Jeff Cook
Jeff Cook | |
---|---|
Birth name | Jeffery A. Cook |
Born | Fort Payne, Alabama, U.S. | August 27, 1949
Genres | Country, country rock |
Occupation(s) | Musician, songwriter |
Instrument(s) | Vocals, guitar, fiddle |
Years active | 1973–present |
Labels | RCA Nashville Project One Digital |
Jeffery A. "Jeff" Cook (born August 27, 1949) is an American musician who is best known as one of the founding members of the country music group Alabama.
Life and career
Born in Fort Payne, Alabama, and of English and Native American descent, Cook is a graduate of Fort Payne High School and Jacksonville State University. He obtained a broadcast engineer license three days after his fourteenth birthday, and worked at a local radio station as a disk jockey while still in high school.[1]
Cook co-founded the band Wildcountry, along with his cousins Randy Owen and Teddy Gentry, in 1972 (the name was switched to Alabama in 1977). He contributed vocals, lead guitar, keyboard, and fiddle to the group's productions.[2] Since Alabama ceased active production and performance in 2003, Cook has formed the groups Cook & Glenn and the Allstar Goodtime Band, with which he performs.[3]
In addition to his performance work, Cook founded Cook Sound Studios, Inc., in his native Fort Payne, and also established radio station WQRX-AM, which he later sold, in adjacent Valley Head, Alabama.[1] Cook is also noted for his culinary endeavors, having operated a restaurant and marketed his own sauce.[4]
Cook endorsed the 2008 presidential candidacy of former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee, and made appearances with the candidate in Alabama.[5]
Personal Life
Jeff Cook is still going on tour but when he is not, he is a part of the Del Chouch Music Education Foundation.[6]
Solo discography
- 2005: On Fire
- 2008: Just Pickin'
- 2009: Ashes Won't Burn
- 2009: Jeff Cook Presents Christmas Joy
- 2009: "Tribute to a Soldier" (single with Charlie Daniels and Ken Randolph)
- 2010: Shaken... Not Stirred
- 2011: 2 Rock 4 Country
- 2011: Bits & Pieces / Odds & Ends
- 2012: Shaken Not Stirred
References
- ^ a b Jeff Cook and the AGB: Jeff Cook biography
- ^ Allmusic Biography: Alabama
- ^ "Songwriters Honored with Special Concert," The Huntsville Times, September 13, 2007, p. 7G
- ^ "Cook's 'Zesty' Hobby a Feature of Saturday Event," The Huntsville Times, July 25, 2007, p, 1C
- ^ "Huckabee Tells Huntsville Crowd He'll Stay in Race," The Birmingham News blogs, February 2, 2008
- ^ delchouch music education foundation
External links
- Jeff Cook and the AGB official website
- The Alabama Band official website
- 1949 births
- Alabama (band) members
- Alabama Republicans
- American country fiddlers
- American country singer-songwriters
- American country singers
- American people of English descent
- American people of Native American descent
- Living people
- Musicians from Alabama
- People from Fort Payne, Alabama
- Country Music Hall of Fame inductees
- Members of the Country Music Association