Johnny Cooper (musician)

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Johnny Cooper
Birth name John Robert Cooper
Born September 11, 1988 (1988-09-11) (age 19)
Phoenix, Arizona, USA
Genre(s) Pop, Rock, Texas Country, Rhythm and blues, Red Dirt music
Occupation(s) Singer / Songwriter / Musician
Instrument(s) Singing, Songwriter, Guitar
Years active 2002—Present
Label(s) Smith Records
Associated acts A.A. Bottom
Website www.johnnycooper.com

Johnny Cooper (born September 11, 1988 in Phoenix, Arizona as John Robert Cooper) is an award-winning musician, singer, and songwriter. His music is an interesting blend of Rhythm and blues, Pop music, country, Texas Country, Red Dirt (music), and Southern rock. In 1992, at the age of four his family relocated to Texas. Johnny’s father, Jimmy is from Odessa, TX, and his mother, Cindy is from Tonawanda (Buffalo), NY. Johnny’s parents met in Phoenix, AZ, and both are active in the arts and arts management while residing with Johnny in Wichita Falls, Texas.

Key Influences in the beginning

Johnny attended Alamo and Austin elementary schools in Wichita Falls, TX. A neighbor and family friend, Robert Johnston recruited him to play in a roller hockey league for the Eskimos at the local skating rink. Johnny’s interest in ice hockey continued through junior high and high school and continues today. At 12, he moved on to Barwise Jr. High and took choir and drama as electives. A year later he took his first guitar lesson from Kelly Jackson along with private drum lessons from a family friend, Woody Hodges. Like most kids, he put drums and guitar on hold for sports, but stayed with the choir and drama programs. Johnny’s first musical performance was as lead vocalist for junior high buddies Kyle, David and Rami at a teen night inside the Karaoke room at Graham Central Station... the one and only performance of the band named “Brain Freeze.” Local musician *James Dean Faulkner agreed to set up equipment and run the sound for the event and this began an association that would lead to much bigger things in the near future.

At the encouragement of his Jr. High drama teacher Marion Anson, Johnny auditioned and won a role in a play called “A River Down in Texas” cast at the famous Royal Theater in Archer City, TX of “The Last Picture Show” fame. The play, written by Jim White and produced by Abby Abernathy, had a three week run and gave Johnny his first performance experience before a live audience.

Then in the summer of 2003,leading up to his freshman year, Johnny began toying with writing his own music and lyrics. At the encouragement of his dad, Johnny began penning his own songs and the idea of eventually recording a “Live” CD was born.

Other Influences, Mentors and Opportunities:

At 15, Johnny enrolled at Old High and joined the Men’s Chorus and the Coyotes Tennis Team. At this time, musician Kevin Dennis was performing at a piano bar inside Graham Central Station. For one month, Kevin agreed to allow Johnny to sit in once a week to hone his skills with the microphone and guitar. Johnny took his drum trap set to the piano bar and drummer Brandon Bishop would keep the beat and harmonize while Johnny and Kevin played and sang. This would lead to Johnny’s first private acoustic showcase. In December, Johnny performed to 100 family and friends in the Piano Bar at Graham Central Station with a program that featured a combination of cover and original tunes. This performance was a rehearsal for his first “paid” gig in February of 2004 arranged by friend, Woody Hodges to open for The Great Divide in Denton, TX.

More Opportunities and Mentors

Early the following spring of 2004, local DJ Jim Nash was hosting a Front Porch Acoustic Show with friend Casey Pilgreen. The special guest that night was Lance Burnett and a few other members of the "Under the Influence Band". Johnny sat in and experienced his first jam session as the group performed music from their favorite Red Dirt (music) artists. A few weeks later, Johnny began taking private lessons from guitarist and eventual mentor, *Jason Brown. Shortly after, Johnny had his first encounter with friend and fellow musician Cody Shaw while using Cody’s PA for an acoustic opener at the Neon Spur. Johnny bought an Ibanez acoustic guitar from another local DJ and musician, Scotty Preston and on the day he purchased his first Taylor guitar from Great Neck Guitars, Johnny got a private audition to play some tunes for Cody Canada and Grady Cross inside their tour bus behind Kay Yeager Coliseum in Wichita Falls, TX. At their encouragement, Johnny continued with acoustic openers for shows in local bars, private parties, open mic nights, in-stores and public gatherings whenever and wherever possible.

