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Roger Cook (songwriter)

May 19, 2023

Roger Frederick Cook (born 19 August 1940)[1] is an English singer, songwriter and record producer, who has written many hit records for other recording artists. He has also had a successful recording career in his own right.

Roger Cook
Roger Cook (1967)
Background information
Birth nameRoger Frederick Cook
Also known asRoger James Cooke
Born (1940-08-19) 19 August 1940 (age 82)
Fishponds, Bristol, England
OriginEngland
GenresPop
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter, record producer
Instrument(s)Vocals, guitar
Years active1960s–present
Websitewww.rogercook.com

He is best known for his collaborations with Roger Greenaway. Cook's co-compositions have included "You've Got Your Troubles", and the transatlantic million selling songs, "I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing"[2] and "Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress".[3] They were the first UK songwriting partnership to win an Ivor Novello Award as 'Songwriters of the Year' in two successive years.[4]

In 1997, Cook became the first and so far only British songwriter to enter the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.[1]

Biography

Early life

Cook was born in Fishponds, Bristol, England.[1] Most of the hits he has written have been in collaboration with Roger Greenaway, whom he originally met while they were members of a close harmony group, the Kestrels. Continuing on as a duo, Cook and Greenaway then had a brief but successful recording career between 1965 and 1967 as David and Jonathan, scoring hits with a cover version of the Beatles' "Michelle", and their own "Lovers of the World Unite".[5] They also penned their first hit as songwriters for others in 1965, with "You've Got Your Troubles", a UK number 2 and US number 7 for the Fortunes.[6][7]

As a performer Cook is best remembered as a member of Blue Mink, sharing lead vocals with Madeline Bell. The group was formed in 1969, primarily as a producer's outfit, featuring a wealth of top session musicians including Herbie Flowers (bassist), Alan Parker (guitarist), Roger Coulam (keyboardist) and Barry Morgan (drummer),[8] who were simultaneously members of the jazz / rock / big band fusion outfit CCS, another mainly recording act.

Over the next four years Blue Mink had several Top 20 entries, mostly co-written by Cook, the most successful being "Melting Pot" and "Banner Man", before they disbanded in 1974.[8]

Cook also sang backing vocals on some of the earliest recordings by Elton John,[8] and continued to record albums as a solo artist, including Study (1970), credited to Roger James Cooke, Meanwhile Back at the World (1972), Minstrel in Flight (1973) and Alright (1976).[1]

Major hits

Amongst hits he has written with others, including Greenaway and writers such as Albert Hammond, Mike Hazlewood and Tony Macaulay are "I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing" (The New Seekers), "Good Times, Better Times" (Cliff Richard), "Softly Whispering I Love You" (The Congregation), "Something's Gotten Hold of My Heart" (Gene Pitney), "Home Lovin' Man" (Andy Williams), "Blame It on the Pony Express" (Johnny Johnson and the Bandwagon), "Something Old, Something New" (The Fantastics), "Conversations" and "Something Tells Me (Something's Gonna Happen Tonight)" (Cilla Black), "I've Got You on My Mind", "When You Are a King" and "My Baby Loves Lovin'" (White Plains), "Gasoline Alley Bred" and "Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress" (The Hollies); "Freedom Come, Freedom Go" (The Fortunes), "Doctor's Orders" (Sunny), "I Was Kaiser Bill's Batman" (Whistling Jack Smith) and "Like Sister and Brother" (The Drifters). "Miracles" (Don Williams), Cook co-wrote "I Just Want to Dance with You" with John Prine; Prine recorded the song in 1986 for his album German Afternoons, and it was a hit for George Strait in 1998.[1]

Cook and Greenaway also wrote "High 'N' Dry" (Cliff Richard), which was the B-side of "Congratulations",[9] the runner-up song for the UK Eurovision Song Contest in 1968.[10]

Move to US

In 1975 Cook moved to the US and settled in Nashville, Tennessee, where he produced more hits including "Talking in Your Sleep" (Crystal Gayle in 1978, first recorded by Marmalade) and "Love Is on a Roll" (Don Williams).[1] In 1977 he produced The Nashville Album, a record by Chip Hawkes, who had recently left the Tremeloes (but would rejoin the group a few years thereafter). He also opened a publishing company with accomplished songwriter Ralph Murphy named Pic-A-Lic.

