Eli Cook | |
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Background information | |
Birth name | Eli Hudnall Cook |
Born | Lynchburg, Virginia, United States | April 24, 1986
Genres | |
Occupation(s) |
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Instrument(s) |
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Years active | 2000s–present |
Labels |
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Website |
elicook |
Eli Hudnall Cook (born April 24, 1986) is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist and record producer. He is known for an eclectic style, with a focus on blues and blues rock. His deep, rich baritone voice and guitar playing have drawn widespread acclaim. [1]
Cook was raised in the backwoods of Faber, Virginia, near the Blue Ridge Mountains. [2] Inspired by a lack of television and his parents' diverse record collection, he picked up the guitar at age 13, imitating the styles of Mississippi John Hurt and Fred McDowell. [3]
Two years later, he began performing acoustic blues at Rapunzel's Coffee House in Lovingston. [4] As a student at Monticello High School, his first power trio, 'The Red House Blues Band' (an apparent nod to Jimi Hendrix's Are You Experienced? track), was formed with rotating membership. [5] By age 18, Cook was playing church revivals solo, and touring the bar scene with his band throughout central Virginia. [6] Because of this, he built a reputation as a prodigy of both electric and acoustic performance, and was often featured in local publications. [7]
Cook plays gigs mostly around Virginia, and resides in Charlottesville. [8] [9]
Cook's first break happened in 2007 when he was asked to open for B.B. King at multiple shows. [3] Since then, he has shared the stage with Johnny Winter, Robert Cray, Robin Trower, Parliament-Funkadelic, Shemekia Copeland, Gary Clark, Jr., and Roomful of Blues. [2] [3] He has performed on the Millennium Stage at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts [2] and at the South by Southwest Festival in 2014. [1] Cook has also opened for John Mayall at The Hamilton and Big Wreck at Union Stage, both in Washington, D.C. [10]
Three of Cook's first four albums, Moonshine Mojo, Electricholyfirewater, and Static in the Blood, were independent releases that each displayed unique moods: guitar focused country rock, blues metal, and experimental R&B, respectively.
Valley Entertainment internationally reissued his 2005 recording, Miss Blues' Child, in 2007. [11] It included Cook's versions of Jimmy Reed's " Baby What You Want Me to Do" and Bukka White's " Fixin' To Die." [12]
2011 saw the release of Ace, Jack & King, which showcased a mix of the various genres for which he is known.
In 2013, Cook signed a recording contract with Cleopatra Records. [11] The ensuing album, Primitive Son (2014), contained guest appearances by Vinny Appice and Artimus Pyle (drums); Tinsley Ellis, Eric Gales, Leslie West, Pat Travers and Harvey Mandel (guitar); Sonny Landreth (slide guitar); Rod Piazza (harmonica); and Reese Wynans ( Hammond B3 organ). The album was co-produced by Greg Hampton. [13]
In August 2017, he released High-Dollar Gospel on the C.R. 8 Records label to a positive reception. [14]
Cook performs solo on a resophonic guitar by National and a 12-string acoustic guitar made by Rockbridge Guitars in Charlottesville, Virginia. Both instruments are electrified supplementally. With the band, he plays a customized Fender Stratocaster and Telecaster. [15]
Blues Matters! magazine featured Cook on the cover of its October/November (No. 86) issue. He was listed in its 2015 Writer's Poll as the third most "Favorite International Blues Solo Artist." [16]
Most of his albums have been reviewed favorably in the press, including positive reviews in Vintage Guitar magazine. [17]
Leslie West said of recording with him, "I have heard quite a few guitar players that are young and just starting out. When I was asked to play a track with Eli Cook I wanted to see if there was something there. Believe me when I tell you THERE IS SOMETHING THERE! I hope you enjoy listening to it as much as I did playing on it. Eli is on his way!" [18]
Tinsley Ellis called him a "triple threat, obviously a great guitarist but also an emotive singer and an innovative songwriter. He’s in the vanguard of young, 21st-century blues rockers!" [1]