How the Band Came Together:

Later that summer, after a sit-in performance with AA Bottom Band on July 4th at Graham Central Station, Johnny asked his friends *James Dean Faulkner and *Jason Brown if they would consider performing with the other two band members to record his first CD. The Band voted to be a part of the project and local entrepreneur Danny Ahern donated the use of The Iron Horse Pub for the event. Sound engineer Danny Miller from Miller Pro Audio of Duncan, OK, had been doing sound reinforcement in the Wichita Falls area and agreed to record the program. The day after Johnny’s 16th birthday on a Sunday afternoon, September 12, 2005...the performance was captured digitally before a live audience. Five months later in April of 2005, and with help from engineers Terry Mashburn in Abilene and Johnny Devine in Wichita Falls, the product was mastered and released as an independent project.

Original Works - An Artist Finds His Voice

Halloween Night, 2005, Herbert Graham invited Johnny on a trip to Nashville, TN and back in his personal motor coach to witness a recording session for the band Rio Grand. On that trip in the back bedroom of the apartment in Nashville, Johnny penned the song Devil Woman. Johnny realized two very important things on this trip; that his music style did not have to be limited to only traditional country and that he wanted to record his own songs first before considering those from other writers. Prior to the return trip to Texas, Herbert had friend Doc Gonzales buy Johnny his first electric guitar, a butterscotch blonde Fender Telecaster, still in his collection today.

Last Year at Old High School:

Johnny continued school at Old High through his junior year in 2005-2006 while performing acoustic and full band shows, singing in the Acapella choir and playing tennis. During the summer preceding his senior year, he transferred to Harrell Center where he qualified for early graduation in September of 2006 so he could continue with his music career.

Post Graduate Work

January, February, and March of 2007: In January, record promoter Gerrie McDowell charted Johnny’s first single, Texas to You…it made it to #5 on the Texas Music Chart. In February, a close friend of the family, Scooter Rowntree passed away at the early age of 40. Scooter used to help Johnny with his math homework and Scooter’s untimely passing left a resolve in Johnny to pursue his dreams at all cost. In late February, Johnny was picked up by Smith Entertainment for global distribution and in early March Johnny was added to the talent roster of Buddy Lee Attractions/Nashville by agent Jon Folk. Johnny’s second single hit the charts in July and by December ’07 Let It All Go had climbed #4 slot on the Texas Music Chart.

  • James Dean Faulkner and *Jason Brown are two members of the original rock band AA Bottom. James Dean Faulkner, Jason Brown, Buddy Suggs and Gary Howard are currently the band performing with Johnny Cooper.

The Influences Continue:

Johnny was inspired and brought to the music world by watching Cody Canada, Wade Bowen and Bleu Edmondson perform live at local venues in Wichita Falls. Bob Childres, the Godfather of Red Dirt Music, during an interview for the Red Dirt (music) documentary film, "North of Austin/ West of Nashville: Red Dirt Music", recognized Johnny Cooper to be the fourth generation of the musical genre. Johnny finds inspiration from established artists like Stevie Wonder, Tom Petty, The Eagles, Hoyt Axton and Van Morrison along with country legends Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, and Jerry Jeff Walker. Johnny is also drawn to Jonny Lang, Sublime, Bob Marley, Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton and many of the classic rockers like Lynyrd Skynyrd, and AC/DC.

Touring:

As of Jan. 2007 and within the past 3 years, Johnny has performed with touring artists Cross Canadian Ragweed, Pat Green, Gary Allan, Jack Ingram, Jason Boland & the Stragglers, Shooter Jennings, Gary P. Nunn, The Bleu Edmondson Band, Wade Bowen and West 84, Stoney LaRue, The Mike McClure Band, Django Walker, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Cooder Graw, Susan Gibson, Tommy Alverson, Kevin Fowler, Cory Morrow, Charlie Robison, The Burtschi Bros., Micky and the Motorcars, Aaron Watson, The Randy Rogers Band, No Justice, Texas Jack, The Mike Mancy Band, Miranda Lambert, Deana Carter, LeeAnn Rimes, Trick Pony, Bobby Pinson, Billy Ray Cyrus, and Keith Anderson along with many other local and regional artists throughout Texas, New Mexico, Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma. At present, Johnny continues to headline his own shows while performing at fairs, festivals, concert arenas and nightclubs throughout the region.

