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Gerry Cooper
Blues / Acoustic

"GERRY COOPER: old blues, ragtime tunes and more..."

West Yorkshire,
United Kingdom

Profile Views:  9049




Last Login:  7/20/2008
View My: Pics | Videos

   Contacting Gerry Cooper

 MySpace URL: 
  http://www.myspace.com/gerrycooper  

   Gerry Cooper: General Info
Member Since8/24/2006
Band Websitegerrycoopermusic.co.uk
Band MembersGerry Cooper - guitars and vocals
InfluencesStarted off with early rock and roll (Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard, Buddy Holly) largely due to my older sister Ursula and cousin Pat. School-friend turned me on to jazz: spent hours at his house smoking, wearing a black polo-neck, drinking black coffee and listening to Miles Davis, Bird, Charles Mingus, John Coltrane, MJQ, Brubeck, Joe Pass - not bad for a 14-year old! Then the Beatles and the Rolling Stones and the whole 60s UK blues and folk scenes led me to Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Bert Jansch, Davy Graham, John Renbourn, Ralph McTell, Wizz Jones, Carthy & Swarbrick.

From these artists' influences came my first real exposure to the old country blues and I've been hooked ever since. I've learned something valuable from almost every other musician I've ever heard, seen or worked with; sometimes I have learned how NOT to do things. Most recently I've learned and absorbed huge amounts from local blues musicians such as Steve Phillips, Brendan Croker (both perhaps best known for membership of The Notting Hillbillies with Mark Knopfler, but great artists in their own right), Roger Sutcliffe and Dave Speight, and from other acoustic musicians such as The Hall Brothers, Duncan McFarlane and Gerry McNeice.

Favourite old time blues artists are Blind Blake, Robert Johnson, Willie McTell, Lemon Jefferson, Willie Johnson, Charlie Patton, Muddy Waters, Fred McDowell, Big Bill Broonzy, Son House, John Hurt, Rev. Gary Davis, Bessie Smith and Lonnie Johnson.

And I also admire BB King, Eric Clapton, Mark Knopfler, Tom Waits, Randy Newman, Rory Block, Julie Ellison, Stefan Grossman, Michael Messer, Peter Green, Catfish Keith, Hans Theessink, Maggie Boyle, John Hammond, Richard Thompson, JoAnn Kelly (may she rest in peace), Doc Watson, Earl Scruggs, Nickel Creek, antbear, Chris Hladowski, Martin Simpson, Woody Mann, Gary Boyle... there are so many great artists around to listen to. Go seek out their gigs, listen to their music and buy their CDs!

Many of these artists have websites or myspace sites; some of them are my 'friends'; visit them and enjoy their music.

Sounds LikeGerry Cooper aged sixty...
Record LabelBig Thumb
Type of LabelIndie





   Upcoming Shows ( view all )
Aug 23 2008 4:00P
Rodley Beer and Music Festival Leeds, West Yorkshire
Aug 27 2008 8:30P
Otley Folk Club Otley, West Yorkshire
Sep 3 2008 8:30P
Carpe Diem Leeds Leeds, West Yorkshire
Sep 5 2008 8:00P
Haworth Festival of Arts and Music (details tbc) West Yorkshire
Sep 16 2008 8:00P
Saltaire Festival (details TBC) West Yorkshire
Sep 18 2008 8:00P
Otley Folk Festival (details tbc) West Yorkshire
Sep 19 2008 8:00P
Otley Folk Festival (details tbc) West Yorkshire
Sep 20 2008 8:00P
Otley Folk Festival (details tbc) West Yorkshire
Sep 21 2008 8:00P
Otley Folk Festival (details tbc) West Yorkshire
Sep 23 2008 8:00P
Chorley FM Lancashire, UK
Nov 2 2008 8:30P
The Red Lion, Otley West Yorkshire
Nov 9 2008 8:30P
LiveSpace, Hebden Bridge West Yorkshire

Gerry Cooper's Latest Blog Entry  [Subscribe to this Blog]

South as ever was...  (view more)

Hello out there!  (view more)

On the road again...  (view more)

Good Rockin' Tonight!!  (view more)

TOPIC FOLK CLUB at 50!  (view more)

[View All Blog Entries]

   About Gerry Cooper
Born in Newcastle upon Tyne, England, a very long time ago.... Started playing the guitar in 1964 and haven't stopped since. Played in all kinds of bands over the years: rock'n'roll, Irish rock, country, pit orchestras for musicals, church groups... Left teaching in 2002 and now make a nuisance of myself playing old country blues and ragtime tunes in folk clubs, pubs, church halls, festivals and anywhere else I can sneak in without people noticing. I've issued two CDs so far: Big Road Blues (2004); My Train Is Waiting (2006)

I usually work solo but have many musical friends I occasionally collaborate with.

