Jump to content

David Cook (singer): Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
Starryland (talk | contribs)
974 edits
Line 20: Line 20:


==Early life==
==Early life==
Cook's interest in music began early in life; he received his first guitar at the age of 2. He began singing in second grade, when his elementary school music teacher gave him a solo in a school choir performance. He proceeded to perform in virtually every Christmas and PTA program.<ref name=spotted>{{cite web | title = She Spotted Her Idol's Talent Early | url = http://www.examiner.net/stories/030808/new_255101403.shtml | publisher = The Examiner | date = 2008-03-08}}</ref> He also participated in choir and drama programs in middle school and high school. At Blue Springs South High School, he performed in musicals, including "[[The Music Man]]", "[[West Side Story]]", and "[[Singin' in the Rain (musical)|Singin' in the Rain]]".<ref>{{cite web | title = David Cook, "Singin' in the Rain" | url = http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2YS9fWmMz8 | publisher = YouTube | date = 2008-02-28}}</ref><ref name="spotted" /> He earned a theater scholarship to the [[University of Central Missouri]], but he abandoned it after two semesters, graduating from the school in 2006 with a degree in graphic design.<ref name=alwaysstar>{{cite web | title = Always Been a Star | url = http://www.examiner.net/stories/022808/new_252098745.shtml | publisher = The Examiner | date = 2008-02-28}}</ref><ref name=ap20080314>{{cite web | title = Tulsa Singer Cook Rocks 'American Idol' | url = http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jYYq4q_df-XiBXRed9M5orNqfGvAD8VDHPUG4 | publisher = The Associated Press | date = 2008-03-14}}</ref> After his college graduation, he relocated to Tulsa to pursue his career in music, telling his family, "I just want to give myself until I’m 26 years old to get a job." <ref name=pharos>{{cite web | title = Idol Contestant Has Indiana Roots | url = http://www.pharostribune.com/local/local_story_049114643.html | publisher = Pharos-Tribune | date = 2008-02-18}}</ref>
Cook's interest in music began early in life; he received his first guitar at the age of 2. He began singing in second grade, when his elementary school music teacher gave him a solo in a school choir performance. He proceeded to perform in virtually every Christmas and PTA program.<ref name=spotted>{{cite web | title = She Spotted Her Idol's Talent Early | url = http://www.examiner.net/stories/030808/new_255101403.shtml | publisher = The Examiner | date = 2008-03-08}}</ref> He also participated in choir and drama programs in middle school and high school. At Blue Springs South High School, he performed in musicals, including "[[The Music Man]]", "[[West Side Story]]", and "[[Singin' in the Rain (musical)|Singin' in the Rain]]".<ref>{{cite web | title = David Cook, "Singin' in the Rain" | url = http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2YS9fWmMz8 | publisher = YouTube | date = 2008-02-28}}</ref><ref name="spotted" /> He earned a theater scholarship to the [[University of Central Missouri]], but he abandoned it after two semesters, graduating from the school in 2006 with a degree in graphic design.<ref name=alwaysstar>{{cite web | title = Always Been a Star | url = http://www.examiner.net/stories/022808/new_252098745.shtml | publisher = The Examiner | date = 2008-02-28}}</ref><ref name=ap20080314>{{cite web | title = Tulsa Singer Cook Rocks 'American Idol' | url = http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jYYq4q_df-XiBXRed9M5orNqfGvAD8VDHPUG4 | publisher = The Associated Press | date = 2008-03-14}}</ref> After his college graduation, he relocated to Tulsa to pursue his career in music, telling his family, "Im just sick and tired of being molested." <ref name=pharos>{{cite web | title = Idol Contestant Has Indiana Roots | url = http://www.pharostribune.com/local/local_story_049114643.html | publisher = Pharos-Tribune | date = 2008-02-18}}</ref>


==Musical background==
==Musical background==

Revision as of 09:12, 12 April 2008

David Cook

David Roland Cook (born December 20, 1982 in Houston, Texas) is an American singer-songwriter and musician, and is a finalist on the seventh season of American Idol. He currently lives in Tulsa, Oklahoma but was raised in Blue Springs, Missouri. He is not related to fellow Idol contestant Kristy Lee Cook.

