A View from the Wire
By Michael Bell The wire Magazine
Musicians of the Kawarthas
Featuring Jay Cooper Had the chance to sit down with Jay Cooper. We go back a long way. Road Bands, Solo Albums, TV, Commercials, Radio and still continuing. But where did it all start?
“I grew up in Campbellford, ON. Music was a huge part of my life. My father was an Opera Singer in Holland. His love for playing piano and singing was present almost every day. He always dreamed I would be a classical pianist. At the age of 4 or 5, I started taking piano lessons. It was always very strict guildlines, even at a young age, practicing 30 minutes before and 30 minutes after school. As I improved and moved in to the Conservatory training, the practice time was extended to 1 hour twice a day. I never knew any other kind of music, just Classical and Jazz, which my parents loved. I mean, this was the 70’s, while other parents would be blasting Rock or Country. The lessons in piano started me creating my own music at 7 years old. I would hear songs on the Jazz records that I liked and recreate that sound. I only knew at the time how to read music, not learning by ear. But it turned out I had a pretty good ear. I found so much pleasure creating, other than reading music. In public school, a classmate had a KISS shirt on. I was like, what the hell is that all about? We became friends. He would bring me magazines with Kiss in
it, and all the 70’s bands of the day. I couldn’t get enough of it! I knew I wanted to be a drummer. I begged my father for 2 years for a set of drums. Nope. But he was very creative and built me a Macgyver kit made of old pickle barrels with inner tubes stretch over for skins, the snare was an old cookie tin with rocks in it, and the cymbal was an old brass clock frame. Finally, at 12 years old, for Christmas, I got a real drum kit. The deal was, continue with my piano training and possibly Santa would bring me a kit. I took to drums very quickly on my own, and as I entered High School, the school band allowed me to play with other musicians. Then, at school assembly, this band comes on and starts playing Stepping Stone and Rocky Moutain Way at a Huge Volume. I literally thought I had seen God (he laughs). Their drummer left school and they asked me to play drums. I literally could hardly speak! These guys were 3 years older than me! (I just started Grade 9). A rehearsal at my parents house and that was it. I was a member of my first band.” To be Continued next issue ...
To listen to some of Jay Cooper’s songs, go to http://slitherproductions.com/JayCooper
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