Singer Bobby Womack married Sam Cooke’s widow today (February 24, 1965).
The marriage was scandalous from the start and since Bobby Womack wasn’t even 21 years old yet, he had to receive his parents’ permission.
But the main issue was the fact that Sam Cooke’s family was still grieving over his death, which had occurred just three months earlier.
It was Sam Cooke who discovered Bobby Womack and The Womack Brothers, Cleveland natives who were signed to Sam Cooke’s label SAR Records.
As The Valentinos, Sam Cooke had produced the group’s single “Looking For a Love,” as well as “It’s All Over Now,” which was re-recorded by The Rolling Stones.
But on December 11, 1964 music history would be changed, when Sam Cooke was shot and killed by a motel owner in East Los Angeles.
Within months of Sam Cooke’s death, Barbara Cook was flashing a new engagement ring that was a gift from Sam’s friend Bobby Womack, who had just proposed to her.
To make matters worse, Bobby had been seen driving around Los Angeles in Sam’s car, along with his wife, and he was even wearing the late singer’s clothes.
This was too much for most of Sam Cooke’s family members, including his brother Charles Cooke Jr.
When Bobby Womack and his new wife Barbara decided to go to Chicago that summer, they ended up in a violent confrontation with Charles.
