Birth name Eli Hudnall Cook Instruments Guitar, vocals Website Official website | Genres Blues, blues rock Years active 2000s–present | |
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Born April 24, 1986 (age 30)
Nelson County, Virginia, United States ( 1986-04-24 ) Occupation(s) Singer, songwriter, guitarist, record producer Albums Primitive Son, Ace, Jack & King, Electricholyfirewater, Miss Blues' Child, Moonshine Mojo, Static in the Blood Profiles | ||
Eli Cook (born April 24, 1986) is an American blues singer, songwriter, guitarist and record producer. Cook has released six albums before his 30th birthday.
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AllMusic noted that Cook "has what it takes to be the best blues singer of his generation." Blues Matters! stated that Cook is "among the top 3 solo blues artists world-wide." His main influences came from the work of John Lee Hooker, Muddy Waters, Soundgarden, and Rage Against the Machine.
Early
Eli Hudnall Cook was born in Nelson County, Virginia, United States. He learned to play the guitar by the age of 13, while growing up in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. His professional career commenced by performing acoustic blues at Rapunzel's Coffee House in Lovingston, Virginia, just two years later. Playing variously acoustic and electric live sets, Cook self-released his debut album, Moonshine Mojo, in 2004. He opened for B.B. King when he was aged 18.
Appearances
Cook has shared stage with Johnny Winter, Robert Cray, Robin Trower, Parliament-Funkadelic, Shemekia Copeland, Gary Clark, Jr., and Roomful of Blues. Cook also performed on the Millennium Stage at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. He performed at the South by Southwest Festival in 2014. Cooke as opened for John Mayall at The Hamilton in Washington, D.C.
National tours have bolstered his live appearance profile.
Releases
His 2007 release, Electricholyfirewater, was a heavier blues rock affair. Valley Entertainment issued Miss Blues'es Child in 2007, which included Cook's versions of Jimmy Reed's "Baby What You Want Me to Do" and Bukka White's "Fixin' To Die." Static in the Blood followed in 2009.
In 2013, Cook signed a recording contract with Cleopatra Records. Cook's most recent 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 Cook.
Reception
Blues Matters! magazine featured Cook on the cover of its October/November (No. 86) issue. He was listed in third place in Blues Matters! 2015 Writer’s Poll, as the Favorite International Blues Solo Artist. Ace, Jack & King (2011) was reviewed in Vintage Guitar magazine.
Everybody knows the story of the crossroads, where blues guitarists go at midnight to trade their souls to the devil for musical prowess. It’s just a myth, of course, but if it were true, 21-year-old firebrand Eli Cook could have bragging rights, as his scarifying solo-country blues chill like a hellhound on your trail.
Instruments
Eli Cook performs on a resophonic guitar by National and a 12-string acoustic guitar made by Rockbridge Guitars in Charlottesville, Virginia. Both instruments are electrified supplementally. He adds percussion with his right foot on a hand cymbal/tambourine positioned on a metal case. His left foot beats out a bass drum rhythm on an "improvised stomp box"—an empty guitar case "with a mic inside it." He sings in a "rich baritone" in the Southern tradition.
His voice is booming, and he picks a 12-string as easily and fluidly as he does the resonator.
Songs
Shotgun Blues
Highway SongMiss Blues' Child · 2005
Miss Blues'es ChildMiss Blues' Child · 2005