David L. Cook(e) (born November 11, 1968) is an American Christian country music singer-songwriter, comedian and a multiple Emmy Award and Telly Award winner. Born to Donnell and June Cook (née Mercer), David is the oldest of six children.
Cook is most notably known for his deliverance of smooth vocals and his prolific writing abilities. Cook has written over 2,500 songs and wrote the song Drop that Rock. The song was featured on his album In the Middle of It All which garnered Cook a Dove Award nomination for Christian Country Album of the Year in 1999.
In all of Cook's overseas recordings his name appears with an "e" at the end of Cook to distinguish it from his work in the United States. The male members of The Cook Family Singers have always used just their middle initials as a trademark, a trait beginning back in 1885 when the first such group was formed.
In 1990 Cook was diagnosed with a dissociative disorder and psychogenic amnesia reportedly brought on by an abusive father. In 1999 Cook's story was used as a lead story with The 700 Club.
"Cook was born in Pascagoula, Mississippi; after two years, his family moved to Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Cook began his musical career at age five, singing with his family's group, The Cook Family Singers. His parents divorced in 1980, after which the group disbanded. Cook continued singing both gospel and secular music.
Early in life, Cook was abused by his father, who had a severe drinking problem; when intoxicated, the father would become violent towards the family. After many years of this abuse Cook developed many psychological problems that ended up following him through to his life as an adult. Cook developed a severe dissociative disorder and psychogenic amnesia. He recalled having periods of "missing time" but never really understood the cause. In 1990, doctors finally diagnosed the disorders after Cook experienced what they thought was a severe stroke and was rushed to the Coral Springs Medical Hospital in Fort. Lauderdale. Cook checked himself out of the hospital and disappeared from his Florida home and was found five months later in a Charlotte, North Carolina, hospital with similar health complaints. Cook had been around Charlotte for five months and no one realized that there was anything wrong with him until he started developing stroke symptoms again. Doctors finally realized that Cook's problems were not organic and sent him to see specialists. Cook had no recollection of leaving Florida, nor what he had done during his five months in Charlotte. When asked, he stated that, "It was like someone switching off a light and then switching it back on. "
Cook's story has been told through different media. The 700 Club did a full-length documentary on Cook that was aired worldwide. Cook himself wrote the religious self-help book Inspirational Words, which outlines his ordeal and how he overcame the disorder.
On November 11, 2009, Cook was diagnosed with a parathyroid tumor in his neck. Doctors assessed that the tumor was pressing against Cook's vocal chords making it virtually impossible for him to perform. Cook credits his good friend Matt Dudney, son of Country music legend Barbara Mandrell for insisting that he seek medical attention from professionals at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee to insure he was receiving the best care in the field of vocal assessments.
His first solo Christian album, Come Follow Me, was released in 1985. The album was written and produced by singer/producer Frank X. Loconto, a former member of the group Lane Brothers. In 1986, he signed with the American Musical Academy of Arts Association (AMAAA) and released another album, Personal Feelings.
In 1997, Mountainview Records released his In the Middle of it All album, which earned Cook a Gospel Music Association Dove Award nomination for Christian Country Album of the Year in 1999. However, after a fallout with Mountainview records in 1999, he started his own record label called DLC Records. It was during this transitional period that Cook created a comedy character, named Mortermer Crabbottom, in the tradition of comedic country alter egos like Jim Nabors' eccentric Gomer Pyle persona. Cook even recorded an album in character, Split Personality, based on the life and times of Mortermer Crabbottom growing up in the fictitious town of Crabbottom USA. In 1999, the Country Gospel Music Association inducted Cook into its Hall of Fame, along with Loretta Lynn, Barbara Mandrell, Andy Griffith, Jody Miller and Lulu Roman.
In August 2007 David joined in partnership with the Firebird Arts Alliance. Cook was asked by David Tang, president of Firebirds, to write and produce a theme song for the television series New South Crossings. The theme song was called, "Meet Me at the Crossroads". Cook won an Emmy Award on January 24, 2009 for his work on the series audio and soundtrack. Cook is also credited as one of the shows associate producers.
Cook appeared in the episode entitled, "Master Class". In this episode Cook was seen working with younger artists such as the Whippersnappers and Caroline Keller. Cook shows them the ins and outs of working together musically and during the episode they perform the actual theme song for the series. On May 7, 2010 it was announced that Cook had received another Emmy nomination, this time for writing and singing the theme song, Meet Me At the Crossroads
Awards (Partial Listing From 1997 to Present)moreless
Over the years, Cook has been decorated with many prestigious awards such as the 2005, Christian Comedian of the Year, 2006 "Media Personality of the Year", "Comedian of the Year" and "Christian Country Entertainer of the Year. "
In July 2006, the International Country Gospel Music Association inducted Cook and fellow artists, Mike Manuel, Gayla Earlene, Doug DeRamus and Marijohn Wilkin into the Hall of Fame.
In January 2009, Cook won an Emmy Award for his work on the series, New South Crossings and he took home his sixth career win Emmy for the composing and arranging of Meet Me At The Crossroads in June 2010.
In 1999 Cook started DLC Records after leaving the number one Christian country music label, Mountainview Records. He left the label because of contract disputes and mis-management by label executives. While on the label Cook had taken his 1999 project, In The Middle of it All all the way up the charts garnering several number one singles, a Dove Award nomination and became the number one selling Christian country artists of all time.
He incorporated, Cook Enterprises which administered all of his musical contracts and personal business affairs which included a children s television show development agreement with his management group, Five Star Music which produced a weekly show called, Crabbottom USA. The show was taped at local television station, WHTV TV-39, a Nashville Tennessee based station.
Cook's enterprising nature has been apparent since his childhood. In 1988 he incorporated Cook's Car Care Company in the Fort Lauderdale area. Eventually he transferred his interests to family members. The company is still in business today under different ownership. Cook incorporated Cook Productions International in 1989 with his business partner Edward Cook. Cook sold his interests in 1992 which dissolved the Florida division.
In 2004, Cook was presented with the opportunity to become the CEO and controlling partner for the International Academy of Music Arts and Sciences, International, (also known professionally by its acronym) IAMAS Corporation. Years earlier, the company merged with its daughter company, The American Musical Academy of Arts Association. This proved to be a profitable move because the entertainment industry was flourishing due to the upswing in Christian based music demand and distribution opportunities. This was also profitable because the IAMAS Corporation was able to use its history in the entertainment industry as a door to help boost other smaller companies into existence. However, in 2004, the entertainment industry took a huge hit with the incoming markets of Napster, Itunes, and Amazon.com. IAMAS, no longer able to compete with the cheaper forms of distribution decided to sell off only it's American division and retain its overseas holdings. Since the IAMAS Corporation had handled Cook's contracts since his families retirement in 1980, Cook offered to buy the company for an undisclosed amount. His offer was accepted and he officially filed for corporate status on November 24, 2004.
Cook, known for his charity work and community activism became the president and CEO of the Charlotte Civic Orchestra in 2005. The orchestra including it's board consists of all volunteers. The organization is a 501 company.
