Most people know that Steve Perry is a Sam Cooke fan. I am, too. It was the Sam Cooke-ism's that I heard in his performances that drew me to him.
Listen to Sam's "A Change is Gonna Come". The first line:
I was born by the river...
SP's line from ROR/"Happy To Give" is perhaps a tribute to Sam:
I was born a believer...
A definite Sam Cooke-ism.
Know any others?