“Ray Cooper (singer-songwriter)”的意思、由来-开放百科全书

Ray Cooper, also known as Chopper is an English/Scottish singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist living in Sweden. Cooper worked under the name Chopper from 1977 to 2010 to avoid confusion with percussionist Ray Cooper. The name Chopper came from his obsession with practicing the cello to "get his chops".^[1] Cooper joined Oysterband in December 1988 and left in March 2013. Since then, he has recorded and toured as a solo artist.

Early years

Ray Cooper was born in Redhill, Surrey, England with a Scottish mother and English father. He grew up living in various towns in England. He was educated at Charterhouse School, receiving piano and guitar lessons.

Cooper's first bands were at school where he played psychedelic rock and blues. He attended Brighton Polytechnic Art College where he studied photography until abandoning further education for music. During this time he played in a number of bands as bass guitarist and harmonica player, mostly country rock and early punk. His first public gig was in 1974 in the basement of the Art College. His jobs included working in an organic food shop, driving a building lorry and working in court as a solicitor's clerk.

Initial musical collaborations and session work

Cooper's first professional band (1975–1978) was Amazorblades^[2] together with Rob Keyloch (engineer/producer/remixer^[3]) and Ben Mandelson (World Musician). They were a punk/jazz outfit who toured extensively and recorded the single 'Common Truth' in 1977 for Chiswick Records^[4]. This song has recently been covered by Scottish singer Paulo Nutini^[5].

Between 1980 and 1982, Cooper worked as a session musician based in London. His first album recording in 1980 was Without Radar with the Liverpool band Yachts working under producer Martin Rushent. In 1981, he worked with the band Decoy who played shows mostly in London. Decoy made initial demo recordings with producer Steve Lillywhite and then an unreleased album with Pete Bellotte. He also recorded with bands such as Penetration, Soundtracks & Head, Eddie and Sunshine and Jah Wobble. Between 1981 and 1982 Cooper played with the London based band OK Jive^[6], 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^[7] which was produced by Phil Chevron

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^[8]. .

Oysterband

Cooper joined Oysterband in December 1988. Over the next twenty five years they recorded seventeen albums, including two collaborations with singer June Tabor and toured in twenty six countries^[9]. Initially, Cooper joined as a bass guitar player and harmony singer but soon added the cello. He became known for his rock style, standing up to play the instrument which was equipped with a long steel spike. In later studio recordings he would also play mandolin, harmonium, harmonica, piano, organ, the Mbira (African thumb piano), acoustic guitar and the Finnish kantele. Cooper left the group in 2013 and was replaced by both Adrian Oxaal (cello, bass and electric guitar) and producer/musician Al Scott (bass guitar and mandolin).

Solo Work

Cooper moved to Sweden in 2000 and set up his own recording studio. He has to date written and released three solo albums and toured Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Austria, Holland, Belgium and the UK. Cooper is also closely involved in the local folk scene in Sweden.

Discography

With Amazorblades

With Yachts

With OK Jive

The Mighty Clouds of Dust

With 3 Mustaphas 3

With Oysterband

Solo

Other published material

Awards

References

1. ^{{cite web | url = https://www.englishforums.com/English/EarnedHisChops/nwrvd/post.htm | title = Earner His Chops | website = englishforums.com | access-date = 20 February 2019 }}
2. ^{{Cite web|url=https://www.punkbrighton.co.uk/amazorblades.html|title=Punk Brighton Amazorblades|publisher=punkbrighton.co.uk|access-date=20 February 2019}}
3. ^{{cite web | url = https://www.discogs.com/artist/529090-Rob-Keyloch | title = Rob Keyloch | website = | publisher = discogs | access-date = 20 February 2019 }}
4. ^{{cite web | url = https://www.discogs.com/Amazorblades-Common-Truth/release/6122137 | title = Amazorblades – Common Truth | date = 1977 | website = | publisher = discogs | access-date = 20 February 2019 }}
5. ^{{cite web | url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ps4dKuJeY9Y | title = Paulo Nutini sings Common Truth at the Royal Albert Hall | date = 2014 | website = | publisher = voicesforever | access-date = 20 February 2019 }}
6. ^{{cite web | url = https://www.allmusic.com/artist/ok-jive-mn0001009317/biography | title = OK Jive biography | website = | publisher = AllMusic | access-date = 20 February 2019 }}
7. ^{{cite web | url = https://www.discogs.com/The-Mighty-Clouds-Of-Dust-Flowers-On-The-Wall-Champion-The-Wonder-Horse-MrCuster/master/992790 | title = Single release | publisher = discogs | access-date = 20 February 2019 }}
8. ^{{cite web | url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2T3jWcsEOU | title = The Young Mustaphas at the Roundhouse | date = 22 January 2010 | website = | publisher = fRootsmag }}
9. ^{{Citation | url = https://frootsmag.com/complete-list-of-froots-cover-features | title = Icons of Folk | journal = fRoots | volume = fR348 | date = June 2012 | access-date = 20 February 2019 }}
10. ^¹²{{cite web | url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2012/folk-award-winners.html | title = Radio 2 Folk Awards 2012 | date = 2012 | website = | publisher = BBC | access-date = 20 February 2019 }}