Dream Boogie | Peter Guralnick

Dream Boogie: The Triumph of Sam Cooke | Peter Guralnick

How did a gospel prodigy transform into the architect of soul music while navigating a changing America? Peter Guralnick investigates in Dream Boogie.

About the Book:

One of the most influential African American singers/songwriters in the late 1950s, Sam Cooke was among the first to blend gospel music and secular themes - the early foundation of soul music.

He was the opposite of Elvis: A black performer who appealed to white audiences, who wrote his own songs, who controlled his own business destiny.

In Dream Boogie, bestselling author Peter Guralnick captures Sam Cooke's remarkable accomplishment and chronicles his moving and important story, from Cooke's childhood as a choirboy to an adulthood when he was anything but that.

Frequently Asked Questions About Dream Boogie:

• Q: Is this book an analytical study of music charts or a comprehensive personal biography?
  A: This is a monumental, all-inclusive biography that spans nearly 800 pages. While it meticulously documents Sam Cooke's musical evolution, it functions primarily as an epic personal narrative that maps his childhood as a Chicago choirboy, his immense business ambitions, his direct involvement in the Civil Rights Movement, and the mysterious circumstances surrounding his tragic death.
• Q: What unique credentials does the author bring to this legendary musician's story?
  A: The book is written by Peter Guralnick, universally regarded as one of America's preeminent music historians and biographers. He is globally celebrated for his definitive, multi-volume biographies of Elvis Presley (Last Train to Memphis and Careless Love), giving him unmatched expert authority when chronicling the high-stakes cultural collisions of 1950s and 1960s American music.
• Q: How does the book portray Sam Cooke's historical importance to the music business?
  A: The narrative reveals that Cooke was far more than a talented singer—he was a pioneering, highly independent Black entrepreneur. Guralnick details how Cooke defied the predatory music industry of his era by writing his own compositions, founding his own independent record label (SAR Records), and launching his own publishing company to maintain absolute ownership of his creative catalog.
• Q: Which major historical and musical figures appear throughout the narrative?
  A: Because Sam Cooke operated at the absolute center of mid-20th-century culture, the text reads like a cross-generational historical tapestry. Readers will find intimate, real-world interactions and behind-the-scenes accounts featuring Malcolm X, Martin Luther King Jr., Muhammad Ali, James Brown, Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, and Bob Dylan.
• Q: Does the biography investigate the conspiracy theories regarding his fatal shooting?
  A: Yes. Guralnick treats the final chapters with the careful precision of a seasoned investigative journalist. He lays out all the known timelines, police reports, and testimonies surrounding the fateful 1964 night at Los Angeles' Hacienda Motel, addressing the enduring mysteries and conflicting accounts without resorting to cheap tabloid sensationalism.

About the Author:

Peter Guralnick: American Music Critic & Author

Peter Guralnick is an American music critic, author, and screenwriter. He specializes in the history of early rock and roll and has written books on Elvis Presley, Sam Phillips, and Sam Cooke.

Bibliographic Data:

• Full Title: Dream Boogie: The Triumph of Sam Cooke
• Author(s): Peter Guralnick
• Publisher & Imprint: Little, Brown Paperbacks (An imprint of Little, Brown and Company / Hachette Book Group)
• Publication Date: September 5, 2006 (Original hardcover published October 2005)
• Binding Format: Trade Paperback
• Condition: Pre-Owned / Very Good
• Edition: Reprint / Trade Paperback Edition
• Print Length: 768 Pages
• Language: English
• ISBN-13: 9780316013291
• ISBN-10: 0316013293
• Library of Congress (LCCN): 2005005128
• Primary Genre (BISAC): BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / Music
• Sub-Genres (BISAC): MUSIC / Genres & Styles / Soul & R&B; BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / Cultural, Ethnic & Regional / African American & Black; HISTORY / United States / 20th Century
• Dimensions: 6.0 x 1.25 x 9.25 inches
• Weight: 28.6 oz (approx. 1.79 lbs)

Grab Your Copy!

Explore the monumental, critically acclaimed biography of a legendary voice and cultural icon. Tap to discover Peter Guralnick's Dream Boogie today!