Ray Cooper (singer-songwriter) explained
| Ray Cooper |
| Birth Date: | 1954 9, df=y |
| Birth Place: | Redhill, England |
| Birth Name: | Brian Raymond Cooper |
| Occupation: | Musician, singer-songwriter |
| Years Active: | 1974–present |
| Label: | Westpark |
| Associated Acts: | Oysterband |
Ray Cooper, also known as Chopper, is a British singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist living in Sweden.
Initial musical collaborations and session work
Cooper's first professional band (1975–1978) was Amazorblades[1] together with Rob Keyloch (engineer/producer/remixer[2]) and Ben Mandelson. They were a punk/jazz outfit who toured extensively and recorded the single 'Common Truth' in 1977 for Chiswick Records.[3]
Between 1981 and 1982 Cooper played with the London based band OK Jive,[4] who signed to CBS in 1981. In 1983, he played bass guitar and bugle with The Mighty Clouds of Dust on their single release Flowers on the Wall / Champion (The Wonder Horse) / Mr.Custer.[5]
In 1983, Cooper joined the World Music group 3 Mustaphas 3 where he played cello and sang under the name of Oussack Mustapha, alias The Nightingale of Szegerely. He recorded two albums with them for Globe Style Records. They also recorded a single with Agnes Bernelle produced by Phil Chevron and Elvis Costello. Cooper left the group in 1986. He performed in a reunion of six group members at the 30th Anniversary concert for fRoots magazine at the Roundhouse in London on 22 January 2010.[6]
Member of Oysterband
Cooper was a member of Oysterband between 1989 and 2013.[7]
Discography
With Amazorblades
- Common Truth (Single) 1977
With Yachts
With OK Jive
- To You 1982 (Single produced by Rob Keyloch)
- On Route 1982 (Single produced by Joe Jackson)
The Mighty Clouds of Dust
- Flowers on the Wall / Champion (The Wonder Horse) / Mr.Custer 1983 (Single produced by Phil Chevron)
With 3 Mustaphas 3
- Bam! Mustaphas Play Stereo, 1985
- From the Balkans to Your Heart: The Radio Years, 1986
With Oysterband
As Oyster Band
As Oysterband
Live albums
- Little Rock to Leipzig (1990) (partially live)
- Alive and Shouting (1996)
- Alive and Acoustic (1998)
- 25th Anniversary Concert (2004) DVD
- Northern Light (2006)
'Compilation albums
- The Rough Guide to World Music (1994) (contributing the track "When I'm Up I Can't Get Down")
- The Rough Guide to English Roots Music (1998) (contributing the track "Sail on By")
- Pearls from the Oysters (1998) (taking tracks from Step Outside, Wide Blue Yonder, Ride and Little Rock to Leipzig)
- This House Will Stand (The Best of Oysterband 1998–2015) (2016), double album containing alternate versions and demos
Solo
- 'Tales of Love War and Death by Hanging' (2010) CD
- 'Palace of Tears' (2014) CD
- 'Between The Golden Age & The Promised Land' (2018) CD and LP
- 'Land of Heroes' (2021) CD and LP
Other published material
- 'Ray Cooper Songs' (2015) song book
Awards
- 2003 Good Tradition Award, BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards (with Oysterband)
- 2005 Best Group, Oysterband Big Session, BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards
- 2009 Best group, Spiral Earth Award (with Oysterband)
- 2012 Best album, Spiral Earth Award (with June Tabor & Oysterband)
- 2012 Best Traditional Track, BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards (with June Tabor & Oysterband)[8]
- 2012 Best Album, BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards (with June Tabor & Oysterband)
- 2012 Best Group, BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards (with June Tabor & Oysterband)
External links
Notes and References
- Web site: Punk Brighton Amazorblades. punkbrighton.co.uk. 20 February 2019.
- Web site: Rob Keyloch . discogs . 20 February 2019 .
- Web site: Amazorblades – Common Truth . 1977 . discogs . 20 February 2019 .
- Web site: OK Jive biography . AllMusic . 20 February 2019 .
- Web site: Single release . 26 October 1983 . discogs . 20 February 2019 .
- Web site: The Young Mustaphas at the Roundhouse . 22 January 2010 . fRootsmag .
- Web site: Oysterband Biography, an outsider view . 2014 . Oysterband.co.uk .
- Web site: Radio 2 Folk Awards 2012 . 2012 . BBC . 20 February 2019 .
