Abkco Music & Records | Sam Cooke at the Copa | Album Cover & CD Design

Sam Cooke at the Copa captures the legendary singer performing live at New York City’s Copacabana, one of the most iconic nightclubs of its era. I designed the album cover and CD packaging in collaboration with ABKCO Music & Records, creating a visual experience that reflects the glamour, intimacy, and showmanship of the original performance.

Drawing from the visual language of 1960s nightlife, I used bold pink and yellow tones, archival photographs of Cooke on stage, and playful venue-inspired graphics to evoke the atmosphere of an evening at the Copa. The cover places Cooke in the spotlight, while the interior expands the story with additional performance photography and illustrated details.

The result is a piece of music packaging design that feels both archival and alive—honoring the history of the recording while giving listeners a visual sense of the charisma and excitement that made the performance so memorable.