Cash Box Magazine, December 19, 1964 

Bertha Franklin (below), manager of the Hacienda motel, told police that she shot
and killed Cooke in self-defense because he had attacked her. The shooting was
ultimately ruled a justifiable homicide. His funeral was held in Chicago at A.R Leak Funeral  Home, where thousands of fans had lined up for over four city blocks to
view his body. Cooke was interred in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, Cal. Some posthumous releases followed, many of which became hits, including "A Change is Gonna Come”, an early protest song that is generally
regarded as his greatest composition.

Bertha Lee Franklin

Brenda Lee is a member of the Rock and Roll, Country Music, Rockabilly 
and Hit  Parade Halls of Fame. Her 1958  recording of “Rockin’ Around 
the Christmas Tree”, has been a Christmas standard for more than 50  
years.