Don Cook
Encyclopedia
Don Kirby Cook is an American record producer
and songwriter
whose work is mainly in the field of country music
. Artists who recorded Cook's material include Barbara Mandrell
, John Conlee
, Mark Collie
, Wade Hayes
and Brooks & Dunn
. Cook's production work began in the early 1990s when he worked with Brooks & Dunn.
at age fourteen. He played at various clubs and coffeehouses in Houston, Texas
during his teenage years, and moved to Nashville, Tennessee
through the suggestion of a friend. Through the assistance of Don Gant
, he signed with Acuff-Rose Music
. In the 1980s, Cook had several cuts that were released as singles, including "Lady Lay Down
" by John Conlee
, which was Cook's first Number One as a songwriter.
Cook co-wrote "Brand New Man
", the first single release by Brooks & Dunn
, and was asked to produce for the duo as well. At first, he was reluctant, but he was encouraged to keep producing after the commercial success of Brooks & Dunn's debut album. Over time, Cook produced most of Brooks & Dunn's material, including thirteen of their songs which went to Number One. Other artists who released his work as singles include Mark Collie
, Wade Hayes
, Lari White
and Steve Wariner
.
In 1994, Cook was named Chief Creative Officer and Senior Vice President of Sony/ATV Music Publishing
. He retired from both positions in 2004, but has continued to write songs.
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
and songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
whose work is mainly in the field of country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
. Artists who recorded Cook's material include Barbara Mandrell
Barbara Mandrell
Barbara Ann Mandrell is an American country music singer best known for a 1970s–1980s series of Top 10 hits and TV shows that helped her become one of country's most successful female vocalists of the 1970s and 1980s...
, John Conlee
John Conlee
John Conlee is an American country music singer. Between 1978 and 2004, Conlee charted a total of thirty-two singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts and recorded eleven studio albums...
, Mark Collie
Mark Collie
George Mark Collie is an American country music artist and occasional actor. He has released eight albums, and has charted 16 singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts. His highest peaking singles are "Even the Man in the Moon Is Cryin'" at #5, and "Born to Love You" at #6, from 1992 and...
, Wade Hayes
Wade Hayes
Tony Wade Hayes is an American country music artist. Signed to Columbia Records in 1994, he made his debut that year with his gold-certified album Old Enough to Know Better...
and Brooks & Dunn
Brooks & Dunn
Brooks & Dunn was an American country music duo consisting of Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn, who were both vocalists and songwriters. They were paired by record producer Tim DuBois in 1990. Before the duo's foundation, both members of the duo were solo recording artists...
. Cook's production work began in the early 1990s when he worked with Brooks & Dunn.
Musical career
Don Cook began writing songs at age twelve and recorded his first demoDemo (music)
A demo version or demo of a song is one recorded for reference rather than for release. A demo is a way for a musician to approximate their ideas on tape or disc, and provide an example of those ideas to record labels, producers or other artists...
at age fourteen. He played at various clubs and coffeehouses in Houston, Texas
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
during his teenage years, and moved to Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
through the suggestion of a friend. Through the assistance of Don Gant
Don Gant
Donald W. Gant was an American singer, songwriter and record producer.With Tupper Saussy, in the late 1960s he formed "The Neon Philharmonic." Singing vocals, with Saussy on the keyboards, they recorded five singles and two albums for Warner Bros. Records between 1969 and 1971...
, he signed with Acuff-Rose Music
Acuff-Rose Music
Acuff-Rose Music was an American music publishing firm formed by Roy Acuff and Fred Rose in Nashville, Tennessee. Acuff-Rose's honest behavior towards their writers set them apart from other music publishing firms at the time and lead them to fame throughout the 50's, 60's, 70's.-History:Acuff-Rose...
. In the 1980s, Cook had several cuts that were released as singles, including "Lady Lay Down
Lady Lay Down
"Lady Lay Down is a 1978 single written by Rafe VanHoy and Don Cook and recorded by John Conlee. "Lady Lay Down" would be John Conlee's second country hit and his first of seven number ones on the country chart. The single stayed at number one for one week and spent a total of twelve weeks within...
" by John Conlee
John Conlee
John Conlee is an American country music singer. Between 1978 and 2004, Conlee charted a total of thirty-two singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts and recorded eleven studio albums...
, which was Cook's first Number One as a songwriter.
Cook co-wrote "Brand New Man
Brand New Man (song)
"Brand New Man" is the debut single by American country music duo Brooks & Dunn. It is also the first single off their album, Brand New Man, and their first Number One single on the country charts.-Music video:...
", the first single release by Brooks & Dunn
Brooks & Dunn
Brooks & Dunn was an American country music duo consisting of Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn, who were both vocalists and songwriters. They were paired by record producer Tim DuBois in 1990. Before the duo's foundation, both members of the duo were solo recording artists...
, and was asked to produce for the duo as well. At first, he was reluctant, but he was encouraged to keep producing after the commercial success of Brooks & Dunn's debut album. Over time, Cook produced most of Brooks & Dunn's material, including thirteen of their songs which went to Number One. Other artists who released his work as singles include Mark Collie
Mark Collie
George Mark Collie is an American country music artist and occasional actor. He has released eight albums, and has charted 16 singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts. His highest peaking singles are "Even the Man in the Moon Is Cryin'" at #5, and "Born to Love You" at #6, from 1992 and...
, Wade Hayes
Wade Hayes
Tony Wade Hayes is an American country music artist. Signed to Columbia Records in 1994, he made his debut that year with his gold-certified album Old Enough to Know Better...
, Lari White
Lari White
Lari Michele White is an American country music artist and actress. She first gained national attention in 1992 as a winner on You Can Be a Star, a talent competition which aired on The Nashville Network...
and Steve Wariner
Steve Wariner
Steven Noel "Steve" Wariner is an American country music singer, songwriter and guitarist. He has released eighteen studio albums, including six on MCA Records, and three each on RCA Records, Arista Records and Capitol Records...
.
In 1994, Cook was named Chief Creative Officer and Senior Vice President of Sony/ATV Music Publishing
Sony/ATV Music Publishing
Sony/ATV Music Publishing is a music publishing company co-owned by The Michael Jackson Family Trust and Sony. The organisation was originally founded as Associated TeleVision in 1955 by Lew Grade. In 1957, ATV acquired Pye Records as a wholly owned subsidiary...
. He retired from both positions in 2004, but has continued to write songs.