'The Triumph of Sam Cooke'

From the 1950s to the early '60s, one of the most successful singing artist was Sam Cooke. He started out as a gospel singer and scored hit after hit on the pop music charts.

It's been more than 40 years since the legendary singer was tragically killed, but his music has not been forgotten. Peter Guralnick, who has written extensively on American music and musicians, has written a biography on Cooke, titled, "Dream Boogie." Read an excerpt.

It was in 1957 that Cooke took a big risk and switched from gospel music to pop. He wrote and recorded such hits as "You Send Me," "Win Your Love For Me," "Everybody Loves to Cha Cha Cha," "Only Sixteen," "What a Wonderful World," and "A Change Is Going to Come."

For 15 years Guralnick tells The Saturday Early Show he has wanted to write this book. But he eventually got access to people who were close to Cooke, such as his wife Barbara, who had never given an interview and other family members who had not spoken to any great extent.

Don't miss Guralnick's interview.