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Although born in the heartland of America in Minnesota, Cooper has spent the last 15 years living and working between his farm in Pennsylvania and NYC. But you wouldn't know it listening to him lay down tracks for his new album Made in America. Cooper is living testimony that country is a place in the heart, not a place on the map. So how, among the concrete and noise of the New York City streets, did he find his way to country music.
At a very young age Cooper had a calling, but it wasn't music. He wanted to help people through their darkest hours and found that purpose as a psychologist. After receiving his doctorate degree in clinical psychology, he left his home in the heartland and moved to where many would consider the Mecca of psychotherapy – New York City. During his career, he has helped hundreds of families deal with addiction, trauma, obesity and illnesses such as cancer and AIDS as well as the aftermath of 9-11. From his work with patients in prisons, city projects, hospitals and clinics, Cooper has seen it all...and those stories live in his music.
''Life in the city is as all-American as what's going on in the South or the Midwest. We all love; we all hurt; we all have lasting memories of a simpler time. When you come right down to it – the problems and joys we all experience are very much the same''. Which is why, for his sophomore album, Made In America, he's drawing from his big-city experiences and his small-town roots to create a cutting-edge ''Urban-Country'' sound.
This former Minnesota choirboy hasn't forgotten his rural roots though. Many of his songs are inspired by his youth whether he's hitting the back roads in his Ford on the energetic ''Midnight Drive'', sketching scenes from his hometown in the nostalgic ''Cross Creek'' or honoring hometown workers in ''Made in America''.
To keep his hands in the dirt and his truck on the road, Coop regularly escapes to his farm in Pennsylvania, where he tends to his chickens and works on restoring his barn. Ask him about his environmental mission and he lights up. ''Taking responsibility for the planet is really about taking care of our children's futures,'' he says passionately. Taking care of the environment is what inspired his Small Change Big Planet Tour, which kicked off in Boston. The PA system is generated by a human powered bicycle providing ''clean and green'' energy! This summer he is going nationwide with his Small Change Big Planet tour along with several NASCAR events, as well as launching his online cooking show 'Cowboy Kitchen'.
This past year Coop has opened for Trace Adkins, Craig Morgan, Kevin Bacon /The Bacon Brothers and Bob Guiney. In a very short time he is gaining international recognition and has airplay on over 530 radio stations worldwide.
Coop is all about playing live. He has played to sold-out crowds at The Cutting Room and Crash Mansion in New York City, the NYC AIDS Walk In Central Park, the National 4th of July Celebration in Washington, DC, Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, The Mohegan Sun Casino and Nashville's Wildhorse Saloon at the CMA Music Festival for ABC TV. He recently wrote the title track off his upcoming record 'Made In America', for John Ratzenberger's (Cliff from television's Cheers) Travel Channel show 'Made in America'. Coop’s 2008 Northeast Summer Tour will be making stops in Washington D.C., New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, Massachusetts and Vermont. Coop will also be performing at the Watkins-Glenn NASCAR event this August.
A Country Fan’s Point Of View
Cooper Boone is such an inspiration to me, first of all how he dedicated his life to helping others in need and then deciding to follow his dream no matter what the cost, is admirable to say the least.
Cooper is also a huge inspiration to me because he is a country artist performing in New York City! Just when you feel like you are the only country fan living in the land of the forgotten you find this truly talented artist and he is right here in your back yard. It was like YES we can bring country music to the City, it is possible.
I was fortunate enough to catch a few of Coop’s shows and was captivated by his soft soothing voice and the lyrics that just pull you in and take you along for the ride. At his show at the Cutting Room in NYC it was amazing to watch how he can jump on stage and take control of the entire room. He is down to earth and you can tell the moment he takes the stage that he really, really loves performing and believes in his music and that is so important. There wasn’t a dry eye in the crowd when Cooper performed “Celia’s Hands” and he can go from a song with such depth and emotion dedicated to his grandmother to “Made in America” and the crowd transformers from being brought back to think of their grandmother’s into pride and honor for this Country.
It is so comforting to know that there are many country music fans living in NYC and they all flock to Cooper Boone’s shows, he is a big factor in promoting country music in this City. At the Cutting Room show I noticed something that really affected me, when Coop sang Little Big Town’s “Boondocks” not many people in the crowd knew the song at all, since there is really no exposure for country radio here, but they loved it! They were tapping their feet and really enjoyed the music, wishing they knew the lyrics so they could sing along. This made me even more determined to get Country on the map here and not give up. It is really a shame that people in this area are not exposed to these songs, I know we can relate for sure. Thank you Cooper Boone for your talent and bringing country to the city!
I am confident that we will be hearing a lot more from Coop and I would not be surprised if he is on Country Radio Real Soon!
Check out Cooper Boone’s MySpace or his official website to hear his tunes and see when he is performing in your area, I promise you will not be disappointed!
How long have you been playing, writing music, and singing? (if all apply)
MY WHOLE LIFE
What show/performance stands out the most in your music Career and why?
Opening for Craig Morgan was amazing! The sound, the fans, the vibe….unforgettable.
World touring with songs that make a difference and co-writing with killer writers from all genres.