Sam Cooper plus various singers and co-writers--click individual song titles at www.jericat.com on the "songs" page (from among dozens) for songwriting credits as well as production/performance details and lyrics. All songs posted at that site can be heard there in their entirety and most are also available as 99-cent mp3 downloads.
Influences
Take a deep breath and try to recite these all in one sentence--Ray Charles, The Beatles, Delbert McClinton, Leon Russell, Edgar Winter, Jerry LaCroix, Johnny Winter, Rick Derringer, Bill & Will Champlin, Jack Mack & The Heart Attack, Mingo Fishtrap, John Prine, James Brown, Jerry Reed, Joni Mitchell, Eric Clapton (in his many incarnations), Les Paul, Chet Atkins, Bob Dylan, Randy Newman, Solomon Burke, Sam & Dave, Steve Winwood, B.B. King, Joe Cocker, Joni Mitchell, James Burton, The Coasters, Ricky Nelson, Elvis Presley, The Beach Boys, Steely Dan, Jimi Hendrix, The Staples Singers, William Bell, Bob Marley & The Wailers, Jimmy Page, Long John Baldry, Elton John, Lydia Pense, Rod Stewart, Roy Buchannan, Jerry Garcia, Tom Waits, The Band, Etta James, Dr. John, Jim Messina (in all of the acts he's been with and solo), Aretha Franklin, Roy Clark, The Allman Bros., (the original pre-Muslim) Cat Stevens, Rita Coolidge, The Eagles, Eddie Floyd, Otis Redding, Genya Ravan, ZZ Top, Buddy Holly, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young (individually and together), Amos Garrett, Patti LaBelle, Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes, Albert Lee, The Rolling Stones, Teddy Pendergrass, Marty Grebb, Bonnie Raitt, Chicago, Bonnie Bramlett, Bekka Bramlett, Delaney Bramlett, Bobby Whitlock, Stevie Wonder, Hall & Oates, Poco, Bobby Darin, Ray Stevens, Jerry Reed, Vanilla Fudge, Lee Michaels, J. Geils Band, Kenny Rogers, Black Sabbath, The James Gang, Deep Purple (with Ritchie Blackmore, of course), Jimmy Cliff, Night Ranger, David Lee Roth (what an attitude!), all of the 60's British Invasion acts, all of the great acts of Muscle Shoals, Memphis, Chicago, Austin, Nashville, New Orleans, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Frisco, NYC, Boston, (and of course) Motown, & Philly, anybody with obvious soul.
Sounds Like
HANG OUT HERE TO SEE ZILLIONS OF PHOTOS IN THE SLIDE SHOWS BELOW! THERE ARE SO MANY THAT IT MAY TAKE QUITE A WHILE FOR THEM ALL TO FINALLY LOAD UP IN THE SLIDE VIEWERS, BUT YOU CAN ALSO VIEW THE PICS MUCH FASTER BY GOING TO THE PHOTO ALBUMS (SEE "VIEW MY: PICS" LINK UNDER THE PHOTO OF THE "SAM COOPER BLVD." SIGN ABOVE). CHANCES ARE, IF YOU KNOW SAM, YOU ARE EITHER IN AT LEAST ONE OF THEM OR RECOGNIZE SOMEONE IN THEM!
HERE'S A VIDEO FROM A LIVE PERFORMANCE BY SAM IN 2003 OF SAM (ABOUT 50-60 LBS. HEAVIER THAN TODAY) SINGING THE CLASSIC MOTOWN TUNE "MY GIRL" (ORIGINALLY A SMASH HIT FOR THE TEMPTATIONS AND WRITTEN BY WILLIAM "SMOKEY" ROBINSON")--
THIS VIDEO WAS FROM SAM COOPER'S 1990 PERFORMANCE AT THE STONE PONY IN ASBURY PARK, NJ FOR THE JERSEY SHORE JAZZ & BLUES FESTIVAL. THE EMCEE WAS LEE MROWICKI, THE OTHER PLAYERS WERE BILLY HECTOR AND THE FAIRLANES (JOHN LURASCHI--BASS GUITAR, BILLY LILLY--HARMONICA, AND VAN ROMAINE--DRUMS) PLUS KAREN ASHTON.
