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A Change Is Gonna Come, by Sam Cooke

Released in December 1964, Sam Cooke's song has become synonymous with the American civil rights movement. From October 2016.

Sam Cooke's A Change Is Gonna Come has become synonymous with the American Civil Rights Movement.

It was released in December 1964, two weeks after the influential singer was shot dead in Los Angeles.

Contributors include:

Sam Cooke's brother LC, singer Bettye Lavette who sang it for Barack Obama at his inaugural ceremony and civil rights activists from the Freedom Summer of 64, Jennifer Lawson and Mary King.

Producer: Maggie Ayre

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in October 2016.

Available now

30 minutes

Last on

Sat 14 Dec 202400:00

Broadcasts

  • Tue 11 Oct 201611:30
  • Sat 15 Oct 201615:30
  • Fri 5 Jan 201818:30
  • Sat 6 Jan 201800:30
  • Tue 7 Jun 202218:30
  • Wed 8 Jun 202200:30
  • Fri 13 Dec 202410:00
  • Fri 13 Dec 202416:00
  • Sat 14 Dec 202400:00

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Why Sam Cooke's 'A Change Is Gonna Come' became a Civil Rights anthem

Why Sam Cooke's 'A Change Is Gonna Come' became a Civil Rights anthem

Watch the animation - Professor Mary King describes how the song became a symbol of hope.

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