The King of Soul: Sam Cooke’s Granddaughters are carrying on his legacy with their upcoming debut album ‘The Womack Sisters’
Los Angeles-based Soul and R&B trio, The Womack Sisters, release their debut album on Friday, August 14, writes Music News Blitz’s Gabrielle Wilkinson.
The sisters, Zeimani, Kucha and BG Womack, are set to breathe soul back into the 21st century with old-school melodies interwoven with a fast-paced modern twist in their self-titled debut album, The Womack Sisters.
Their single, “If I Let You,” has already set the debut up for success, with the track going viral online, earning praise from high-profile musicians such as Pharrell Williams and SZA.
The trio’s talents are no surprise, with music running through their veins as the granddaughters of the King of Soul, Sam Cooke, and daughters of Womack and Womack, the married duo behind the 1988 hit “Teardrops.”
Their musical family does not even end there. Their uncle was Bobby Womack, the legendary singer, songwriter and guitarist who co-wrote Rolling Stone’s first number 1 hit single in the UK, “It's All Over Now.”
However, the Womack Sisters’ musical predecessors certainly did not grant the trio an easy road into the industry.
In an interview with The Guardian, the sisters admitted labels they encountered attempted to genre-shift them into pop.
The trio were told: “Soul is not happening in the States, particularly for brown artists.”
Not letting rejection deter them, they advocated for themselves and signed with Daptone Records, the company associated with the soul and funk singer Sharon Jones, in 2025.
A Change Is Gonna Come
Their maternal grandfather, Sam Cooke, was widely regarded as the King of Soul and one of the most influential artists of the 50s and 60s.
Born in Mississippi, he began his career as a gospel singer before switching to soul and reaching the top of the charts in 1957 with You Send Me.
The romantic ballad knocked Elvis Presley’s “Jailhouse Rock” from No.1 on both the Pop and R&B charts.
With over 2 million copies sold, Cooke became an overnight success and went on to write and perform other trailblazing hits including “Wonderful World,” “Bring It On Home to Me” and “Twistin’ the Night Away.”
However, just as his career hit its peak, his life was cut short at the tender age of 33.
A year after his demise, Cooke’s record company, RCA Victor, posthumously released what would become a poignant civil rights anthem, “A Change Is Gonna Come.”
The soul ballad captured the hearts of modern audiences in 2020 when Hamilton star Leslie Odom Jr took on the role of Sam Cooke in One Night in Miami.
His rendition of the song led to Academy and Golden Globe Nominations for Best Supporting Actor.
Speaking on the Tamron Hall show in 2022, the sisters commended their grandfather’s bravery: “He wasn’t afraid to put himself in harm's way to provoke change and to see a better world for all of us.”
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Making their own name
Despite their connections to legendary musicians, the trio are insistent on being their own voice.
That sentiment is most evident in their raw and relatable single, “Chauffer,” released earlier this year.
Reflecting on their time as Uber drivers, The Womack Sisters transport listeners to the modern-day hardships attached to the hustle and bustle of everyday life, whilst maintaining that retro- soul feel their family is associated with.
This Friday, they open for Al Green at The Hollywood Bowl on the night of their album release, setting them up for a career-defining weekend.
Fans can preorder the album now: The Womack Sisters
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