AllMusic stated in their review of Miss Blues' Child, "he has what it takes to be the best blues singer of his generation." [19]
Eli Cook | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Birth name | Eli Hudnall Cook |
Born | Lynchburg, Virginia, United States | April 24, 1986
Genres | |
Occupation(s) |
|
Instrument(s) |
|
Years active | 2000s–present |
Labels |
|
Website |
elicook |
Eli Hudnall Cook (born April 24, 1986) is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist and record producer. He is known for an eclectic style, with a focus on blues and blues rock. His deep, rich baritone voice and guitar playing have drawn widespread acclaim. [1]
Cook was raised in the backwoods of Faber, Virginia, near the Blue Ridge Mountains. [2] Inspired by a lack of television and his parents' diverse record collection, he picked up the guitar at age 13, imitating the styles of Mississippi John Hurt and Fred McDowell. [3]
Two years later, he began performing acoustic blues at Rapunzel's Coffee House in Lovingston. [4] As a student at Monticello High School, his first power trio, 'The Red House Blues Band' (an apparent nod to Jimi Hendrix's Are You Experienced? track), was formed with rotating membership. [5] By age 18, Cook was playing church revivals solo, and touring the bar scene with his band throughout central Virginia. [6] Because of this, he built a reputation as a prodigy of both electric and acoustic performance, and was often featured in local publications. [7]
Cook plays gigs mostly around Virginia, and resides in Charlottesville. [8] [9]
Cook's first break happened in 2007 when he was asked to open for B.B. King at multiple shows. [3] Since then, he has shared the stage with Johnny Winter, Robert Cray, Robin Trower, Parliament-Funkadelic, Shemekia Copeland, Gary Clark, Jr., and Roomful of Blues. [2] [3] He has performed on the Millennium Stage at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts [2] and at the South by Southwest Festival in 2014. [1] Cook has also opened for John Mayall at The Hamilton and Big Wreck at Union Stage, both in Washington, D.C. [10]
Three of Cook's first four albums, Moonshine Mojo, Electricholyfirewater, and Static in the Blood, were independent releases that each displayed unique moods: guitar focused country rock, blues metal, and experimental R&B, respectively.
Valley Entertainment internationally reissued his 2005 recording, Miss Blues' Child, in 2007. [11] It included Cook's versions of Jimmy Reed's " Baby What You Want Me to Do" and Bukka White's " Fixin' To Die." [12]
2011 saw the release of Ace, Jack & King, which showcased a mix of the various genres for which he is known.
In 2013, Cook signed a recording contract with Cleopatra Records. [11] The ensuing album, Primitive Son (2014), contained guest appearances by Vinny Appice and Artimus Pyle (drums); Tinsley Ellis, Eric Gales, Leslie West, Pat Travers and Harvey Mandel (guitar); Sonny Landreth (slide guitar); Rod Piazza (harmonica); and Reese Wynans ( Hammond B3 organ). The album was co-produced by Greg Hampton. [13]
In August 2017, he released High-Dollar Gospel on the C.R. 8 Records label to a positive reception. [14]
Cook performs solo on a resophonic guitar by National and a 12-string acoustic guitar made by Rockbridge Guitars in Charlottesville, Virginia. Both instruments are electrified supplementally. With the band, he plays a customized Fender Stratocaster and Telecaster. [15]
Blues Matters! magazine featured Cook on the cover of its October/November (No. 86) issue. He was listed in its 2015 Writer's Poll as the third most "Favorite International Blues Solo Artist." [16]
Most of his albums have been reviewed favorably in the press, including positive reviews in Vintage Guitar magazine. [17]
Leslie West said of recording with him, "I have heard quite a few guitar players that are young and just starting out. When I was asked to play a track with Eli Cook I wanted to see if there was something there. Believe me when I tell you THERE IS SOMETHING THERE! I hope you enjoy listening to it as much as I did playing on it. Eli is on his way!" [18]
Tinsley Ellis called him a "triple threat, obviously a great guitarist but also an emotive singer and an innovative songwriter. He’s in the vanguard of young, 21st-century blues rockers!" [1]
AllMusic stated in their review of Miss Blues' Child, "he has what it takes to be the best blues singer of his generation." [19]