In 1992 he joined former Stranglers member Hugh Cornwell and guitarist Andrew West to release an album, CCW.[1] Later he turned to writing for the stage and he has worked on two musicals, Beautiful and Damned, based on the lives of Jazz Age author F. Scott Fitzgerald and his wife Zelda, in collaboration with Les Reed; and Don't You Rock Me Daddio, set in 1957 at the height of the skiffle age, with Joe Brown.

In 1997, Cook became the first (and so far only) British songwriter to enter the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.[1]

Cook's daughter, Katie, is a host/presenter for cable network CMT.[11]

Discography

Albums

  • Study (1970)
  • Meanwhile Back at the World (1972)
  • Minstrel in Flight (1973)
  • Alright (1976)[1]
  • Mother Tongue (1980)

As songwriter

Main article: List of songs written by Roger Cook and Roger Greenaway

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Huey, Steve (19 August 1940). "Roger Cook – Music Biography, Credits and Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved 5 March 2013.
  2. ^ Ami Sedghi (4 November 2012). "UK's million-selling singles: the full list". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 November 2012.
  3. ^ Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. pp. 313/4. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
  4. ^ "2009 Award and Induction Ceremony Induction Ceremonies". Songwriters Hall of Fame. Retrieved 5 March 2013.
  5. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 142. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  6. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 208. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  7. ^ "Roger Greenaway Timeline". Songwriters Hall of Fame. Retrieved 5 March 2013.
  8. ^ a b c "Blue Mink biography by Dave Thompson". Allmusic.com. Retrieved 10 February 2009.
  9. ^ "Cliff Richard - Congratulations". Discogs. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
  10. ^ "Massiel e Iñigo acusan a La Sexta de 'urdir todo para favorecer a Chikilicuatre'". Elmundo.es. Retrieved 6 April 2014.
  11. ^ Morton, Ken. . Engine 145. Archived from the original on 18 December 2014. Retrieved 1 October 2009.
  12. ^ a b "The "Hilltop" Ad: The Story of a Commercial". Memory.loc.gov. Retrieved 28 December 2012.
  13. ^ Martin C. Strong: The Great Rock Discography, Edinburgh/Ffm. 1996, ISBN 0-86241-604-3
  14. ^ Günter Ehnert (Hrsg.): Hit-Bilanz, Deutsche Chart Singles 1956–1980. Taurus-Press, Hamburg 1990, ISBN 3-922542-24-7, S. 51
  15. ^ Joel Whitburn: The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits. 7. Auflage. Billboard Books, New York 2000, ISBN 0-8230-7690-3, S. 214

External links

  • Who is Roger Cook? Official website
  • Roger Cook discography at Discogs
  • Roger Cook at AllMusic
  • Interview with Roger Cook in International Songwriters Association's "Songwriter Magazine"


