- The Cooper Brothers
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This article is about the rock band. For the accounting company, see PriceWaterhouseCoopers.
The Cooper Brothers 
Background information Genres Country rock Years active 1974 — present Labels Capricorn Records (1978-1983)
EMI Pacemaker (2006-present)Website The Cooper Brothers Members Brian Cooper
Dick Cooper
Rob Holtz
Darwin Demers
Ed Bimm
Jeff RogersPast members Terry King
Allan SerwaThe Cooper Brothers are a 70s Canadian southern rock band founded in Ottawa, Ontario, by brothers Brian Cooper and Dick Cooper and their long-time friend Terry King. Starting in 1974, the band released several singles under the production guidance of Les Emmerson (of the Canadian rock group Five Man Electrical Band, best known for the popular 70’s anthem “Signs”). The group had some early regional success with the tracks “Finally (With You) ” and “Miss Lonelyhearts” under the Polydor label.[1]
The band first gained international attention in the summer of 1978 when they signed with producer Gary Cape and then he signed the band to a long term major contract with Capricorn Records (famous for producing several of the most popular southern-rock acts of the time including: The Allman Brothers, Marshall Tucker, Wet Willie and Elvin Bishop). Over the next few years the Cooper Brothers released two albums produced by Cape under the Capricorn label, the self-titled, The Cooper Brothers and Pitfalls of the Ballroom. Both albums sold extremely well and the singles “The Dream Never Dies”, “Show Some Emotion” and “I’ll Know Her When I See Her”,[2] all charted on The Billboard Hot 100.[3]
Among their many critical accolades, the Cooper Brothers were voted Best New Group in 1978, Best MOR Group in 1979 and Best Overall Group in 1980 by Canadian Contemporary Music Programmers. In 1980, “The Dream Never Dies” also earned an A.S.C.A.P Award as one of the most performed songs on U.S radio. The song has subsequently been recorded by several other artists including Bill Anderson and Juice Newton, and was also the title theme for a feature length documentary on Canada’s National Ski team.
At the height of their career the band toured extensively throughout North America, opening for such diverse artists as: The Doobie Brothers, Black Oak Arkansas, Joe Cocker, Charlie Daniels, Atlanta Rhythm Section, McGuinn, Clark and Hillman and Seals and Crofts. In addition, the band worked with some of the most prolific musicians of the day including Chuck Leavell - the current keyboardist for The Rolling Stones - who played on the Cooper Brothers’ track “Ridin High.”
Despite their success, the band faced a dramatic transformation in late 1980, when Capricorn Records folded. The band however, would once again go into the studio with Cape producing but now the band was joined by Les Emmerson of Five Man Electrical Band. One more album was produced Learning to Live with It but with little success this time. Les Emmerson now lending his experience and expertise, the Cooper Brothers produced one last album – Reach for the Sky. This last album went unreleased and the band members parted ways shortly after in 1983.
In October 2006, the Cooper Brothers would reunite to release a CD collection of their most popular tracks entitled: The Best of the Cooper Brothers[4] under the EMI/Pacemaker label and the band performed for the first time on stage in over twenty years.
This led to a number of sold-out live dates throughout Southern Ontario including a memorable Ottawa Bluesfest concert with the band opening up for James Taylor in front of a crowd of over 25,000 people. The experience sparked Richard Cooper's muse again and he began writing songs. Before long the brothers had enough material for a new album and approached respected musician/producer and old friend Colin Linden. "When I heard the songs, I thought they sounded timeless. They were brimming with ideas. They weren't trivial and they were musically and lyrically so well thought out..." said Linden.
In September 2009 with Colin at the helm, the brothers went to Masterlink Studio in Nashville (Where Neil Young recorded Desert Moon) to begin recording with an impressive line-up of session musicians including: Audley Freed (Black Crowes, Jakob Dylan, Dixie Chicks) Dan Dugmore (Linda Rostadt, James Taylor) Kevin McKendree (Brian Seltzer, Lee Roy Parnell) Lynn Williams (John Hiatt, Delbert McClinton) and Steve Mackey (Trisha Yearwood)
"Nashville was so much fun," said Richard Cooper after the fall 2009 recording sessions. "Playing alongside musicians of that calibre was inspiring and Colin certainly managed to capture the vision I had for these songs... and then some."
After additional recording back in Ottawa and Toronto the CD was mixed in L.A. by John Whynot who has produced such artists as Colin James, Bruce Cockburn and Lucinda Williams.
In February 2010 the new Cooper Brothers album entitled "IN FROM THE COLD" will be released, featuring 12 brand new songs. The new CD also features a number of guest artists including Blue Rodeo's Jim Cuddy and - perhaps coming full circle - Capricorn alumni Delbert McClinton and Chuck Leavell.
The Cooper Brothers in Pictures - Then and Now
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The Original Cooper Brothers
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Civic Centre 1982 -
Brian Cooper -
Dick Cooper
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Brian & Darwin -
Jeff Rogers -
Cooper Brothers -
Brian Cooper
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Darwin Demers -
Barrymore's 2008 -
Rob Holtz
References
- ^ Cooper Brothers at Jam!
- ^ The Cooper Brothers at Top40db
- ^ The Cooper Brothers at Answers.com
- ^ The Best of the Cooper Brothers at Amazon
External links
Categories:- Canadian rock music groups
- Musical groups from Ottawa
- Musical groups established in 1974
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