About Me
At age 11, year 1963, I had been listening to the radio, developing my skills, and learning to play the guitar. However, I was very much into sports, also. I played baseball in Little League, and basketball in high school, until I fell trying to make a lay-up, which resulted in a sprained ankle. I went downhill in sports from that day on, and turned my attention to playing guitar again. By the age of 15, I was playing in my first band. My first band, was with fellow bassist Rick Wass, called "The Kryptics". We played a few High School dances in the Riverton and Springfield, Illinois area. With the demise of this band, I began playing with Dean and The Sinisters, and Heavy Gun until
graduation from High School in 1971. Then, I attended Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA. While there, I met many students, but the most influential of them all was living in the room right across my dormitory hall. His name was Al Dimeola. We became friends,
and exchanged many ideas, that launched me into becoming a pretty proficient guitar player. We still talk and visit from time to time. He went on to become a famous Jazz guitarist, playing with Chick Corea, and landing a solo recording contract, and I eventually was able to get
some pretty good playing auditions in the New York City area. Tough times and lack of money brought me back to the midwest. Thru the 70's, the first Joe Cooke Band was formed, followed by Sky King, Hot Ice, with my current drummer Dan Shaughnessy, and bassist Tami Malano, (from the Guild), Rold Gold, and The Rockets, with Chuck Sabatino, who eventually ended up in Mike McDonalds band. Rold Gold was a number one dance band for Haislar Productions in St Louis and Central Illinois from 1975 to 1980. Sky High, with Denny Lucas , Donnie Bearup, Mouse, and drummer Mark Cole rocked the Lake Club in the early 80's. The Plains, Salt and Pepper", and Jules Blattner followed in the early-mid 80's. The Plains included Ted Davis,(now playing with Heartsfield), Bob McBride, Mike Brunninga, and myself playing a country rock style with many origionals in the sets. We were playing "New Country" some 20 years ago, before it became labled new country. Eventually, my playing influences inherited from Al,
landed me with Jerry Doucette, as backup lead/rhythm guitarist, and Greg Guidry, as a Live Gig guitarist. Jerry had a number "1"hit record with "Mamma Let Him Play" in 1978, and Greg had a number "8" top 40 hit in 1983, called "Goin Down". These playing gigs lasted less than a year. In 2003, I joined the band "706" from Paducah Kentucky, featuring Terry Fox, Brad Crowder, Rick Liner, and Brent Williams, playing the West Kentucky area. After the split of this band, dynamic lead singer Brad Durbin from The Tomatoe Duckers and my former bassist Rick Wass, from Pork and The Havanna Ducks, came along to join with myself, and drummer Dan Shaughnessy, to form the new blues and classic rock band "The Joe Cooke Band". This is the current band that is playing the Springfield, Decatur, Taylorville, Auburn, Girard, and surrounding areas. Don't miss our exciting show, featuring high powered rock and blues. And ocasionally, guest musicians sit in with us to broaden our musical horizons. Check out our schedule of bookings, as we are playing many scheduled summer events. Come on out and give us a "Hell Yeah!"
For those of you interested, I will be performing With Ragged Jack on their upcoming shows, with a new CD in the works. The current Joe Cooke Band will working in new drummer Rich Olsen for the Fall and Winter season.....stay tuned, as there will be announcements made for upcoming gigs. Joe..