Early life

Cook's interest in music began early in life; he received his first guitar at the age of 2. He began singing in second grade, when his elementary school music teacher gave him a solo in a school choir performance. He proceeded to perform in virtually every Christmas and PTA program.[1] He also participated in choir and drama programs in middle school and high school. At Blue Springs South High School, he performed in musicals, including "The Music Man", "West Side Story", and "Singin' in the Rain".[2][1] He earned a theater scholarship to the University of Central Missouri, but he abandoned it after two semesters, graduating from the school in 2006 with a degree in graphic design.[3][4] After his college graduation, he relocated to Tulsa to pursue his career in music, telling his family, "Im just sick and tired of being molested." [5]

Musical background

Cook was the lead singer and guitarist of the band Axium from 1999 until 2006. He formed Axium in his junior year of high school with drummer Bobby Kerr. One of the band's songs, "Hold," was picked up by AMC Theatres Movie Tunes and was played before previews on over 5,000 screens nationwide.[6] Axium was also named one of the top 15 independent bands in the country in the "Got Milk?" independent band contest, and it was chosen as the best band in Kansas City in 2004.[7][8]

In 2006, after the breakup of Axium, Cook relocated to Tulsa, Oklahoma, and joined the regional touring band Midwest Kings, playing guitar, bass, and singing backup vocals. He recorded one EP, Incoherent with Desire to Move On, with the band in 2006. He also worked as a bartender at several Tulsa clubs, including Blank Slate and Rehab Lounge.[4][9]

Cook released a solo independent album, Analog Heart, in 2006, the year he graduated from the college.[10] It was written from 2004 to 2006, and he designed the artwork as well.[7][11] The album was chosen as the fourth-best CD released in 2006 by website Music Equals Life.[12] Cook also won the Urban Tulsa Weekly's "Absolute Best of Tulsa" award for "Best Locally Produced, Independent Album" in 2007. He had completed recording a second album before his appearance on American Idol.[13]

American Idol

Cook auditioned for American Idol in Omaha, Nebraska, performing Bon Jovi's "Livin' on a Prayer". He originally did not plan to try out for the show, but came to the auditions to support his brother, who did not make it to Hollywood.[5] For his first Hollywood audition, Cook performed "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" by Bryan Adams, accompanying himself on acoustic guitar. Later in the week he performed "I'll Be" by Edwin McCain.

Cook has taken advantage of the decision to allow contestants to play musical instruments. Besides his Hollywood audition, he also accompanied himself on electric guitar for his performances of "All Right Now", "Hello" and "Day Tripper" and on acoustic guitar for "Little Sparrow". His white, left-handed Gibson Les Paul electric guitar has the letters "AC" on it; as Cook told TV Guide, "I have two brothers, Adam and Andrew. So, because of superstition, I put their initials on everything growing up."[14] Since top 12 week he has also been wearing an orange wristband to support a 7-year-old fan with leukemia.[15][16]

Cook has been both praised and criticized for his song choices, as several of his performances have been based on covers of the original songs. "Billie Jean", one of his most notable performances so far, was credited on the show to Chris Cornell and was highly praised by all three judges, especially Simon Cowell (Cowell later said in an interview with Entertainment Weekly that the performance "was in a different league to anything we've heard on the season so far," and although he knew where the arrangement came from, "that doesn't really matter.")[17] Another Cook's performance, "Day Tripper", was credited to Whitesnake. It has also been claimed that his version of "Hello" was from Incubus frontman Brandon Boyd and that his performance of "Eleanor Rigby" was based on Seattle-based band Doxology's version.[18] On April 1, before performing his rendition of self-arranged "Little Sparrow" on American Idol, Cook responded to Ryan Seacrest in the interview session, revealing that his performance of "Eleanor Rigby" was based on Neil Zaza's and Doxology's versions. Despite the controversy, critics praised Cook for choosing versions of songs that fit his vocal style.[19][20][21]

On April 1, 2008, a few hours after American Idol aired, TMZ.com first reported that Cook was driven to the hospital in a rush because his "heart was palpitating at a high rate and his blood pressure was high."[22] The website claimed that Cook was not feeling well before the performance of Dolly Parton's "Little Sparrow" that night, but he refused to go to the emergency room until the end of the show.[23] Stress over a recent "setback" in his brother's struggle with cancer may have been a contributing factor.[23] Later, Cook was alleged to be released from the hospital, "doing fine."[23][24][25]