I don't have enough guitars (if you know how many you have, you don't have enough...) but I like the ones I have, which include a Martin 000-28, Ozark 3515 customised resophonic and a Freshman 12-string. They are the ones I usually play in public. I also play harmonica, mandolin, bouzouki, 5-string banjo (badly) and can plunk on piano a little.

WHAT THEY SAY...

"Gerry's got a real feel for the music in all its many forms, and a great gift for making it interesting for the listener as well as the performer!" NetRhythms co.uk review of My Train Is Waiting

"Bradford-based Gerry Cooper plays acoustic blues, and he does it very well indeed. If you haven't seen him, grab this opportunity with both hands: you won't regret it!" (Otley Folk Festival programme, 2006)

"Gerry is a blues player and singer of some standing [trying] to keep the proper old country blues alive and in peoples' minds until the next 'blues boom' comes along..." (Masham Music Festival programme, 2006)

"[The CD] Big Road Blues is highly recommended for anyone who loves the blues well played and well sung with impeccable taste and savvy." (Review of Big Road Blues in Folk Roundabout, issue 137)

"In my opinion, Gerry is one of the undersung heroes of the West Yorkshire scene." (David Kidman, netrhythms.com)

TOP GIGS OF THE RECENT PAST

18 JUNE 2003 Returned to to the acoustic/folk scene after an absence of eight years with a floor-spot at Otley Folk Club, thanks to The Hall Brother

24 MAY 2004 First full solo gig at the famous Grove Inn, Holbeck Leeds, home of the Stormy Monday Blues Club.

5 NOVEMBER 2004 Korks Wine Bar, Otley: support for Steve Phillips & Brendan Croker.

25 FEBRUARY 2005 Support at Otley Jazz Lounge for Maggie, Scott and Gary, aka Boyle-Devine-Boyle.

17 JUNE 2005 Town Hall, Masham: opened first main concert of first Black Sheep Music Festival.

2 JULY 2005 Acoustic Sessions Guitar Workshop, Victoria Hall, Saltaire. At the evening concert I had one of my heroes playing second guitar on one of my songs: Woody Mann.

4 JUNE 2006 Sunday Evening Session, freshradio, Skipton. First solo radio appearance.

16 JUNE 2006 Second Black Sheep Music Festival at Masham: support for Harvey Andrews.

17 JUNE 2006 Shared a blues guitar workshop with Steve Phillips.

17 JUNE 2006 Main evening concert, Masham Town Hall: myself, Steve Phillips, The Hamsters.

23rd FEBRUARY 2007 First appearance at The Courthouse in Otley, on the same bill as The Hall Brothers & John Carey and the splendid Steve Tilston.


   Gerry Cooper's Friend Space (Top 28)
Gerry Cooper has 638 friends.
 Blind Blake 


 Big Bill Broonzy 


 Rev. Gary Davis 


 Blind Boy Fuller 


 John Hurt 


 Son House 


 Mance Lipscomb 


 TAMPA RED 


 Tommy Johnson 


 charley patton 


 Bukka White 


 Yank Rachell 


 Michael Messer 


 Gerry McNeice 


 Ani 


 Duncan McFarlane Band 


 The Hall Brothers 


 TONY LEVY 


 Russell Walker Late Show - Leeds, Sheffield & York 


 Christopher Brant Anderson 


 Julie Ellison 


 dave speight 


 Peter Krengel 


 Allan Taylor 


 Steve Phillips 


 Hans Theessink 


 Dire Straits 


 Steve Tilston - New Songs Up 





Gerry Cooper's Friends Comments
Displaying 50 of 229 comments  ( View All | Add Comment )
Acoustic Max





Jul 19 2008 1:28 PM

Hi Gerry,
thanks for finding me on myspace, great picking here. I'm cooking a chilli and enjoying the music.
All the best,
max
Musician's Centre Bradford





Jul 10 2008 6:09 AM

Hello Gerry Cooper!

Worthstock Music Festival 2008 is almost here! Friday 1st August, Saturday 2nd August and Sunday 3rd August will see over 90 bands perform on 3 varied stages.
With stalls, entertainment, licensed bar, cider tent and overnight camping; it's going to be a weekend by the river to remember!

Tickets are still available priced at £30 for the whole weekend (including camping)! Weekend tickets can be purchased from the Musicians Centre's in Keighley, Bradford and Hebden Bridge and HERE ONLINE.
(Ticket prices will be more on the door, day tickets can only be purchased online)

View The 2008 Lineup
Buy Your Tickets
www. worthstock. org



Feel free to download our poster and spread it around the interweb. Particularly adventurous people can print it out and leave it somewhere for others to see. Like sharing a bag of awesome sweets!

