Genres Country Instruments Vocals, guitar | Years active 2007–present Name Ryan Cook | |
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Born April 3, 1981 (age 43) ( 1981-04-03 ) Occupation(s) Singer-songwriter, musician Labels No Scene Records, Independent Role Singer-songwriter · ryancook.ca Profiles | ||
Ryan Cook (born April 3, 1981) is an award-winning Canadian folk & country music singer/songwriter. Cook performs original country music to largely non-country audiences and has released three independent albums - Hot Times (2008), Peaks & Valleys (2010), and Wrestling with Demons (2013). Cook has toured across Canada and the United States performing original songs as well as tribute concerts to historic songwriters Hank Williams, and Merle Travis.
Contents
- Early life
- 20082009 Hot Times
- 20092011 Peaks and Valleys
- 2011 2014 Wrestling with Demons Solo Career
- Music Nova Scotia Awards
- East Coast Music Awards
- Other Awards
- References
Early life
Cook grew up on a dairy farm in Yarmouth County, Nova Scotia, the eldest of four children. In high school Cook wrote and sang for local punk rock and heavy metal garage bands. He graduated from Yarmouth Consolidated Memorial High School in 2000. While in college, he worked part-time at a retirement home and began taking requests to perform traditional country music. He developed a passion for the genre which led him to pursue a career in folk and country music.
2008–2009: Hot Times
In 2008, Cook recorded with his then touring band, Sunny Acres, and released his debut LP Hot Times. The record won a Music Nova Scotia Country/Bluegrass Recording of the Year award, was nominated for an East Coast Music award, and named the eighth Best Canadian Country Album of 2008 by Country Music News.
2009–2011: Peaks and Valleys
In 2009, while performing at the CMA Music Festival in Nashville, Tennessee, Cook met John Walker, a producer for Music City Roots. The two established a partnership which brought many Nashville musicians together to record at Quad Studios. The album features Lloyd Green, Andy Leftwich, Guthrie Trapp, Bruce Bouton, and Alison Brown. The album received and won award nominations including Best Canadian Country Album of 2010 by Country Music News (Canada) beating some of Canada's most recognized country artists such as Gord Bamford, Johnny Reid, Deric Ruttan, Carolyn Dawn Johnson, and Dean Brody.
2011-2014: Wrestling with Demons, Solo Career
In 2011 Cook began performing as a solo entertainer and toured as the opening act for country music artists such as Sammy Kershaw, Travis Tritt, Dwight Yoakam, and Rosanne Cash. In 2013 Cook released a third album, Wrestling with Demons, which featured former members of Hank Snow's touring band The Rainbow Ranch Boys. The album was produced in Canada and also featured Canadian guitarist/fiddler J.P Cormier. Wrestling with Demons was nominated at the ECMA & Music Nova Scotia awards in 2013 and won an award for Country Album of the Year.
Music Nova Scotia Awards
Music Nova Scotia Awards is an annual awards ceremony established in 1997 as part of the Molson Canadian Nova Scotia Music Week.
East Coast Music Awards
The East Coast Music Association is a non-profit association that hosts an annual awards ceremony based in Atlantic Canada for music appreciation on the East Coast of Canada.
Other Awards
2011 Canadian Country Album of the year, Peaks & Valleys - Country Music News