Hold your cursor over any photo in the slide show to see the captions. They will identify the people of distinction and the guilty perpetrators. The sliding fader on the right controls the speed of the slide shows below. The longer you watch, the more photos that will begin to appear.
Various friends, co-writers, heroes and peers in the music business and performance photos.
Here's a few shots from the 2008 Nashville Songwriters Festival--June 2008
There's a new CD--"SAM COOPER BLVD." and here are some of Sam's friends with a replica of the actual sign on I-40 outside of Memphis, TN. If you have any photos of yourself by any of the signs in Memphis, send 'em to us.
Meanwhile....here's a slide show of some more of the friends and family of Sam Cooper--
And here's even more shots of Nashville friends and cohorts taken by Kat Speers--
Here's a blast from the past--photos of the first full-time band Sam was in (circa 1972-1976), SOUTHBOUND. Check out the old mutton chops and cheesy stage clothes. From that band came lasting memories and friendships. For those familiar with the song REGGAE SUMMER, Sam's co-writer was bandmate Henry Brostovski. The first gig was in the fall of 1972 at Middlesex County College and featured frontman Sal LoBue, guitarists Henry Brostovski, Frank Giordano and Sam Cooper, bass guitarist Pete Cody and drummer Jimmy Radler. With five vocalists and a lineup of great players, the band covered all genres and entertained throughout NJ and even upstate NY.
Here are a few memories of THE ACME BOOGIE COMPANY--flyers, promo stuff, articles and photos. The band started in 1983 and lasted until 1990. Quite a few great musicians passed through the ranks and even more jammed with the band over the course of it's existence--some with gold and platinum records on their walls.
Contact Sam Cooper directly at sam@jericat.com and/or 615-469-4067.
SAM COOPER BLVD. is now a thirteen song collection of tunes by Sam Cooper. Sam has performed from coast to coast and had music he's produced and/or co-written featured in over 300 radio markets since 2007. There are dozens and dozens of these and other tunes at www.jericat.com available for free listening and also $.99 downloads. Having started writing lyrics and music around 1970, Sam's production skills and co-writing bring him together with some of the more successful and respected collaborators as well as some of the rising writers and artists in the Nashville music scene and at the Jersey Shore.
OK--MAYBE YOU WANNA HEAR SAM WHEN YOUR CELL PHONE RINGS? WELL THE RINGTONES ARE UP AND YOU CAN PREVIEW THEM HERE AND JUST CLICK THE "GET IT" BUTTONS TO GET TO THE WEBSITE TO ORDER THEM--
The Red Heart Records release of artist/songwriter, Ray Dahrouge (www.myspace.com/RayDahrougeMusic), IT'S CHRISTMAS EVERYWHERE, is directly available there (also at CD Baby, Rhapsody Music, I-tunes, and most other major online distributors) in it's entirety. All songs are either written, co-written, produced, co-produced and/or performed on by Sam with credits and lyrics all posted at each song's individual page (just click on the song title).
From THE CD - "IT'S CHRISTMAS EVERYWHERE" by Ray Dahrouge [co-produced, co-performed, arranged and engineered by Sam Cooper] - The video for "MERRY MIAMI CHRISTMAS"
THE ORANGE MAN feature music video will feature guest roles including Kris Kristofferson, Jamey Johnson, Lee Roy Parnell, Two Foot Fred, Jimbeau Hinson and three of the four writers, Sam, Kate Stayner, and Chris Gantry. The fourth writer, who wasn't at the set, but deserves credit for the concept of the song, is Brenda Enderson. The producer is Nashville publisher Campbell Wright (Studio 33 Music) and the noted director is Ryan Hamblin. The cast of characters was a circus of wonderful songwriters and performers in the music scene. Here are some shots, most from the amazing camera lens of Kat Speers, from the tapings.
