooke and saw Boyer in Cooke’s car and informed him that he would have to register as Mr and Mrs.

    Unanswered Questions Surrounding Sam Cooke and Elisa Boyer: Inconsistencies and Speculations in the Trial

    This was a pristine opportunity for Boyer to escape or signal Franklin that was in trouble unless they worked together. After all,

    Was Cooke registering for a sleazy hotel room? If thought was in danger, as later stated in the short trial wearing dark glasses on the stand during her testimony (something that would never be allowed today), why didn’t use this opportunity to get away?

    it appeared was not telling the whole story. According to witnesses, Cooke’s attorney barely had a chance to question her or anyone else as the trial was very brief and one-sided.

    Boyer stated that Cooke dragged her into the room while drunk, took off his clothes, and then proceeded to take off her sweater and skirt, leaving her on the bed with her bra and panties on.

    She stated was sure he was about to rape her, but then he stopped and went to the bathroom. Even women close to the situation on Sam’s behalf stated that’s not how situations like this go.

    Sam Cooke Didn’t Think he Needed Security and Often Traveled with Wads of Cash

    These were the days before rape kits and DNA, so this part of the investigation was never completed, and it was never determined if Cooke and Boyer had had sex. Cooke was always said to carry at least $2000 in cash in his wallet, which 1964 was like $20,000.

    We’re talking about a time when the average rent for an apartment was $75.00 to $100.00 monthly. Since he had been buying drinks and dinner and was inebriated, there is no question Boyer saw the wad of cash he was carrying. However, after the murder and left the pants on the street, they found a money clip with a mere $108.00, and all of his credit cards were missing.

    This makes no sense; if someone found a wallet full of cash on the street, why would they leave $108.00 still in the clip unless they wanted it to look like robbery was not a motive?  Boyer stated grabbed her clothes and his when ran out of the room when he went to the bathroom. If he had disrobed first, wouldn’t her clothes have been easily accessible by being on top of his?

    Unraveling Sam Cooke's
    16 Dec 1964, Los Angeles, California, USA — Witness and alleged prostitute Elisa Boyer, wearing a disguise, testifies during the Coroner’s Inquest of the murder of soul singer Sam Cooke. Many historians state this was a quick and racist trial like today; nobody would be able to wear a disguise (glasses) on the stand. A recording of Boyer’s testimony appears to be dishonest and calculated. She had no emotion, which led many to believe and Bertha were working in concert to have Sam murdered — Image by © Bettmann/CORBIS
    Unraveling Sam Cooke's
    The woman Elisa Boyer, who allegedly helped to set up Sam Cooke’s murder. Years later, was arrested for killing her husband in 1979. It is alleged the motel ran a prostitution ring, Bertha Lee (hotel manager) was a pimp, and Elisa was one of her whores.

    Mysterious Circumstances and Controversial Actions Surrounding Sam Cooke’s Final Moments

    Cooke’s actions when he discovered his wallet and clothes were missing, upon returning from the bathroom, according to the desk clerk, a portly 55-year-old former madam named Bertha Frankin, didn’t add up either.  She stated he banged on the office door looking for the woman, completely naked except for one shoe and a suit jacket. 

    Today the first thing that would be done is a toxicology report on Cooke’s blood, and there is a good chance it would have been discovered he probably slipped a mickey or some other drug by his alleged bizarre actions. Wouldn’t even a drunk person wrap themselves in a et instead of walking to the office naked?

    She stated he got physical with her, and they fell to the floor, was 30 pounds heavier than him and managed to wrestle herself away from the drunk Cooke and ran to grab the gun off the top of the fridge, and shot at him three times. She missed twice but pierced his heart with the third bullet killing him.

    She said lunged at her one last time and hit him with a broomstick. Why not just shoot him again? His last words, according to her, “Lady, you shot me.” Franklin later smiled when asked to take a picture for the press after the murder (see photo)

    Unresolved Mysteries and Suspicious Events Surrounding Sam Cooke’s Death: A Deeper Dive into the Controversial Aftermath

    Singer Etta James went to view Cooke’s corpse and immediately knew the whole story was not being told. She stated Sam was so badly beaten he was almost decapitated, and both hands were bruised and completely crud as if he had been fighting for his life.

    In addition, said his nose was mangled. Some have speculated Sam was set up and robbed by Boyer and Franklin. In addition, Cooke was placed in a coffin with a glass top preventing people from touching him or examining why he had on heavy makeup.

    Boyer was arrested just a few months after Cooke died for prostitution, and ended up getting arrested again for murdering her husband in 1979—no word on what happened to Bertha Franklin except that moved because of numerous death threats.

    She sued Sam Cooke’s estate after killing him for $200,000 (like a million dollars in the 60s) for the anguish and physical injuries it took for her to kill him. She was awarded $30,000 as a settlement. It is beyond evident there is a lot more to this story. Cooke would be 86 if he was still alive today.

    Allegations of Betrayal and Suspicious Business Deals: The Intriguing Connections Surrounding Sam Cooke’s Manager Allen Klein

    Some speculate that Cooke’s former manager Allen Klien may have had some involvement in the situation. Klien had Cooke sign an agreement for a company he created called Tracey, LTD, named after Cooke’s daughter that would allow Cooke to be spared of IRS scrutiny but greatly benefited Klien as the owner of Sam’s work if he died. Sam’s wife Barbara ended up selling the remainder of Sam’s work to Klien.

    Unraveling Sam Cooke's
    Sam Cooke and his second wife, Barbara Campbell-Cooke

    Cook’s life and everybody involved with him were in shambles. He and his wife were living separate lives in their home in LA and were on the verge of divorce. His first wife died in a car accident.

    His mentee before he died was 21-year-old Bobby Womack, who ended up marrying his wife, Barbara, just three months after Sam Cooke died in 1965, getting him blackballed in the industry.

    Barbara allegedly found out Bobby and her then-18-year-old daughter by Cooke was having an affair in 1970, and divorced him. Her daughter ended up marrying Womack’s younger brother Cecile, and they formed the singing group Womack and Woman and had the hit single “Baby I’m Scared of You” in the 80s. Finally, Bobby tragically lost several of his kids and had a severe cocaine habit in the 80s.

    Points to consider about Sam Cooke’s Murder:

    • Was Sam set up by the two women and LED to the Hacienda for a trap where the three men at the bar were waiting in the room and beating Cooke to death?
    • Was Elisa Boyer one of Bertha Franklin’s whores
    • Who were the 3 men at the bar with Elisa
    • Why was money left in the clip?
    • What happened to the credit cards
    • Did Boyer take a lie detector test?
    • Are any of Boyer’s clothes still in evidence?
    • Did Cooke’s manager Allen Klien have anything to do with the situation?
    Unraveling Sam Cooke's
    Sam Cooke in a glass-covered casket. The late Etta James stated his hands and fingers were crud and mangled, indicating a severe beating that led to his death.

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