David L. Cook

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

For other uses, see David Cook.
David L. Cook

Background information
Born 1968-11-11
Origin Mississippi, U.S.
Genre(s) Gospel Music, Inspirational
Occupation(s) Christian Music singer, songwriter and comedian
Instrument(s) Keyboards, Piano
Years active 1972 – present
Label(s) Sparrow, RCA, SONY, Mountainview Records Nashville and currently on DLC Records

David L. Cook (born November 11, 1968) is an American Christian country music singer, comedian and Christian Music Hall of Fame inductee.[1] Born to Donnell and June Cook, David is the oldest of six children.

Cook is most notably known for his deliverance of smooth vocals and his prolific writing abilities. Cook has written over 2500 songs and is widely known for the song, "Drop that Rock."[2] The song was featured on his album "In the Middle of it All" which garnered Cook a Dove Award nomination for Christian Country Album of the Year in 1999.[3][4] Cook's lyrics often take a look at the church and the problems that they face when it comes to handing down judgment upon common people with everyday problems."[2]

Cook is also known for his humanitarian work with children's charities throughout the world which includes co-hosting the Children’s Miracle Network telethon as well as regular appearances on the Jerry Lewis Telethon.[5][6][7]

The male members of The Cook Family Singers have always used just their middle initials as a trademark, a trait beginning back in 1885 when the first such group was formed.[8]

Contents

[edit] Biography

Cook was born in Pascagoula, Mississippi but after two years his family relocated to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida where he attended the prestigious Pine Crest School and later graduated from Boyd Anderson High School.[9] Cook began his musical career at the age of five with his family, The Cook Family Singers. His parents divorced in 1980, which brought an end to four generations of the musical group.[10] Cook continued singing both gospel and secular music.[11] Cook maintained residency in Ft. Lauderdale until 1990 when he moved to Charlotte, North Carolina.

[edit] Early life

In his early life while performing with his family, Cook suffered at the hands of a father with a severe drinking problem. His father would become very violent with David's mother and all of the children after becoming intoxicated. After many years of this abuse Cook developed many psychological problems that ended up following him through to his life as an adult. Cook developed a severe Dissociative disorder coupled with psychogenic amnesia. Cook recalls having periods of "missing time" but never really understood why it was happening. In 1990 the disorders finally came full front when Cook experienced what they thought was a full blown stroke while in Ft. Lauderdale and was rushed to Coral Springs Medical Hospital.[12] Cook checked himself out of the hospital and disappeared from his Florida home and was found five months later in a Charlotte, North Carolina, hospital with similar health complaints. Cook had been around Charlotte for five months and no one realized that there was anything wrong with him until he started developing stroke symptoms again. Doctors finally realized that Cook's problems were not organic and sent him to see specialists. Cook had no recollection of leaving Florida, nor what he had done during his five months in Charlotte. When asked, he stated that, "It was like someone switching off a light and then switching it back on."[13]

Cook's story has been told on many occasions and through various media and television shows. The creators of the television series Touched by an Angel filmed an episode entitled, "Show Me the Way Home" based on Cook's life.[14] The episode portrays a Christian recording star that leaves his career after many tragic events and finding trouble in his walk with God. In the end, he overcomes his trials and returns to the stage and ministry with the help of the angels. The 700 Club also did a full length documentary on Cook that was aired throughout the world.[13] Cook is the author of the published religious self help book Inspirational Words, which outlines most of his ordeal and how he eventually overcame the disorder.[15]

Cook currently maintains residency in both Ft Lauderdale, Florida and Charlotte, North Carolina, US. He lives with his adopted son Shawn. He was married for four years but had the marriage annulled.[16]

[edit] Music

See also: David L. Cook discography
David L Cook as Mortermer Crabbottom
David L Cook as Mortermer Crabbottom

His first solo Christian album, Come Follow Me, was released in 1985. The album was written and produced for him by famed producer/singer, Frank X. Loconto, former member of the popular 50's group, the Lane Brothers.[17][18] The following year, he signed with the American Musical Academy of Arts Association (AMAAA) and recorded a follow up album entitled Personal Feelings.

In 1997, Mountainview Records released his In the Middle of it All album, which went on to earn Cook a Gospel Music Association Dove Award nomination for Christian Country Album of the Year in 1999.[4] However, after a fallout with Mountainview records in 1999, he started his own record label called DLC Records. It was during that transitional period that Cook created a comedy character, named Mortermer Crabbottom, in the tradition of comedic country alter egos like Jim Nabors' eccentric Gomer Pyle persona.[19] Cook even recorded an album in character, Split Personality, based on the life and times of Mortermer Crabbottom growing up in the fictitious town of Crabbottom USA.[9][13] That same year the Country Gospel Music Association inducted Cook into its Hall of Fame, along with Loretta Lynn, Barbara Mandrell, Andy Griffith, Jody Miller and Lulu Roman. To date, Cook is the youngest person to be inducted.[20]

Cook's most recent release is 2006's Have You Ever.[16] On September 9, 2006, the song "Why Can't I go Back" from that same album charted at number one on the Country Gospel Connection charts.[21]

[edit] Television

See also: David L. Cook television appearances

Cook has appeared on many television shows such as The Carol Burnett show as well as the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. Throughout the 1980s, Cook appeared several times on the Bob Hope USO tours and several USO television specials in addition to game shows such as the Hollywood Squares.[22] His appearances on numerous talk shows included Geraldo, Sally Jessy Raphael and Crook and Chase. In 1987 Cook received a personal invitation from President Ronald Reagan to perform at the White House and to be the co-host of the evenings televised festivities.[23]

In August of 2007 David joined in partnership with the Firebird Arts Alliance. Cook was asked by David Tang, president of Firebirds to write and produce a theme song for the television series entitled, "New South Crossings."[24] The theme song became entitled, "Meet Me at the Crossroads."