Sam's favorite photographer in Nashville is Kat Speers. One of her many strengths is capturing wonderful moments of performing musicians and these shots from the 2009 Songwriters Festival at Loretta Lynn's amazing ranch in Hurricane Mills, TN are just the tip of the iceberg. This was a wonderful collection of photos from 10-2-09 when Sam shared the stage with dear friends and amazing songwriters--Michael Rodgers, Jerry Foster and David Allds.
Hear great songwriters at this great station on the web--
Sam! I'm sending this comment, cause I can....LOL....How is jersey man doing? Can't wait til' thursday, gonna rock, gonna roll...and then some!! I feel a little better...not outta da' woods yet..but on my way! luv ya, mary hartman
You had a great set at Picks with Mary and that was a lot of fun jammin' with you at the Idle Hour later on....Fran said we sounded sorta like The Grateful Dead on the last song we did....hey, you've got Jerry Garcia covered....I'll grow my hair and do Bob Weir and we'll have it down....LOL.....seriously, that was a whole lot of fun. Let's do that again....Later Jay
YOU'RE ONLY GONE ONE FRIGGING DAY....AND I GOT "JERSEY" WITHDRAWL....ENJOY YOUR FAMILY SAM AND HAVE A GREAT THANKSGIVING!! As for me....working on a new song..gonna get it done...and maybe take in a movie on Turkey Day...and perhaps stop by Bobby's ....who knows? luv ya, mary hartman
HEY SAM, TRADE ASKED IF HE CAN GET A STEREO MIX OF JUST THE MUSIC ON CD OF "HOLIDAYS IN NEW ENGLAND". ALSO A CD WITH ME ALONE ON ONE SIDE & ALL THE MUSIC ON OTHER SIDE OF STEREO MIX. HE CAN GET IT ON 200 STATIONS THROUGH A PERSONAL FRIEND. HE THINKS HE CAN REALLY FIX IT UP. GAVE HIM THE CD. DOESN'T WANT TO SEND IT LIKE IT IS. IF YOU CAN'T DO IT , DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT. HOPE ALL IS WELL. GIVE MY BEST TO J.C., RAY
Sam!! WAS THAT A BLAST OR WHAT???? I got to get my hands on Jamey Johnson.....thank you....I was honored you guys asked me to play the "woman" along with Leroy Parnel who chased him down and cuffed him....Man, what I wouldn't give to write a tune with that man, eh? My songwriting idol.....Anyhoo, THANK YOU....you rock Jersey! luv ya, mary hartman
Hi Sam I enjoy your songs and guitar playing. You always enjoy yourself on stage and that makes it fun to listen to you. Hope to see you at a writers night again soon. Daniel Paul Of The Daniel Paul Band
not sure if you will remember me but when i was a kid we use to jam with you i had a black drummer named carl i phillipno guitart plaer named lit and my brother played bass and i sang a band called silent screams it was along time ago glad to be in contact again
SAM COOPER!! You frigging ROCK in my book...I don't think you even know how much! You have not a clue Jersey.....Just know you are loved by a very disfuncitional, emotional, outta da box inside out, upside down, VERY appreciatetive, funny, life loving fool!! BUT GUESS WHAT? You're the damn EXACT way!! GREAT attracts GREAT! Love you man, mary hartman
Sam!! Great "yapping" with ya today!! AND I FINALLY got a few word in edgewise!! LOLOLOLOLOL.....come on, who talks more? ME or YOU? YOU WIN!! lol.....luv ya jersey!! See ya soon! mary hartman
Hey Sam, You and your friends were awesome at the Not Up Tight Writers Nite at Pizza Pelon last night! Great harmonies too. Enjoyed your song show set very much! Joyce Medlock
ROCKING THE PLACE IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT FOR WHAT WE'LL DO AT BOBBY'S ON OCT. 22ND...WERE GONNA "TEAR THE ROOF OFF THE SUCKA!!" lol...WHO LOVES YA BABY???
thanks sam. yah this play is taking on a life of its own. just got word i'm doing a 10-show run in a soft seater (150 of those comfy seats) in late october... man, the promo side is the killer... who's got time to create...