See you at Worthstock!
Jessicas Ghost





Jul 3 2008 12:50 PM

Hi Gerry, thanks for the add request. Looking forward to playing with you in Clitheroe soon!
Jessicas Ghost x
Cool Acoustics Promotions





Jul 3 2008 11:36 AM

Hi Gerry,

Is the 3rd Sept at Carpe Diem a Defo Booking now? I thought I read somewhere 'tbc'.
G7th Capos





Jun 30 2008 7:04 PM

Musician's Centre Bradford





Jun 20 2008 5:59 AM

Massive sale coming up on guitars, drum kits and all sorts.


Day one, all Price Drop items are reduced.
Every day after the price gets lower and lower until they're sold!





In Keighley, Hebden Bridge and Bradford stores only!

www. musicianscentre. com
Ani





Jun 13 2008 1:26 AM

Hi Gerry
Thanks for playing the courthouse yesterday!
Great gig, love the original songs.=)

Ani xx
The Devil’s Jukebox





Jun 10 2008 2:41 PM

THIS FRIDAY: our last one for a while…
The Devil’s Jukebox





Jun 3 2008 12:51 PM

D.JsBlues Bar





May 30 2008 4:44 AM

the incredible mister C,
thanks for the add and the chats....
beautiful picking!
Dj
The Devil’s Jukebox





May 27 2008 11:57 AM

THIS FRIDAY…
TONY LEVY





May 26 2008 2:45 AM

The Devil’s Jukebox





May 17 2008 11:28 AM

the Amazing Doug!





May 13 2008 7:50 AM

Thanks for stopping by

Enjoy the Music
Alex Lynn





May 11 2008 5:26 AM

I love it. Thanks for having me.

Alex
The Lovesick Cowboys





May 5 2008 4:59 AM

Hello from The Lovesick Cowboys...

LSCB Flyer - Hank Williams tribute

9 May 2008 20:00
Milan’s Cafe Harrogate

9 May 2008 22:00
Ray’s Barn Harrogate

10 May 2008 21:00
Drover Country & Western Club Stoke-on-Trent

23 May 2008 22:00
Leeds University Radio, Western Frontier Show, Leeds

24 May 2008 20:00
Pat Garrett’s Spring Roundup (Country and Western Festival) Tyne and Wear

26 May 2008 14:30
Wills O’ Nats (Festival with Storm & J.B. Goode) Huddersfield

8 Jun 2008 20:00
The Waiting Room Middlesborough

14 Jun 2008 21:00
The Grove Leeds

15 Jun 2008 15:00
The Sair, Huddersfield

20 Jun 2008 19:30
The Court House @ Otley (With Tanya Rice & Christopher Brant Anderson) Otley

28 Jun 2008 21:00
The White Hart Holmfirth, Nr Huddersfield

11 Jul 2008 20:00
The Gassienda (Grand Ol’ Opry style show) Keighley

12 Jul 2008 21:00
Wedding Party - Adel Leeds

13 Jul 2008 15:00
The Station Tavern Huddersfield

15 Jul 2008 22:30
The Russell Walker Late show (BBC Radio Leeds) Leeds (BBC)

31 Jul 2008 21:30
Monmouth Music Festival Monmouth

16 Aug 2008 14:00
Unity Day Leeds

16 Aug 2008 21:00
The Grove Leeds

19 Aug 2008 21:00
The Junction Otley

6 Sep 2008 21:00
Cellar Bar Batley

13 Sep 2008 20:00
The Black Cotton Club London
www.Strings.ie





May 2 2008 3:44 AM

Hi there
D'addario/Martin Spring Sale
Stock up - offer ends soon!

Kind regards,
Strings. ie




www. strings. ie


myspace. com/stringsireland

Flossie Malavialle





Apr 27 2008 4:15 PM

Merci beaucoup pour tes voeux! C'est tres gentil. J'espere que tu vas bien aussi.
A tres bientot sur la route des festivals!
Amitiés,
Flossie xx
TONY LEVY





Apr 27 2008 4:33 AM



Sunday 4th May 2008 (Bank Holiday)

Tony Levy & Craig Bevan

The Red Lion, Kirkgate, Otley LS21 3HN

Doors 8:30pm.

Free entry.





Christopher Brant Anderson





Apr 19 2008 5:43 PM

To my brother from another mother and my sister from another mister...your prayers fell upon my ears so sweet, I clicked my heels, danced a short gig and raised my eyes to the heavens in thanks of our friendship.
With Love !
Richard Staines





Apr 15 2008 1:55 PM