Former Location. Currently Called The Polaris Motel –
The Hacienda Motel was where singer and songwriter Sam Cooke, whose influence in soul music can be heard to this day, was killed on Dec. 11, 1964. Reportedly, the 33-year-old had picked up Lisa Boyer, a 22-year-old aspiring singer, at PJ’s nightclub in Hollywood and had taken her to this motel.
After a dispute, she fled Cooke’s room with most of his clothes. While half-clothed, he mistakenly thought she had fled into the manager’s office. After pounding on the door, Cooke broke in. The manager, taking him for a robber, shot him three times with a .22-caliber revolver. The shooting was ruled justifiable homicide.
— Los Angeles Times
Sam is buried at Forest Lawn in Glendale, California.
Sam Cooke Discography
1958 – Songs by Sam Cooke
1958 – Encore
1959 – Tribute to the Lady
1960 – The Wonderful World of Sam Cooke
1960 – Cooke’s Tour
1960 – Hits of the 50’s
1961 – Swing Low
1961 – My Kind of Blues
1962 – Twistin’ the Night Away
1963 – Mr. Soul
1963 – Night Beat
1964 – Ain’t That Good News
Polaris Motel
9137 South Figueroa
Los Angeles CA 90003
Albeit the hotel clerk and the hooker were in cohoots to rob him. why would the hooker take his clothes; because she had a longer length of time to get away.
If you watch the segment on Netflix about his murder, you will see just how he was set up. It will anger you if you are a fan.
Poor guy was nearly decapitated.. He wasn’t just shot and then hit “with a broom.” Definitely a setup.
He should’ve just took his tail home to his wife.