Dana Cooper 9.18.23

Dana Cooper:

Cooper’s lifelong passion & devotion to music began at age 2 in Kansas City. His father, George, was a huge influence. One of Dana's earliest memories is of his father taking him to the Calico Cat, popping a coin in the jukebox and listening to Dana sing along with Hank Williams & Ernest Tubb.

At age 20, a move to LA resulted in a record deal with Elektra Records where he recorded his first album with members of “The Section” Russ Kunkel and Leleand Sklar, as well as other luminary players Jim Horn, Al Perkins, Jim Gordon, Joe Osborne, and Lee Holdridge. This album still wins accolades today and was recently reissued on the Warner/Japan label. After several years in California and a year recording in Seattle, Cooper moved to Texas where he wrote and performed with Shake Russell. They released several independent albums and one album for Southcoast/MCA.

Dana went on to form his own experimental bands, DC3, and Nuclear Family, and released his first solo project Complicated Stuff. In 1988 he moved to Nashville, TN to pursue his songwriting career collaborating with other songwriters:

Tom Kimmel        Sally Barris

Don Henry            Pat Alger

Hal Ketchum        Kim Carnes

Josh Leo                Pierce Pettis

Kim Richey          Allen Shamblin

His years as a Troubadour are measured by his impressive 28 Albums and Collection of Accolades:

• In the Spirit of Folk Award from Folk Alliance International (2015)

• Heritage Musician Award from The Pilgrim Center for the Arts in Kansas City, MO (2014)

• Veteran Returning Performer at Kerrville Folk Festival

• Best Male Songwriter Award Indie Acoustic Project, for Made of Mud (2005).

• Best Record Award The Tennesseean, for Harry Truman Built a Road (2002)

• Nashville Music Award Nomination Best Pop Album for Miracle Mile (1997)

Cooper’s songs have been recorded by a variety of artists such as bluegrass singer Claire Lynch, Irish vocalist Maura O’Connell, Nashville songbird Jonell Mosser, as well as songwriters Pierce Pettis and Susan Werner.

On his latest release, I Can Face the Truth, Cooper faces hard truths head on, with humor and heartfelt expression. Joining forces with Co-Producer and multi-instrumentalist Dave Coleman, the two enlisted some of the best songwriters, singers, and musicians from the US and Ireland. Collaborators in the studio include Tom Kimmel, Kim Richey, Jonell Mosser, Maura O’Connell, Brother Paul Brown, David Starr, Rebecca Folsom, and Gillian Tuite.

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In 2022 I Can Face The Truth charted on 5 different radio charts- Americana, Indie Folk, Alt Folk, Alt Country & Roots. It ranked #22 on Top Albums for 2022 Chart from Americana Highways- Ranking HIGHER than these amazing artists- Dolly Parton, Brandi Carlile, Tom Petty, Patty Griffin, Kris Kristofferson. Dana also charted on 2 Folk Year-end Charts.

"This album is radio ready, honest, vulnerable and an incredibly formidable effort. It is Dana Cooper at the top of his songwriting form and creative expression, with arrangements so strong it allows each listener to feel he wrote the song specifically for them...

Dana Cooper is an honest and passionate veteran who has paid his dues, done the work, and whose name deserves to be on the wall beside every other great who made Americana, folk and the music of the 70’s the treasure that it is today."

M Music & Musicians Magazine https://mmusicmag.com/m/2022/03/20560/

"Nothing, absolutely nothing in this Dana Cooper country-torrent is hokey or novelty-oriented. I guess I have to re-establish Mr. Cooper closer to my Townes Van Zandt, Guy Clark & Billy Joe Shaver shelves." John Apice - Americana Highways

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"Dana is quite simply one of the best damned songwriters out there." Jaime Michaels/Singer Songwriter

"The record bursts out with energy and joy...He leaves us thinking, as only the best songwriters do." Jim Hynes - Glide Magazine

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Tickets start at $12 for this event, *but if you're able, please consider adding a few bucks to your ticket purchase. This helps us to feed and pay the band better, and helps us keep going. Thank you for your support of what we do!

About Wild Eye Pub's events:  

This is a ticketed event. You can make reservations while buying your tickets. 

Wild Eye Pub is a family-friendly event venue, with a restaurant and bar. The Pub offers freshly crafted food from local & organic sources, and a full bar with regional brews, wines & spirits, with nightly entertainment in a comfy 'supper club' style with an easy vibe.  

Depending on weather, this event may be on our creekside stage. We serve "supper club" style: Table service of food and drinks is (quietly) offered throughout the event. For this event, seating and service will begin 1 hour before the show.   

We charge sliding scale tickets or cover fees for most shows, because we don't "turn over tables" to serve more diners, so attendees keep their tables for the whole evening. The cover fee helps us pay and feed the nightly performers. Thank you for supporting live performing artists!  

PARKING: Pub has free parking. There is more free public parking nearby, at the corner of Mill & McCourtney, a 2-minute walk. And across from Pub's front door, French Ave has parking up and down the street on a gentle hill.  

Questions? 530-446-6668 or info@wildeyepub.com. We're open Thurs - Mon, 1pm - 9:30+. You can leave a message by phone or email, 24/7.