Ryan Cook (musician)

Ryan Cook

Cook performing onboard "The Canadian" en route from Toronto to Edmonton, April 2011
Background information
Born (1981-04-03) April 3, 1981
Origin Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada
Genres Country
Occupation(s) Singer-songwriter, musician
Instruments Vocals, guitar
Years active 2007–present
Labels No Scene Records, Independent
Website ryancook.ca

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.[1][2]

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.[3][4] 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.[3]

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.[3]

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.[3] 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.[5][6]

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.

Discography

Studio albums

Title Album details
Hot Times (as Ryan Cook & Sunny Acres)
  • Release date: February 29, 2008 [7]
  • Label: No Scene Records
  • Formats: CD, music download
Peaks & Valleys
  • Release date: October 28, 2010 [8]
  • Label: Independent
  • Formats: CD, music download
Wrestling with Demons
  • Release date: February 28, 2013
  • Label: Independent
  • Formats: CD, music download

Awards

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.

Year Nominee/work Award Result
2007 Sunny Acres EP New Artist/Group RecordingNominated
Country/Bluegrass RecordingNominated
2008 Hot Times LP New Artist/Group RecordingNominated
Country/Bluegrass RecordingWon
2009 Hot Times LP Digital ArtistNominated
Male ArtistNominated
2011 Peaks & Valleys LP AlbumNominated
Male ArtistNominated
Country/Bluegrass RecordingWon
2011 Gaspereau Valley SOCAN Song of the YearNominated
2013 Ryan Cook Entertainer of the YearNominated
2013 Wrestling with Demons AlbumNominated
Country/Bluegrass RecordingWon

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.

Year Nominee/work Award Result
2009 Hot Times LP Country RecordingNominated
2011 Peaks & Valleys LP Country RecordingNominated
Rising ArtistNominated
Digital ArtistNominated
2013 Wrestling with Demons LP Country RecordingNominated

Other Awards

2011 Canadian Country Album of the year, Peaks & Valleys - Country Music News

References

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