About

Cooper BooneCooper Boone

Cooper Boone is a person for whom the term “triple threat” is a few items short. He’s co-written two albums worth of award-winning songs; created and hosts Cooper’s Kitchen, an online music-themed cooking show with celebrity guests; is a contributor to “Country Living Magazine”, co-owns a homey country store; raises chickens on a farm in northeast Pennsylvania and works with the elderly in New York City. “Boredom’s a killer for me!” he says, chuckling. “It doesn’t exist in my world.”

“I think most people are a lot of things,” says the personable singer/songwriter. “But many of us let fear drive our lives so we get stuck in ruts. I’ve never really been that kind of person.”

Born and raised in rural Minnesota, Cooper has deep roots in the country lifestyle. With both parents working as teachers, Cooper had to learn early on to take care of himself and, as a latch-key kid, took up cooking at an early age. As he grew, so did his list of ingredients – from rice and Velveeta, to the more nuanced flavors of Artisan butter, rosemary, grass-fed beef and chipotle peppers. His cooking now leaves the door open for ongoing inspiration while resting on tried and true family recipes. “I’ve loved to cook for as long as I can remember. The kitchen was at the heart of my childhood,” he reminisces.

While Cooper grew up perfecting recipes and singing along to his hometown country radio station, it wasn’t until 2 decades later that the two would became his vocation. After high school, Cooper embarked upon the education to earn a doctorate in clinical psychology, while paying his bills and keeping up his vocal chops working as a wedding singer.

Dr. Coop spent years counseling patients from every walk of life, including 9-11 survivors in N.Y.C. It wasn’t until he realized the emotional burn out his practice had on him that he entertained the idea of becoming a full-time musician. It’s not surprising that Boone would have an early knack for songwriting as well. Not only did he have years of musical seasoning by the point he began, he’d also had a wealth of ideas from listening to his clients. “I’ve worked with people from every walk of life with nearly every possible journey you can imagine,” he says. “Those stories sit on my soul and I access them in different ways in my music. It’s a real privilege to be involved in someone’s inner world in that way. On some level, songs are a way to work through those stories.”

After only a few short years in the music business, Cooper’s already won numerous accolades, including a Hollywood Music Award and an Indepdent Music Award, and has a roster of impressive credits to his name. He has shared the stage with Craig Morgan, Trace Adkins, Angela Kaset, Anthony Krizan, Bucky Covington, Amber Hayes and The Bacon Brothers to name a few. Whether he’s playing to sold out crowds at Joe’s Pub or The Bitter End.; appearing at major events such as the national 4th of July Celebration in D.C. or NASCAR on ABC; or performing at the world-famous Wildhorse Saloon for the CMA Music Festival in Nashville, Cooper has built a massive fan base including a few well-known celebrities.

His debut album “Made in America” included the title track written for actor, director and philanthropist John Ratzenberger, best known for his character “Cliff” on “Cheers”. “It was an honor when John asked me to write this song for him and his Travel Channel show. I was born in the heartland of America. It’s my thank you letter to the men and women who are the backbone of our country,” he says.

Cooper also put his time and creativity behind the charity DKMS, the world’s largest bone marrow donor center. He co-wrote the organization’s theme “One Song” and joins celebrities such as Rihanna, Jennifer Lopez and Cindy Crawford in helping fight leukemia, the most common cancer in children and adolescents.
By the time his self-titled sophomore album launched, Cooper knew the stories he wanted to tell would resonate with audiences. “I mined my life for inspiration and wrote what I knew,” he says. The results included the upbeat crowd-pleaser “Cougar Dream” sitting comfortably alongside the inspirational (and award winning) “Mending Fences” and the Cooper pays emotional ballad for his grandmother, “Celia’s Hands.” “That song is the closest to my heart. She’s passed on, but she’s very much alive in my life and alive in the song.”

But it’s a song about another woman that’s garnering Cooper the most attention. Having interviewed Paula Deen for “Country Living Magazine”, the two hit it off instantly. A week later, he’s in her Savannah, GA home sharing dinner with her friends and family. “When I thought about what hostess gift I should bring, I knew wine, food or flowers wouldn’t cut it – so I wrote her a song,” says Boone. “I went all out with this one, I even had it animated. ‘The Paula Deen Song’ is a celebration of her style, humor and grace – and of course, her obsession with butter,” he adds.

