Who was Jeff Cook?

Jeff Cook, one of the founders of the country music band Alabama died aged 73 at his home in Destin, Florida, on Monday. His death was confirmed by a representative of the band on Tuesday.

Cook was suffering from Parkinson’s disease for the last 10 years. He even made his diagnosis public in 2017. The representative of the band said that he died due to his illness at his beachside home in Florida. Since his death, tributes have poured in from all corners of the music industry.

Also read: Jeff Cook, co-founder of country music band Alabama, dead at 73

Who was Jeff Cook?

Jeff Cook was born on August 27, 1949, in Fort Payne, Alabama. He founded the band Alabama, named after his home state, with his cousins Randy Owen and Teddy Gentry. He graduated from Fort Payne High School and later from Jacksonville State University. He obtained a license as a broadcast engineer on his 14th birthday and worked as a disc jockey at a local radio station.

Alabama was later inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame for creating a blueprint for producing hit songs in the country music genre. Some of Alabama’s songs, such as Song of the South, Mountain Music, I’m In A Hurry, and Cheap Seats, have gone on to become legendary hits in the country music genre.

Since Alabama stopped production and performing in 2004, Cook continued to remain active and formed two groups, Cook & Glenn and Allstar Goodtime Band. He continued to perform with them till the final years of his life.

Also read: Jeff Cook dead: Know about his net worth, age, height, wife, child

He has been a vocal supporter of Mike Huckabee, the former Republican governor of Arkansas, and endorsed when he ran for president in 2008. Cook was inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum in 2019.