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2008 Newsletter Looking back over my 2007 calendar reminds me of what an amazing year it was, filled with concerts all over the United States and countless friends along the way. Now, two months into 2008, I have already traveled to Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, Oklahoma and back through Texas, old friends all. What remains of one week off at home in Nashville will be spent relaxing with my wife Linda and our cuddly dog Twiggy. I will also stop procrastinating and get down to some weeding, mowing, dog bathing, house cleaning and figuring out my fancy new cell phone. Friday I start the next round of tours to play shows in Missouri, Illinois, Florida, Georgia, Texas, Michigan, Massachusetts winding up in Nashville. Through the rest of the year folks can find me in Minnesota, Michigan and Illinois and Texas again, New Mexico, Oregon and eventually Denmark. Whew. As far as where, when and how I will be everywhere you can check my tour page. Please feel welcome to say hello if you make it to any of my shows. I’m excited to share some of this years concerts with such talented writers and performers as Brandon Sampson of Six Mile Grove, Grammy winner Don Henry , dynamo singer Jonell Mosser, Grammy artist the inimitable Kim Carnes and hit songwriter, mega producer, phenomenal guitar player and friend since high school Josh Leo. Josh produced and played on the Miracle Mile CD, one of my proudest accomplishments. I have a special favor to ask of folks living in or around Massachusetts. I would love to play a house concert on Friday, May 2 to augment my other gigs in the area. Anyone interested in sponsoring such a house concert may contact my agent, Terri Stewart at stewartmgmt@earthlink.net or me directly at danaontour@aol.com. If you have wondered about a house concert but just aren’t sure of how to plan one we would be happy to help you figure it out. This truly is a special way to experience music and I encourage you to consider the possibility of sponsoring a house concert wherever you live. Last year was filled with great happiness and accomplishment. There was profound loss too. I mourn the passing of my father George Cooper who was a gentle warrior to the end. I miss my dear friend Michael Meros who touched so many hearts with his life of beautiful music. I have been fortunate in my life to have loved and been loved by so many nurturing souls. To all of you who support original music so fervently I give you my thanks. You make the rivers worth crossing and the gifts worth giving. Till next time. Dana 1/3/07 Check back soon for updates from Dana!
 High time I pipe up and peep out. So, here goes... I have a brand - new CD called "Made Of Mud" released on King Easy Records September 13, 2005. Yippee! You can find the CD in select record stores across the United States. If you can't find it in stock you may request that the store order it for you. Of course, all my music is available through my web site and at my live shows. A long list of people helped make this CD possible.. Big thanks to my producer, engineer, mixer and fellow musician Richard McLaurin who also worked on "Harry Truman Built a Road" with me. Richard is a master and he brought in all the other stellar players, Dave Jacques on bass, Paul Griffith on drums, Adam Bednarik on bass (also assistant engineer), Eric Fritsch on keyboards, slide guitar and samples, Steve Hermann on flugelhorn and trumpet, and Vickie Hampton on vocals. Everything was recorded and mixed at House of David Studios in Nashville. Linda Marks designed the beautiful cover as well as co-writing "Empty Glass" with me. Tohru Nakamura took the matinee idol photograph. My primary investors should also be credited: Rex Foster, Jon Ims, Shaun Carroll and Dawn Davis. Many others are listed on the CD but the real list is endless. Thank you to everyone who helps along the way. Many radio stations across the country are also on board playing different songs from the new CD. If you hear your favorite station spinning one of my songs I would greatly appreciate your phoning or emailing them and giving them encouragement to play more. The wonderful folks at my label are working hard on my behalf to bring attention to "Made Of Mud" but we need all the support we can get. Your voice can make a big difference. My dedicated booking agent Terri Stewart has been busy expanding my horizons arranging work for me from coast to coast and beyond. Since September, 2005 I have performed in Texas, Colorado, Vermont, Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut and Georgia. Now I am on my way to Alabama, Missouri,North Carolina, South Carolina, Sweden and Denmark, then back to Texas again before Christmas.. Feel free to check out the web site for details on my tour schedule. There is a darned good chance I will be in your neighborhood sooner or later. Sign up for monthly emails if you want to be informed regularly. Let me know what you think of the new look for the sites opening page designed by Jeff Thorneycroft. Since my last newsletter (over one year ago I am embarrassed to say) so much has happened it's hard to know where to start. From August 2004 through August 2005 I traveled to Europe three times. My friend Brett Perkins invited me to attend two song writing retreats, one in Denmark and one in Sweden. I co-wrote many songs with great writers like Annika Fehling from Sweden, Eva Hillered from Sweden, Rene Schmidt from Denmark, Sascha Dupont from Denmark, Josefina Sanner from Sweden, Nanne-Emelie from Denmark , Klaus Caprani from Denmark and Christene Le Doux from the United States. As a consequence, I toured Sweden and Denmark with Annika Fehling and Eva Hillered also bringing them to the U.S. to tour with me. Traveled with my friends Brett Perkins, Rene Schmidt, Tom Cunningham, Eva Hillered and Annika Fehling from Berlin to Copenhagen and Prague. Annika returned here to open my CD release shows in Nashville and Texas and we managed to write two more new songs. Rene Schmidt joined me here in the U.S. for a tour as well and we all continue to write and perform together in varying combinations. In February 2004 I was invited by Panarts to participate in the Belfast Song Writer Festival. What a wonderful experience working with young writers in an effort to bring together different social groups there. Highlights include working with the children of an Irish speaking school, just looking upon those beaming innocent faces gave me such hope for the future, being swept away by new friends Rhianon and Finbar to a pub in County Down for a jam session with a trad band and a steaming bowl of delicious leek soup, sharing a Guinness with Joe in Ireland's oldest pub the Crown, the cozy get together with all the welcoming folks from the Panarts group at Colin and Anne's, respites and meals there too and at Joe and Claire's, meeting with inspiring Irish writers like Brian Houston, Bap Kennedy, Rhianon and Eilidh Patterson and so many more. I also toured down south in Ireland sharing some dates with Annika Fehling and meeting some lovely people there too. Walked the hallowed streets of Dublin, St. Stephen's Green, down along the chilly River Liffey, Trinity College, Temple Bar and Grafton Street. Annika and I even busked one drizzly afternoon on Grafton Street along with all the other musicians trying to make a few crowns. Played for a night's stay at the Avalon House and met many friendly people there from all over the world. Hoisted a few glasses of "mother's milk" (that's Guinness to us) and shared the stage with Annika at the Green Room. Johnny Moran took us for a wild morning ride to sing on a Dublin television show. MAKEUP! The cameras cut away just before I began singing my part. From there we traveled down to Lismore and played to an enthusiastic audience at Rose's Pub hosted by John Cullimore and Anne Rath. Next morning we sang for our Irish breakfast at John and Anne's house. Ended up in Tralee playing an in the round with writer and painter John Hurley. What a magical island indeed. I hope to return sometime this spring for more adventures on the emerald isle. Now I know how to drive on the left hand side of the road. Well, I leave for Alabama tomorrow and there is laundry and oil change and chores galore awaiting. For now I will sign off and leave you hanging for the next account. I will endeavor to carry on soon and fill you in on other happenings. Along the road I encounter countless people and experiences. I am most thankful to all of you who support me with love and applause and meals and good wishes every mile of the way. Till next time Dana |
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© 2001-2005 Dana Cooper // web updates by alicia bequette |