May 19, 2023
roger, cook, songwriter, roger, frederick, cook, born, august, 1940, english, singer, songwriter, record, producer, written, many, records, other, recording, artists, also, successful, recording, career, right, roger, cookroger, cook, 1967, background, informa. Roger Frederick Cook born 19 August 1940 1 is an English singer songwriter and record producer who has written many hit records for other recording artists He has also had a successful recording career in his own right Roger CookRoger Cook 1967 Background informationBirth nameRoger Frederick CookAlso known asRoger James CookeBorn 1940 08 19 19 August 1940 age 82 Fishponds Bristol EnglandOriginEnglandGenresPopOccupation s Singer songwriter record producerInstrument s Vocals guitarYears active1960s presentWebsitewww wbr rogercook wbr com He is best known for his collaborations with Roger Greenaway Cook s co compositions have included You ve Got Your Troubles and the transatlantic million selling songs I d Like to Teach the World to Sing 2 and Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress 3 They were the first UK songwriting partnership to win an Ivor Novello Award as Songwriters of the Year in two successive years 4 In 1997 Cook became the first and so far only British songwriter to enter the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame 1 Contents 1 Biography 1 1 Early life 1 2 Major hits 1 3 Move to US 2 Discography 2 1 Albums 2 2 As songwriter 3 References 4 External linksBiography EditEarly life Edit Cook was born in Fishponds Bristol England 1 Most of the hits he has written have been in collaboration with Roger Greenaway whom he originally met while they were members of a close harmony group the Kestrels Continuing on as a duo Cook and Greenaway then had a brief but successful recording career between 1965 and 1967 as David and Jonathan scoring hits with a cover version of the Beatles Michelle and their own Lovers of the World Unite 5 They also penned their first hit as songwriters for others in 1965 with You ve Got Your Troubles a UK number 2 and US number 7 for the Fortunes 6 7 As a performer Cook is best remembered as a member of Blue Mink sharing lead vocals with Madeline Bell The group was formed in 1969 primarily as a producer s outfit featuring a wealth of top session musicians including Herbie Flowers bassist Alan Parker guitarist Roger Coulam keyboardist and Barry Morgan drummer 8 who were simultaneously members of the jazz rock big band fusion outfit CCS another mainly recording act Over the next four years Blue Mink had several Top 20 entries mostly co written by Cook the most successful being Melting Pot and Banner Man before they disbanded in 1974 8 Cook also sang backing vocals on some of the earliest recordings by Elton John 8 and continued to record albums as a solo artist including Study 1970 credited to Roger James Cooke Meanwhile Back at the World 1972 Minstrel in Flight 1973 and Alright 1976 1 Major hits Edit Amongst hits he has written with others including Greenaway and writers such as Albert Hammond Mike Hazlewood and Tony Macaulay are I d Like to Teach the World to Sing The New Seekers Good Times Better Times Cliff Richard Softly Whispering I Love You The Congregation Something s Gotten Hold of My Heart Gene Pitney Home Lovin Man Andy Williams Blame It on the Pony Express Johnny Johnson and the Bandwagon Something Old Something New The Fantastics Conversations and Something Tells Me Something s Gonna Happen Tonight Cilla Black I ve Got You on My Mind When You Are a King and My Baby Loves Lovin White Plains Gasoline Alley Bred and Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress The Hollies Freedom Come Freedom Go The Fortunes Doctor s Orders Sunny I Was Kaiser Bill s Batman Whistling Jack Smith and Like Sister and Brother The Drifters Miracles Don Williams Cook co wrote I Just Want to Dance with You with John Prine Prine recorded the song in 1986 for his album German Afternoons and it was a hit for George Strait in 1998 1 Cook and Greenaway also wrote High N Dry Cliff Richard which was the B side of Congratulations 9 the runner up song for the UK Eurovision Song Contest in 1968 10 Move to US Edit In 1975 Cook moved to the US and settled in Nashville Tennessee where he produced more hits including Talking in Your Sleep Crystal Gayle in 1978 first recorded by Marmalade and Love Is on a Roll Don Williams 1 In 1977 he produced The Nashville Album a record by Chip Hawkes who had recently left