Dana Cooper

Nashville resident Dana Cooper matches intellectually dense words with vigorous folk-rock backings. After taping material alongside Shake Russell toward the end of the 1970s and leading his own 1980s rock unit Dana Cooper's DC3, he has circled back to the spare, one-man acoustic guitar settings that marked his first shows.

Recognition arrived early through sets in Kansas City folk rooms when he was only sixteen. He left college, headed to Los Angeles, and drew notice with lyrics that resembled poetry. Elektra put out his self-titled debut in 1973, supported by session players Russ Kunkel, Leland Sklar, Jim Horn, and Al Perkins. After relocating to Texas in 1978 he teamed with Russell; the partnership produced three albums across the next five years.

When the two parted in 1983 Cooper launched the high-energy rock band Dana Cooper's DC3. The group cut two albums and released the 1983 single "Give Us the Money," yet never achieved commercial traction and eventually split. In 1987 the same musicians renamed themselves the Nuclear Family and issued a self-titled album.

Cooper resumed acoustic work in 1988, issuing three self-produced cassettes. His first CD, Stone By Stone, appeared in 1992 and was followed in 1994 by Thrill of Love, which included guest turns from Russell and Jack Saunders. That release was voted Album of the Year at the Houston Press/KLOL Music Awards.

Since settling in Nashville in 1988 he has continued recording, delivering the live acoustic set Roughly Speaking in 1995. Miracle Mile, issued in 1997, featured appearances by Lyle Lovett and Maura O'Connell; the same year his 1987 cassette Complicated Stuff was reissued on CD.

O'Connell, Trout Fishing In America, Rex Foster, and Christine Albert have all recorded his songs.