Sam Gooden

Sam Gooden
The three singers wearing suits
The Impressions in 1964, from left to right: Sam Gooden, Curtis Mayfield, and Fred Cash
Background information
Birth nameSamuel Gooden
Born(1934-09-02)September 2, 1934
Chattanooga, Tennessee, U.S.
DiedAugust 4, 2022(2022-08-04) (aged 87)
Chattanooga, Tennessee, U.S.
Occupation(s)Singer

Samuel Gooden (September 2, 1934 – August 4, 2022)[1] was an American soul singer. He was best known for being an original member of the successful 1991 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame-inducted R&B group The Impressions, from its beginnings as The Roosters in the 1950s.[2][3]

Though often uncredited, his smooth voice can often be heard trading lines with lead singer Curtis Mayfield (most notably on "It's All Right") or his replacement, Leroy Hutson, on quite a number of songs. Gooden also sang lead vocals on a handful of Impressions tunes, such as "Aware Of Love" and the group's cover of "I Wanna Be Around".[4] His distinctive bass vocals can also be heard on the group's Top 20 smashes , "Gypsy Woman", "Talking About My Baby", and People Get Ready, along with their chart hit, "I Been Trying", (later covered by Eric Clapton) . Gooden and the group recorded and performed until his death in 2022. He was inducted with the group in 1991 into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.[5]

Gooden can be seen with original Impressions members Fred Cash and Curtis Mayfield (via archive footage) in the group's first-ever extended interview in the 2008 DVD Movin On Up – The Message and The Music of Curtis Mayfield & The Impressions, which also features a special poem dedicated to the group written and performed by actor Clifton Davis.

Gooden died of a heart attack in Chattanooga, Tennessee, on August 4, 2022, at the age of 87, as was reported by his wife.[6]

References

  1. ^ "Samuel Gooden 09/02/1934 - 08/04/2022 Obituary". Willis Funeral Home, Inc. Retrieved August 18, 2022.
  2. ^ Huey, Steve (December 10, 1994). Biography: The Impressions. AMG. Retrieved May 12, 2010.
  3. ^ David Carroll, "Sam Gooden of the Impressions dies at 87", Local3News. Retrieved August 6, 2022
  4. ^ "Curtis Mayfield and the Impressions". Warr.org. December 26, 1999. Retrieved October 22, 2016.
  5. ^ "Inductee explorer | Rock & Roll Hall of Fame". Rockhall.com. Retrieved October 22, 2016.
  6. ^ McArdle, Terence (August 24, 2022). "Sam Gooden, founding member of the Impressions soul group, dies at 87". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved August 7, 2023.

External links