the Tremeloes but would rejoin the group a few years thereafter He also opened a publishing company with accomplished songwriter Ralph Murphy named Pic A Lic In 1992 he joined former Stranglers member Hugh Cornwell and guitarist Andrew West to release an album CCW 1 Later he turned to writing for the stage and he has worked on two musicals Beautiful and Damned based on the lives of Jazz Age author F Scott Fitzgerald and his wife Zelda in collaboration with Les Reed and Don t You Rock Me Daddio set in 1957 at the height of the skiffle age with Joe Brown In 1997 Cook became the first and so far only British songwriter to enter the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame 1 Cook s daughter Katie is a host presenter for cable network CMT 11 Discography EditAlbums Edit Study 1970 Meanwhile Back at the World 1972 Minstrel in Flight 1973 Alright 1976 1 Mother Tongue 1980 As songwriter Edit Main article List of songs written by Roger Cook and Roger Greenaway Banner Man with Roger Greenaway and Herbie Flowers Blue Mink 1971 UK No 3 Blame It On the Pony Express with Roger Greenaway and Tony Macaulay Johnny Johnson amp the Bandwagon 1970 UK No 7 Freedom Come Freedom Go with Roger Greenaway Albert Hammond and Mike Hazlewood the Fortunes 1971 UK No 6 Home Lovin Man with Roger Greenaway and Tony Macaulay Andy Williams 1970 UK No 7 I Believe in You with Sam Hogin 1980 Don Williams I Was Kaiser Bill s Batman with Roger Greenaway Whistling Jack Smith 1967 UK No 5 I d Like to Teach the World to Sing with Roger Greenaway Bill Backer and Billy Davis The Hillside Singers 1971 US No 13 12 The New Seekers 1971 UK No 1 1972 US No 7 12 If It Wasn t for the Reason That I Love You with Roger Greenaway Miki Anthony 1973 UK No 27 Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress with Roger Greenaway and Allan Clarke The Hollies 1972 UK No 32 US No 2 13 Melting Pot with Roger Greenaway Blue Mink 1969 UK No 3 Softly Whispering I Love You with Roger Greenaway The Congregation 1971 UK No 4 1972 Ger No 10 14 US No 29 15 Something Tells Me Something s Gonna Happen Tonight with Roger Greenaway Cilla Black 1971 UK No 3 Something s Gotten Hold of My Heart with Roger Greenaway Gene Pitney 1967 UK No 5 Marc Almond with Gene Pitney 1989 UK No 1 A Way of Life with Roger Greenaway Family Dogg 1969 UK No 6 You ve Got Your Troubles with Roger Greenaway The Fortunes 1965 UK No 2 1 I Just Want to Dance with You with John Prine 1986 Glory of True Love with John Prine 2005References Edit a b c d e f g h i j Huey Steve 19 August 1940 Roger Cook Music Biography Credits and Discography AllMusic Retrieved 5 March 2013 Ami Sedghi 4 November 2012 UK s million selling singles the full list The Guardian Retrieved 4 November 2012 Murrells Joseph 1978 The Book of Golden Discs 2nd ed London Barrie and Jenkins Ltd pp 313 4 ISBN 0 214 20512 6 2009 Award and Induction Ceremony Induction Ceremonies Songwriters Hall of Fame Retrieved 5 March 2013 Roberts David 2006 British Hit Singles amp Albums 19th ed London Guinness World Records Limited p 142 ISBN 1 904994 10 5 Roberts David 2006 British Hit Singles amp Albums 19th ed London Guinness World Records Limited p 208 ISBN 1 904994 10 5 Roger Greenaway Timeline Songwriters Hall of Fame Retrieved 5 March 2013 a b c Blue Mink biography by Dave Thompson Allmusic com Retrieved 10 February 2009 Cliff Richard Congratulations Discogs Retrieved 17 November 2017 Massiel e Inigo acusan a La Sexta de urdir todo para favorecer a Chikilicuatre Elmundo es Retrieved 6 April 2014 Morton Ken Interviewing the Interviewer CMT s Katie Cook Engine 145 Archived from the original on 18 December 2014 Retrieved 1 October 2009 a b The Hilltop Ad The Story of a Commercial Memory loc gov Retrieved 28 December 2012 Martin C Strong The Great Rock Discography Edinburgh Ffm 1996 ISBN 0 86241 604 3 Gunter Ehnert Hrsg Hit Bilanz Deutsche Chart Singles 1956 1980 Taurus Press Hamburg 1990 ISBN 3 922542 24 7 S 51 Joel Whitburn The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits 7 Auflage Billboard Books New York 2000 ISBN 0 8230 7690 3 S 214External links EditWho is Roger Cook Official website Roger Cook discography at Discogs Roger Cook at AllMusic Interview with Roger Cook in International Songwriters Association s Songwriter Magazine Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Roger Cook songwriter amp oldid 1150399751, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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