Creator

Subject

Geographic Term

Description

Two audio cassettes. NKwanda Jah is the interviewer. On C93-16, Cooke, born in Dupont, Fla., gives a history of his early life and family. He discusses his early experiences of hoboing and tells stories about hitchhiking in Florida. He details his educational experiences, including dropping out of school. He took his last name "Cooke" from his grandfather after being adopted by him. He explains that from 1926 to 1930, he worked as a "gandy dancer" on the railways. After that, until 1941, he hoboed. He discusses being ostracized because of being a hobo. He recounts his beginnings as a washboard musician in 1946 in New York, before moving to Miami from 1947 to 1963 and working as a musician there. He explains that he learned to play the ukulele in 1979. Cooke discusses working on railroads, as well as having met Elvis Presley, Jackie Wilson, B.B. King, Gene Krupa, and Sam Cooke. He shares his opinions on the relationship between black and white musicians, using Presley and King as an example of the positive interchange of ideas. He recounts working as a washboard musician in studios and being a part of the musicians union in New York. He recorded with Brownie McGhee, Sonny Terry, Pete Seeger, Pete "Guitar" Lewis and Johnny Winter. He explains that his first recording was in 1959, and that he worked on a Harry Belafonte recording in 1979. He also recounts his relationship with Sammy Davis Jr.'s grandmother. He discusses receiving social security and other government subsidies in the 1970s. He tells some stories about getting married and having children.
On C93-17, Cooke discusses his children. He recounts his life during the 1980s playing music gigs around Florida, and the difficulty of making a living as a musician. He tells a story about being robbed. He compares the joy of receiving an invitation to attend the inauguration of President Jimmy Carter with working four months on a Waycross, Ga. chain gang in 1931. He details his travels on the railroad after leaving Waycross. He explains why he joined a church. He closes by telling a story about travelling to California in 1991.