Roger Cook
Roger Cook's songwriting career has two distinct chapters. The first was as a prolific British pop composer with his collaborator Roger Greenaway. They created "You've Got Your Troubles," "Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress" and many other hits, as well as a series of Coca-Cola commercials that included the enormously popular "I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing." After moving to Nashville in 1975, Cook had a second career as the writer of country hits for Crystal Gayle, Don Williams, George Strait and others.
In the 1950s and early 1960s, Roger Cook sang in a number of pop acts, including the Sapphires, the Londons and Jon & Julie. In 1965, he joined Roger Greenaway in the Kestrels, and the two became a songwriting team. Their first big successes were "You've Got Your Troubles," sung by the Fortunes, and "Green Grass," recorded by Gary Lewis & the Playboys in the U.S.
When the Kestrels broke up, the two Rogers formed the singing duo David & Jonathan. They had several hits and also worked as backup vocalists in British recording studios. The singing duo ended in 1968, but the Cook-Greenaway songwriting partnership continued.
Cook joined Blue Mink in 1969. The group subsequently became very popular in the U.K., often performing Cook-Greenaway songs. He also joined the other former Kestrels members to record as the studio-only groups Edison Lighthouse, the Pipkins and Brotherhood of Man.
The writers' next big U.S. success occurred with "My Baby Loves Lovin'," a hit for White Plains in 1970. "I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing" became a worldwide musical phenomenon in 1972. "Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress" (the Hollies), "Doctor's Orders" (Carol Douglas) and other hits ensued. Cook and Greenaway were named Britain's Songwriters of the Year in both 1971 and 1972.
Blue Mink broke up in 1974. Cook migrated to the U.S. He was unhappy during brief stints in both New York and Los Angeles and settled in Nashville in late 1975. Crystal Gayle took his "Talking in Your Sleep" to the top of the country charts in 1978. It was named BMI's Country Song of the Year. In 1998, ASCAP named "One Night at a Time," a #1 for George Strait, as its Country Song of the Year. "I Believe in You" (Don Williams, 1980) and "Love Is on a Roll" (Don Williams, 1983) are among his numerous other country successes.
In the 1950s and early 1960s, Roger Cook sang in a number of pop acts, including the Sapphires, the Londons and Jon & Julie. In 1965, he joined Roger Greenaway in the Kestrels, and the two became a songwriting team. Their first big successes were "You've Got Your Troubles," sung by the Fortunes, and "Green Grass," recorded by Gary Lewis & the Playboys in the U.S.
When the Kestrels broke up, the two Rogers formed the singing duo David & Jonathan. They had several hits and also worked as backup vocalists in British recording studios. The singing duo ended in 1968, but the Cook-Greenaway songwriting partnership continued.
Cook joined Blue Mink in 1969. The group subsequently became very popular in the U.K., often performing Cook-Greenaway songs. He also joined the other former Kestrels members to record as the studio-only groups Edison Lighthouse, the Pipkins and Brotherhood of Man.
The writers' next big U.S. success occurred with "My Baby Loves Lovin'," a hit for White Plains in 1970. "I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing" became a worldwide musical phenomenon in 1972. "Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress" (the Hollies), "Doctor's Orders" (Carol Douglas) and other hits ensued. Cook and Greenaway were named Britain's Songwriters of the Year in both 1971 and 1972.
Blue Mink broke up in 1974. Cook migrated to the U.S. He was unhappy during brief stints in both New York and Los Angeles and settled in Nashville in late 1975. Crystal Gayle took his "Talking in Your Sleep" to the top of the country charts in 1978. It was named BMI's Country Song of the Year. In 1998, ASCAP named "One Night at a Time," a #1 for George Strait, as its Country Song of the Year. "I Believe in You" (Don Williams, 1980) and "Love Is on a Roll" (Don Williams, 1983) are among his numerous other country successes.
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