Future Projects, Touring, and Fans:

Johnny is already several songs into the un-named 2008-2009 project and continues to write and perform his music with a passion and energy appreciated by musicians and fans of all ages. To date, his touring schedule with over 400 stops has taken him from Texas to Oklahoma, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas, and abroad to Ireland. His fans can be found all over the US and internationally in England, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Mexico, and beyond.

Contents

[edit] Genre

Rhythm and blues, Pop music, country, Texas Country, Red Dirt (music), and Southern rockGo to List of southern rock bands

[edit] Discography

“LIVE at the Pub” released 2005, recorded at the Iron Horse the Pub in Wichita Falls, TX and voted “Best Live CD of 2006” Payne County Line

“IGNITION” released 2006, Produced by Mike McClure, “Texas To You” climbed to 5 on 2007 Texas Music Chart “Let It All Go” climbed to 4 on 2007 Texas Music Chart "Devil Woman" released Jan. 12, 2008

[edit] The Johnny Cooper Band

History to Present Day

The AA Bottom Band (antonym for the famous Texas rock/blues band, ZZ Top) which was formed in 1988, played Texas bluesy/southern rock. The lineup remained constant for almost the entire duration of the group, a rarity. That original lineup included Jason Brown, James Dean, Buddy Suggs, and Clay White (Gary Hill, All Music Guide). Then in 2006 upon Clay’s departure, friend Gary Howard took over the drumming responsibilities. The AA Bottom Band had known Johnny since he was 7 years old. Johnny and the AA Bottom band continued to perform separately and together, but joined forces in late 2006 to perform full-time under the name Johnny Cooper.

JOHNNY COOPER - Lead and Acoustic - Guitar, Lead Vocals

JAMES "The Deanster" DEAN - Rhythm Guitar & Vocals, There was no particular single event that inspired him to play as he was exposed to music all of his life. At 10 years old, he sang in his first band, "Nite Raiders". Dean's musical influences are Paul Rogers, Mark Farner, and Ian Anderson. The best advice to aspiring musicians is, "To do it because you love it"!


BUDDY SUGGS - Bass & vocals, Buddy's various nicknames are "Awesomus Prime”, “Sledge” OR “The Sexiest Man in Showbiz". He was inspired to play music when he saw Pentecostal Church Band. His first band was the "Drones". If he could listen to 5 musicians for the rest of his life, they would be Willie Nelson, The Beatles, The Eagles, Stevie Wonder, and Johnny Cooper. He was also influenced by Grand Funk Railroad, and Elvis.

JASON BROWN -Lead guitar & vocals, Other instruments that he plays are Lap Steel, Mandolin, and Dobro His various nicknames are "JAYBO” OR “SASQUATCH”. He was inspired to play music by his Uncle David when he was 11 years old. At 13 years old, his first band was "Phantom Lourdes" where he played guitar. If he could only listen to 5 musicians for the rest of his life, it would be Larry Carlton, Al Dimeola, Billy Gibbons, Ted Nugent, and the original Alice Cooper Band. His most exciting event was the first Lynard Skynard Reunion in Dallas, TX in the Reunion Arena. Jason's music has been influenced by his uncle David Moore, Ted Nugent, and Ace Frehley. His best advice to aspiring musicians is, "Play what you love, play with soul, and don't quit.

GARY HOWARD -Drums, other instruments are all types of percussion, Gary's nicknames are “The Animal" or "The Decision-Maker". He was inspired to play music at 10 years old when he saw Slim Whitman perform. At 18 years old, he played drums for his first band, "Drambooie". If he could only listen to 5 musicians or bands for the rest of his life, it would be Queen, Eagles, & Led Zeppelin. Gary is most influenced by Buddy Rich, John Bonham, and Keith Moon. His most exciting event came when he opened with a band named "Stinger" for Molly Hatchet at Memorial Coliseum in Wichita Falls in April of 1979! "Do it ‘cause you love it, not for the money!" is Howard's advice to aspiring musicians.

[edit] Awards

“Texas Entertainer of the Year 2006 and 2007” Payne County Line

[edit] External links

[edit] Official, Fans, and Friends of Johnny Cooper

[edit] Articles & Press Releases About Johnny Cooper

[edit] Public Service Announcements, Film & Video, Radio, and Television featuring Johnny Cooper

Adopt a Box Program PSA

Wolfe Ford Radio Commercial

94.9 The Outlaw Red Dirt Radio Show

Red Dirt Documentary Film, "North of Austin/West of Nashville:Red Dirt Music", 2007

Biographical Video, "Meet Johnny Cooper", 2007

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