Dead Notes
In the 1930s Mississippi Delta, a young blues musician vanished and returned transformed. This episode of Dead Notes explores the life and legend of Robert Johnson, a man with just twenty-nine recordings, no confirmed grave, and a story that refuses to settle. From the crossroads myth to the eerie lyrics that followed him, Johnson’s music feels less like ambition and more like a warning. Did he sell his soul or did the legend come later because there was no other way to explain what people heard? If you enjoy atmospheric, narrative storytelling, you may also like Ben Cooper’s other...
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Otis Redding was on the edge of everything he’d ever dreamed of. A voice that could shake the world. A new sound that was about to redefine soul music. And then in a blink it was gone. In this episode we follow the final days of the King of Soul a man who never lived long enough to see the crown placed on his head. From the promise of “Sittin’ On The Dock of the Bay” to the plane crash that silenced him too soon we unravel the rise the mystery and the legacy of one of music’s greatest voices. If you'd like to support the work directly, you can do that here:...
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Marvin Gaye was a voice that could quiet a nation and a man haunted by storms no one could see. In this episode we trace the fragile line between genius and despair and the tragic final hours that ended with a gunshot inside his family home. A story of soul, conflict, and the music that still refuse to fade. If you'd like to support the work directly, you can do that here: https://buymeacoffee.com/bencooper2s Subscribe, rate, and share to help others find the show. Music and production by Ben Cooper. © 2025 CooperVille Productions. All rights reserved. Copyright Disclaimer: This episode...
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A haunting melody. A voice that refused to be silenced. When Billie Holiday sang “Strange Fruit,” she wasn’t just performing a song; she was risking everything. In this episode of Dead Notes, we uncover the story behind one of the most dangerous songs in American history, a protest disguised as poetry and the woman who paid the price for singing the truth. If you'd like to support the work directly, you can do that here: https://buymeacoffee.com/bencooper2s Subscribe, rate, and share to help others find the show. Music and production by Ben Cooper. © 2025 CooperVille...
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Grunge had a king. But fame has a cost. In April 1994, the body of Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain was found in a Seattle greenhouse... a shotgun, a suicide note, and a flood of unanswered questions. Officially ruled a suicide, the case closed quickly. But the pain? That never did. In this episode, Dead Notes traces Cobain’s meteoric rise, his tortured artistry, and the crushing weight of becoming a generational icon. We don’t chase conspiracy theories... we sit with the story, as it was. And as it still haunts us today. Subscribe, rate, and share to help others find the show. ...
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Sam Cooke was more than just a voice... he was a movement. A pioneer in soul music, a champion of civil rights, and a Black man in control of his own career at a time when that was nearly impossible. But on a December night in 1964, that voice was silenced under violent and suspicious circumstances. In this episode, Dead Notes unpacks the strange contradictions, missing pieces, and buried truths behind the official story and asks: who really benefited from Sam Cooke’s death? Subscribe, rate, and share to help others find the show. Music and production by Ben Cooper. © 2025...
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On a cold December night in 1980, John Lennon stepped out of his limo alongside Yoko Ono. She walked ahead toward the Dakota’s vestibule. He followed behind… unaware that someone was waiting in the shadows. In the premiere episode of Dead Notes, host Ben Cooper traces the final moments of Lennon’s life - from his quiet return to music to the man who believed ending it would give his own life meaning. This is the story of legacy, obsession, and a voice for peace silenced by violence. Subscribe, rate, and share to help others find the show. Music and production by Ben Cooper. © 2025...
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Dead Notes is a cinematic true crime podcast uncovering the dark stories behind legendary musicians, from mysterious deaths and unsolved cases to music industry conspiracies and forgotten history. Each episode explores the hidden side of famous artists, focusing on crime, controversy, murder, cover-ups, scandal, and unanswered questions in music. If you love true crime shows, music documentaries, or storytelling podcasts like Disgraceland and Dateline, this podcast takes you deep into the secrets behind the songs, the legends, and the ghosts who still haunt the charts. Subscribe for weekly...
info_outlineMarvin Gaye was a voice that could quiet a nation and a man haunted by storms no one could see. In this episode we trace the fragile line between genius and despair and the tragic final hours that ended with a gunshot inside his family home. A story of soul, conflict, and the music that still refuse to fade.
If you'd like to support the work directly, you can do that here: https://buymeacoffee.com/bencooper2s
Subscribe, rate, and share to help others find the show.
Music and production by Ben Cooper.
© 2025 CooperVille Productions. All rights reserved.
Copyright Disclaimer:
This episode contains brief audio references used for commentary, analysis, and educational purposes under the principles of fair use. All music and archival materials remain the property of their respective copyright holders. No infringement is intended.