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Event
Dana Cooper w/ Bill Edwards
Out of the heartland of America, stomping grounds of Truman and Twain, powerhouse troubadour Dana Cooper dedicated himself to a life of music over 40 years ago. This song poet He is the recipient of the 2014 Heritage Musician award from Pilgrim Center for the Arts in Kansas City, MO. He was also named the 2015 Spirit of Folk award winner by Folk Alliance International. He has performed on Austin City Limits, Mountain Stage and the Kerrville Folk Festival where he was nominated for their Hall of Fame. Coopers songs have been recorded by top-notch artists such as bluegrass star Claire Lynch; Irish vocalist Maura OConnell; and luminary songwriters Pierce Pettis and Susan Werner. Coopers mixture of flat-picking, finger-picking and percussive strumming style is legend among other guitarists. An expressive singer his voice is ageless evoking a rich lifetime of experience.
At 12 he sang, played drums, guitar and harmonica in local bands. By 13 he began writing his own songs and at 16 he performed regularly at the prestigious Vanguard Coffeehouse in Kansas City. His deep love and commitment to a life of music drew Cooper away from an art scholarship. Cooper took to the road touring midwest college coffeehouses for one year then sold an electric guitar and his entire record collection to buy a one-way ticket to Los Angeles. Four months later he was signed to Elektra Records where his eponymous first album was released in 1973. The record features such acclaimed players as Leland Sklar, Russ Kunkel and Jim Horn.
Years later he returned to San Francisco City College to study another great love, horticulture. Still he played whenever possible in clubs all over the Bay Area. Coopers diverse experiences as a taxi driver, warehouseman, nurses aid, gardener, waiter and touring musician continued to bring maturity and depth to his songwriting.
Cooper eventually moved to Texas writing, performing and recording with Shake Russell in the late 70s and with his own power trio, DC3 during the early 80s. Returning to his roots as a solo performer Cooper relocated to Nashville in 1988. He has become an integral figure in the Music City songwriting community collaborating with renowned writers such as Tom Kimmel, Sally Barris, Kim Carnes and Don Henry. Cooper has been invited to participate in songwriting workshops from Belfast to Copenhagen to Austin.
His prolific endeavors have resulted in 20 albums. The critically acclaimed Miracle Mile on Compass Records was nominated for a Nashville Music Award as Best Pop Album and was chosen by Performing Songwriter magazine as one of the top DIY recordings for the year. Harry Truman Built a Road was named one of the best records of 2002 by The Tennessean and was also chosen as one of the top twelve DIY recordings for that year. Made of Mud released on King Easy Records in 2005 won Cooper the Best Male Songwriter Award by Indie Acoustic Project. Working with co-producer/guitarist Thomm Jutz, Cooper released Building a Human Being in September, 2015. This is Coopers 25th album and its gaining momentum on Americana radio stations all over the US.
Robert K. Oermann in Music Row Magazine says of Building a Human Being Nashville veteran Cooper wins the Disc of the Day prize. Highly recommended.
Fellow singer songwriter Buzz Holland says Cooper is a person who can sing like an angel and play like the devil.
Legendary Texas singer songwriter Eric Taylor said of Coopers performance at Kerrville Fall Festival 2015 Dana Cooper gave the best solo performance Ive seen and heard for many years. Could be the best Ive ever.
Bill Edwards is both a master of the songwriting craft as well as a seasoned and compelling performer.
Having started his career in the singer-songwriter scene in Buffalo, NY in the 70s, his journey has led him through bluegrass to country-rock, back to singer-songwriter and most recently to classic country. He claims Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell as formative influences, and says hes most at home in the rich fields theyve tilled so ably.
All along the way, the constant has been songwriting. Bill won the Country division of Billboards national songwriting contest and his songs have been recorded by other artists and featured on TV and on the silver screen. Hes held staff-writer positions in Nashville and studied the craft at the feet of masters.
Bill can more than hold his own with both acoustic and electric guitar, and sings with an expressive voice that brings his songs to life like no one elses. Years of shows for audiences small and large have honed his performance skills, whether solo, with his trio or with the six-piece Bill Edwards Band.
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LocationTrinity House Theatre (View)
38840 West Six Mile
Livonia, MI 48152
United States
Categories
| Kid Friendly: Yes! |
| Dog Friendly: No |
| Non-Smoking: Yes! |
| Wheelchair Accessible: No |
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