Cook will appear in the episode entitled, "Master Class." In this episode you will see Cook working with younger artists such as the Whippersnappers and Caroline Keller.[25] Cook shows them the in's and out's of working together musically and during the episode they perform the actual theme song for the series.

Cook will be the host and spokesperson for the Christian Music Hall of Fame and Museum awards to be held in Texas on June 14 2008.[1] Hee Haw star, Lulu Roman will be the co-host for the television broadcast. Cook and his family will be inducted during this ceremony.

[edit] Awards (Partial listing from 1997 to present)

Main article: Partial listing of David L. Cook awards

The CGMA has over the years decorated Cook with many prestigious awards such as the 2005, Christian Comedian of the Year, 2006 "Media Personality of the Year", "Comedian of the Year" and "Christian Country Entertainer of the Year."[26][27]

In July 2006, the International Country Gospel Music Association inducted Cook and fellow artists, Mike Manuel, Gayla Earlene, Doug DeRamus and Marijohn Wilkin into the Hall of Fame.[28]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Welcome to the Christian Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Christian Music Hall of Fame. Retrieved on 2008-02-01.
  2. ^ a b WOW Lyrics. Wow Lyrics. Retrieved on 2008-02-08.Partial listing of David L Cook lyrics and songs
  3. ^ In The Middle of it All by David L Cook MP3 Downloads + free music download on PayPlay.FM. PayPlay.FM. Retrieved on 2008-02-08.Drop That Rock
  4. ^ a b The Dove Nominees - The Phantom Tollbooth. GMA. Retrieved on 2008-02-01.Dove Award nomination for Christian Country Album of the Year.
  5. ^ Split Personality by David L Cook MP3 Downloads + free music download on PayPlay.FM. Retrieved on [[2008-02-08}publisher= PayPlay.FM]].David's work with charities
  6. ^ Children's Miracle Network Telethon 2000 (2000) (TV). IMDB. Retrieved on 2008-02-06.David on Childrens Miracle Network
  7. ^ "Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon" Episode dated 1 September 1990 (1990). IMDB. Retrieved on 2008-02-06.David works with the Jerry Lewis Telethon
  8. ^ CD Baby: DAVID L COOK: Come Follow Me. CD Baby. Retrieved on 2008-02-08.The history of the "L"
  9. ^ a b CD Baby: DAVID L COOK: Split Personality. CD Baby. Retrieved on 2008-02-04.David attends Pine Crest and Boyd Anderson
  10. ^ David L. Cook MP3 Downloads - David L. Cook Music Downloads - David L. Cook Music Videos - David L. Cook Pictures - MP3.com. mp3.com. Retrieved on 2008-02-01.
  11. ^ David L. Cook Biography - AOL Music. AOL Music. Retrieved on 2008-02-01.
  12. ^ Broward Health. Coral Springs Medical Hospital. Retrieved on 2008-02-01.
  13. ^ a b c "David L Cook on the 700 Club" Gorman Woodfin Producer (1999). Christian Broadcasting Network. Retrieved on 2008-02-01.David's early life experiences as told on the 700 Club television broadcast
  14. ^ "Touched by an Angel" Show Me the Way Home (1994) - Synopsis. IMDB. Retrieved on 2008-02-01.Cook's life played out on Touched By an Angel
  15. ^ Cook, David L. (2004). Inspirational Words. Authorhouse. ISBN 1-4140-4954-4. 
  16. ^ a b CD Baby: DAVID L COOK: Have You Ever. CD Baby. Retrieved on 2008-02-01.
  17. ^ Frank Loconto's Singing Rosary. Frank X. Loconto. Retrieved on 2008-02-01.
  18. ^ Lane Brothers (RCS Artist Discography). RCS. Retrieved on 2008-02-01.
  19. ^ Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. in Jump The Shark. Jump the Shark. Retrieved on 2008-02-10.Jim Neighbors as Gomer Pyle
  20. ^ Platinum Heart Awards. Country Gospel Music Association. Retrieved on 2008-02-01.
  21. ^ Country Gospel Connection, main. Country Gospel Connection. Retrieved on 2008-02-01.
  22. ^ "The Match Game/Hollywood Squares Hour" Episode dated 14 May 1984 (1984). IMDB. Retrieved on 2008-02-09.David on the Hollywood Squares
  23. ^ In Performance at the White House: A Tribute to American Music - Rodgers and Hart (1987) (TV). IMDB. Retrieved on 2008-02-01.
  24. ^ Firebird Arts Alliance > Major Projects > New South Crossings. Firebird Arts Alliance. Retrieved on 2008-02-01.
  25. ^ Firebird Arts Alliance > Major Projects > New South Crossings. Firebird Arts Alliance. Retrieved on 2008-02-01.
  26. ^ INTERNATIONAL AWARDS. Country Gospel Music Association. Retrieved on 2008-02-01.
  27. ^ Eastern USA. Retrieved on 2008-02-01.
  28. ^ International Country Gospel Music Association - ICGMA. International Country Gospel Music Association. Retrieved on 2008-02-01.

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: