Roger Cook (songwriter)
Roger Cook | |
|---|---|
 Roger Cook (1967) | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Roger Frederick Cook |
| Also known as | Roger James Cooke |
| Born | 19 August 1940 Fishponds, Gloucestershire, England |
| Origin | England |
| Genres | Pop |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter, record producer |
| Instrument(s) | Vocals, guitar |
| Years active | 1960s–present |
| Website | www |
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.
He is best known for his collaborations with
In 1997, Cook became the first 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
Over the next four years Blue Mink had several Top 20 entries, mostly co-written by Cook, the most successful being "Melting Pot" and "The 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
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 the USA
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
In 1997, Cook became the first British songwriter to enter the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.[1]
Cook's daughter, Katie, is a host/presenter for cable network
Discography
Albums
- Study (1970)
- Meanwhile Back at the World (1972)
- Minstrel in Flight (1973)
- Alright (1976)[1]
- Mother Tongue (1980)
As songwriter
- "Banner Man" (with Roger Greenaway and Herbie Flowers) Blue Mink, 1971 UK No. 3
- "Johnny Johnson & 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
- "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) 2005
References
- ^ 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.
- ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
- ^ "2009 Award and Induction Ceremony Induction Ceremonies". Songwriters Hall of Fame. Retrieved 5 March 2013.
- ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- 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. 1968. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
- ^ "Massiel e Iñigo 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.
- ISBN 0-86241-604-3
- ISBN 3-922542-24-7, S. 51
- 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"