American Idol performances

Week # Theme Song choice Original artist Order # Result
Top 24 (12 Boys) 1960s "Happy Together" The Turtles 3 Safe
Top 20 (10 Boys) 1970s "All Right Now" Free 9 Safe
Top 16 (8 Boys) 1980s "Hello" Lionel Richie 6 Safe
Top 12 Lennon/McCartney "Eleanor Rigby" The Beatles 6 Safe
Top 11 The Beatles "Day Tripper" The Beatles 6 Safe
Top 10 Year They Were Born "Billie Jean" Michael Jackson 10 Safe
Top 9 Dolly Parton "Little Sparrow" Dolly Parton 2 Safe
Top 8 Inspirational Music "Innocent" Our Lady Peace 5 Safe
Top 7 Mariah Carey TBA TBA TBA TBA


Discography

With Axium

  • Matter of Time (2002) [26]
  • Blindsided (2003) [26][27]
  • Alive in Tulsa (2004) [26]
  • The Story Thus Far (2004) [26]

With Midwest Kings

  • Incoherent with Desire to Move On (2006)

Solo

  • Analog Heart (2006)

References

  1. ^ a b "She Spotted Her Idol's Talent Early". The Examiner. 2008-03-08.
  2. ^ "David Cook, "Singin' in the Rain"". YouTube. 2008-02-28.
  3. ^ "Always Been a Star". The Examiner. 2008-02-28.
  4. ^ a b "Tulsa Singer Cook Rocks 'American Idol'". The Associated Press. 2008-03-14.
  5. ^ a b "Idol Contestant Has Indiana Roots". Pharos-Tribune. 2008-02-18.
  6. ^ "David Cook, a Local Idol". The Examiner. 2008-02-14.
  7. ^ a b "'Analog Heart' by David Cook". PayPlay.fm.
  8. ^ "Best of Kansas City: Top Band? Axium". The Examiner. 2004-01-04.
  9. ^ "New Songs in Hand". Urban Tulsa Weekly. 2006-11-29.
  10. ^ "'Analog Heart' by David Cook". Amazon.com. 2006-05-05.
  11. ^ "David Cook: Idol-in-training". Kansas City Star. 2008-04-01.
  12. ^ "Music Equals Life's: Top 7 CD's of 2006". Music Equals Life.
  13. ^ "Shepherds, Idols and Saints". Urban Tulsa Weekly. 2008-02-13.
  14. ^ "Idol's Class of '08: Secrets of the Top 12". TV Guide. 56 (11): 12. March 17–23, 2008. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)CS1 maint: date format (link)
  15. ^ "Little Lindsey Rose's Favorite 'Idol' Singer Wears Wristband to Show Support for Girl". Tampa Tribune. 2008-03-14.
  16. ^ "American Idol's David Cook - 'He's My Hero'". Star Magazine. 2008-04-03.
  17. ^ "Simon Cowell Speaks Out about the Current Season of 'American Idol'". Entertainment Weekly. 2008-03-26. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |firstname= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |lastname= ignored (help)
  18. ^ "'American Idol' Dark Horse David Cook: Is It Fair for Him to Cover Other Covers?". MTV News. 2008-03-26. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |firstname= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |lastname= ignored (help)
  19. ^ Harris, Chris. 'American Idol' Dark Horse David Cook: Is It Fair For Him To Cover Other Covers?. MTV. 2008-03-26. Retrieved 2008-04-11.
  20. ^ Hewitt, Michael. The Watcher: Give 'Idol's' David Cook the credit he deserves. The Orange County Register. 2008-04-03. Retrieved 2008-04-11.
  21. ^ American Idol Commentary: The Trouble with Originality. TVFan. Entertainment Weekly. 2008-03-27. Retrieved 2008-04-11.
  22. ^ "'A.I.' Contestant Cook Rushed to the Hospital". TMZ. 2008-04-01.
  23. ^ a b c "'American Idol' Contestant Hospitalized, Released". TMZ. 2008-04-02.
  24. ^ Rizzo, Monica (2008-04-02). "Idol David Cook 'Doing Fine' After Hospitalization". People.
  25. ^ "'American Idol' Contestant David Cook Rushed to Hospital". Fox News. 2008-04-03.
  26. ^ a b c d "RockKansas.com: Axium". RockKansas.com.
  27. ^ "Walmart Music Downloads: Axium". Walmart.com.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=David_Cook_(singer)&oldid=205095582"