Out of his obsession with food and music came “Cooper’s Kitchen”, a web-based series that brings celebrities out of the spotlight and into the kitchen, sharing stories, recipes and singing a tune or two with Cooper. “This show is some of the most fun I’ve ever had! We might be making whoopee pies, or eating truck food – it doesn’t matter. It’s about letting your guard down and talking to my guests like they’re old friends,” he explains. “That’s what food and music does to people.”

His hit song “Country Living” defines Cooper’s philosophy and career. “Food, music and good conversation are at the heart of country life in America. You put the three together and no matter who is there or what is happening in their world, there’s a celebration,” he declares. “Creating a place of belonging for my audiences and giving them a place at the table where they can eat, sing and talk – that’s my goal.”

While sharing his time between his farm in Pennsylvania, song writing in Nashville and studying at the prestigious International Culinary Center in N.Y.C., he continues his practice as a clinical psychologist working with the eldery. He brought this experience to ABC recently with their Good Morning America Advice Guru Search. Host Robin Roberts called it “the Mother of All Searches!” Out of nearly 20,000 applicants, Cooper made it to the Final Four. The three month online and on-camera audition included a robust social media campaign, which Cooper won in every category by a landslide, including Facebook “likes”, re-tweets, comments and secured over 42,000 popular votes (his closest competition garnered 27,000). At the end of the day, the old adage that “Mom knows best” won out – and a mother of three took the title. But he takes the decision in stride.

At the centerpiece of his recent album is “Yes!” – a song that could double as Cooper’s creed, with its subject taking all of life’s up’s and down’s with a smile. “I’m really practicing what I preach to my counseling clients, where I encourage people to take risks and pursue happiness regardless of how difficult it may be,” he observes. “Sometimes that means taking leaps in new directions, especially when the outcome is uncertain. It’s about having courage to go for what you want in life. So I’m doing that as best as I can. And I sure hope that when I’m 75 years old and have a few teeth left that I’m still discovering new adventures.”

His life is now a balance of city life, life on the farm (tending his chicken coop of course), counseling clients, filming episodes of Cooper’s Kitchen and working toward his Culinary Arts degree at the Institute of Culinary Education in New York City. While home is anywhere he hangs his jeans – the city, the farm, or on the road – his food and music bring people along on the adventure. All are welcome at Coop’s Kitchen, so come and get it while it’s hot!

Cooper Boone Press/Stats:

Awards:

  • Hollywood Music Awards, Best Country Artist, 2008.  WINNER.
  • 2009 nominee for Best Video.
  • 2010 nominee for Best Country Artist.
  • ISSA (Independent Singer-Songwriter Awards), Country Category for “Mending Fences”.  2009.  WINNER.
  • ISSA (Independent Singer-Songwriter Awards) nominee, Country Category for “YES”.  2009
  • IMA (Independent Music Awards) WINNER, “Country Living” (past winners include Jennifer Nettles/Sugarland) 2009.
  • Los Angeles Music Awards nominee, Best Country Artist, 2010 (awards ceremony, November 2010)

Live and TV:

  • NASCAR 250,00 live crowd/ NATIONAL SYNDICATION ABC TV
  • Thunderfest 5,000  people
  • Craig Morgan 10,000 (opener)
  • Bethel Woods Center for the Arts
  • Musikfest in Bethelehem PA, 1,500 attended show
  • Good Morning America Advice Guru Finalist; out of 15,000 people Cooper was in the final 4 for the position of Advice Guru. Cooper won every single popular vote in the life of the contest (see stats below)
  • NYC Food and Wine Festival 2010: on site video reporter for Country Living Magazine’s Digital Media. Interviewed:  Paula Deen, Tyler Florence, The Neely’s, Trisha Yearwood, Andrew Zimmern, Adam Richman, Anne Burrell, Sunny Anderson and Ted Allen.
  • Inspiration with Lance Heft (PBS), air date 2010
  • Miss Teen America Pageant 2007, National Television (syndication)
  • INSIDE MUSIC ROW National Syndication
  • Paula Deen: Cooked with Paula in her home in Savannah (11-2010).  Also wrote the Paula Deen Song.
  • LX NEW YORK (NBC), Live Cooking segments in 2009, 2010,
  • Country Living Magazine Fairs (Columbus, Oh and Atlanta GA) (2008,2009, 2010) 5,000 people per show.
  • DKMS Gala with with Jazmine Sullivan and K’naan.  Cooper wrote and performed the theme song, “One Song” and performed with PS122 Choir.
  • Philadelphia Thanksgiving Day Parade  2007, 2008 (ABC Regional)
  • ABC DAYTIME CMA FEST EVENT with Bob Guiney, The Wild Horse Saloon, Nashville TN.  National Syndication. 2008
  • ABC News Now/ Cooper’s live interview/performance of “Mending Fences” posted on 12.03 and posted on Yahoo’s OMG blog on 12.03. Live interview aired on 7.06 about “Cougar Dream,” posted online and syndicated nationally.
  • Fox Network News/ Taped interview went into syndication to over 140 affiliates nationwide on 9.24.
  • PIX Morning News (Regular) (CW New York)/ Cooper’s live cooking segment aired on 8.03. Cooper completed live “Jingle Balls” cooking segment on 12.02.
  • Joey Reynolds Show/ Cooper’s taped interview and full placement of “Cougar Dream” aired on 12.01.
  • Better TV/ Cooper’s taped interview aired and syndicated nationally on 7.06.
  • Twin Cities Live (CBS St. Paul, MN)/ Cooper’s live interview and performed “One Song” aired on 7.24.
  • Backstage with Barry Nolan (Boston, 2008) Cooper performed his tune “Cross Creek” live with interview.

* Cooper has played acoustic clubs and festivals including: The Mohegan Sun Casino, MUSIKFEST, Bethel Center for the Arts, The Wild Horse Saloon et al.

Social Networking:

  • FACEBOOK: 2,000
  • TWITTER: 2,500 followers
  • MYSPACE: Myspace tends to still be the MAIN place for musicians
  • 12,000 MYSPACE  Friends; 141,240 profile views on MYSPACE; 20,079 blog reads on MYSPACE; 1400 blog comments on BLOG on MYSPACE,; TOTAL SONG PLAYS 285,249 on MYSPACE.

Print and Online Media:

