| Jeff Cook | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 27, 1949 Fort Payne, Alabama, USA |
| Genres | Country |
| Occupations | Musician Songwriter |
| Instruments | Vocals Guitar Fiddle Bass Keyboards Banjo Mandolin |
| Years active | 1973-present |
| Labels | RCA Project One Digital |
| Associated acts | Alabama |
Jeffery A. "Jeff" Cook (born August 27, 1949 in Fort Payne, Alabama) is an American musician who is best known as one of the founding members of the country music group Alabama.
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]