Above: Cook performing during the American Idols Live! Tour 2008.
David Cook (singer)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
David Roland Cook (born December 20, 1982) is an American rock singer-songwriter, who rose to fame after winning the seventh season of American Idol in 2008. Prior to Idol he released an independent album entitled Analog Heart. This was followed by his post-Idol major-label debut David Cook which was released on November 18, 2008 and has since been certified platinum by the RIAA. His second major album This Loud Morning was released on June 28, 2011. His third post American Idol and fourth overall studio album Digital Vein was released on September 18, 2015.
Cook was born in Houston, Texas and raised in Blue Springs, Missouri. His parents are Beth Foraker and Stanley Cook. He is the middle of three brothers – the late Adam Cook being older and Andrew younger. He is of German, Irish, and English descent.
Cook’s interest in music began at a young age. He began singing in second grade, when his elementary school music teacher, Mrs. Gentry, gave him a part in a school Christmas performance. He proceeded to perform in virtually every Christmas and PTA program. He received his first guitar, a Fender Stratocaster, at the age of 13. He also participated in choir and drama programs in middle school and high school. At Blue Springs South High School, he performed in musicals, including The Music Man, West Side Story, and Singin’ in the Rain.
His musical influences include Our Lady Peace, Alice in Chains, Big Wreck, Pearl Jam, Bon Jovi, Chris Cornell, The Goo Goo Dolls, Switchfoot, and Collective Soul. Immediately after winning American Idol, Cook was asked backstage by Entertainment Weekly who his top five favorite bands were. Our Lady Peace and Big Wreck were on this short list, as well as the Foo Fighters, Jimmy Eat World and 8stops7.
Personal life
In May 2008, Cook asked Season 2 American Idol alum and TV Guide Network correspondent Kimberly Caldwell for a dinner date while on the red carpet before the show’s seventh season finale. During a radio interview with XL 106.7 on October 13, 2008, Cook revealed that he and Caldwell were “still seeing each other.” In a November 2008 interview with People magazine, Cook said his relationship with Caldwell was a “nice break from the chaos” of post-Idol fame. They ended their relationship in December 2008.
People reported on March 31, 2009 that David was canceling dates on his current tour due to “family matters”. Cook’s elder brother, Adam, had been diagnosed with brain cancer since 1998[90] and died on May 2, 2009. On May 3, 2009 at the “Race for Hope” in Washington, D.C., Cook announced the death of his brother during the awards speech, and saying he “couldn’t imagine being anywhere else right now.” He finished the 5k with a time of 28 minutes. His team raised $136,376.16 for the cause. Donations were accepted through September 30, 2009. On the finale of the 8th season of American Idol, Cook sang his song “Permanent” in honor of his brother. Audio of the performance was made available on iTunes, and the proceeds from the sale of it were put toward brain cancer research.
Cook married longtime girlfriend, Rachael Stump, in a private ceremony in Nashville on June 20, 2015.
Discography
Main article: David Cook discography
See also: Axium and Midwest Kings
Albums
Analog Heart (2006)
David Cook (2008)
This Loud Morning (2011)
Digital Vein (2015)