  • NY Daily News/ 2-24-2011.  Full page article about Cooper being a finalist for the GMA Advice Guru position.
  • USA Today/ Inclusion of “Cougar Dream” and photo of Cooper in Cougar trend story ran on 7.09.
  • Country Living Magazine/ 2 paragraphs about Cooper’s appearance at the Country Living Fairs.
  • Country Weekly/ Cooper’s “Listen Up” spotlight with download of “Country Living” ran as the lead item in the issue dated Oct. 12.
  • Boston Herald/ 1.11 and 12.07
  • Gotham Magazine/ Inclusion as the 3rd Top Bachelor ran in October issue.
  • Music Connection/ Item on “Cowboy Kitchen” ran in the September issue of this monthly music trade.
  • AOL’s The Boot/ Cooper’s “New Faces” profile posted on 9.01. Editors have agreed to highlight the “Country Living” video tied to     iTunes updates.
  • The9513.com/ Item on ‘Cooper Boone’ posted on 6.10 on this highly influential country music blog.
  • Wire Image/ Photo of Cooper with “Real Housewives” Ramona Singer and Kelly Bensimon at Gotham Magazine party posted on 10.16.
  • CMA CloseUp/”Who New to Watch” spread in the February/March issue 2009.
  • AOL Wallet Pop/ Interview with Lori Majewski on 6.11 for as a feature post on Cougars for this highly trafficked AOL site.
  • Hamptons.com/ Inclusion of interview with Cooper ran in the Gotham Magazine “Bachelor” party round-up posted on 10.23.
  • FOXNews.com/ interview and performance of “Cougar Dream” and “Celia’s Hands” posted on 7.06 for national news site.
  • Christianity Today/  interview for ISSA award on 1.15.2010
  • Digital Rodeo.com/  interview for ISSA award on 12.14.09
  • Digital Rodeo.com/ review of “Cooper’s Kitchen”
  • Suite101.com/ interview for ISSA award on 12.15.09
  • Roughstock.com/ Cooper completed interview for ISSA award on 1.15.2010
  • MusicNewsNashville.com/ Review of Cooper 12.19.09
  • NY Post Blog/ Item on “Cougar Dream” with stream posted on 6.14.
  • CountryHound.com/ News item on “Cougar Dream” posted on 6.12 on this influential country music blog.
  • Music Row/ Item on “Cowboy Kitchen” with link posted on 7.02.
  • Soap Opera Weekly/ Mark Wilkowsky’s item on Cooper posted on the blog on 8.13.
  • Time Out New York/ NYC preview blurb ran in issue dated 7.30.
  • UrbanCougar.com/ Profile and MP3 give away posted on this site devoted to urban women over 40.
  • Today’s Country Magazine/ Feature on Cooper posted on 7.15.
  • Nashville Country Club/ Highly favorable (4 of 5 star) review posted on this Nashville-based country music blog.
  • Music She Blogged/ Playful yet mostly favorable review posted TexasHotCountry.com/ Leon Beck has committed to item on Cooper’s ISSA award for his
  • January print issue and to post online on this country music site.
  • Allentown Morning Call (PA)/ Preview item for Musikfest performance ran on 7.26. Favorable live review of the Musikfest     performance posted on 8.02.
  • Tonic.com/ Editors have committed to profile on Cooper.  We’re following up.
  • YouTellConcerts.com/ Taped video interview for this Nashville country music blog posted on 9.30.
  • All Music Guide/ Artist profile and mixed album review/ 7.27 The Daily News (McKeesport, PA)/ 8.06
  • Daily Loafing Charlotte (NC)/8.06
  • The9513.com/ in-stores inclusion in weekly new music item/8.04
  • CMA Close Up Magazine/ release blurb / June/July issue 2008
  • Sun Herald (FL)/ highly favorable album review/ 8.27 CountryMusicReport/review/ 9.08
  • Country Magazine/ highly favorable album review/ 7.12
  • Dirty Linen Online/ DKMS item 9.09
  • InTouch Weekly Online/ DKMS item/ 5.08
  • Star Report/ DKMS item/ 5.04
  • CelebsGoneGood.com/ DKMS item/ 7.28
  • Today’s Country Magazine/ DKMS item/ 8.14
  • Country Music News Blog/8.17
  • Country Weekly item/10.05
  • TrueCountry.TV/ Country Weekly item/10.05
  • Columbus Dispatch (OH)/ “Country Living” preview item with photo of Cooper/ 10.13.

Video YOUTUBE stats:

 

Good Morning America Advice Guru Stats:

  • *Cooper won ALL voting in every category including-FB Likes, Re-tweets, Comments and Sodahead voting tallies.
  • FINAL VOTING: 42,221 votes (WINNER of ALL popular voting)
  • On the Main meet the final 4! Page
    • Comments:126
    • Facebook: 536 likes
    • Twitter:20
  • On spotlight on Cooper Boone:
    • Comments: 39
    • Facebook: 720 likes
    • Twitter: 19
  • On Cooper Biograhy page:
    • Comments:54
    • Facebook: 2800 likes!!!
    • Tweet 553
  • On viewers questions:
    • Comments: 39
    • Facebook: 931 likes
    • Twitter: 78
  • On daughter in law issues: Coop and Liz
    • Comments: 118
    • Facebook: 557  likes
    • Twitter: 38
  • On Starting your own business: Coop and Amy Kean
    • Comments: 59
    • Facebook: 939 likes
    • Twitter: 35
  • On dealing with empty nest syndrome:
    • Comments: 19
    • Facebook: 611 likes
    • Twitter: 19
  • Meet the top 7!
    • Comments: 26
    • Facebook: 231
    • Twitter: 26