One of The Few : John Cooper
John was a great personal friend of mine and a great friend to many.
A kind and charismatic man I was blessed with his friendship and his company. Ever since meeting him at a music festival in Ayrshire, Scotland I have thought about him every day, his sad passing a couple of years ago very much lingers in the memory today.
A gifted communicator he was incredibly good company and his lightness of heart and approach to life made spending time with him a complete joy.
As a songwriter John Cooper made his way through life. John learned to play the piano at a young age thanks to encouragement from his parents and his piano tutor which led to him discovering the power and magic of music at a young age.
Although he worked in a number of professional roles in his life including in engineering John was at heart a songwriter. His ability to craft whole worlds in his songs, his exploration of characters and themes was to me absolute magic. His humanity and grace always shone in his writing and his genuine care and compassion for others, their difficulties, graces and triumphs were always in abundance in his songs.
One of John’s greatest personal and professional achievements came at the end of the 70’s as his music found it’s way into the hands of legendary American songwriter and musician, Jimmy Webb. The hugely revered Jimmy Webb was so impressed with John that he recorded a version of his song, ‘One of The Few’ for his 1982 album ‘Angel Heart’. For John this was the ultimate achievement, that one of the most successful and celebrated songwriters ever would record his song. The two met on a number of occasions when Jimmy Webb was touring around the UK. Although this was to prove perhaps one of John’s few commercial successes in terms of achievement few would doubt that it was absolutely incredible. John was a great friend and mentor to me and I miss him dearly. His kindness, humour and affability as well as his ability to empathise with nearly everyone made him not only a brilliant companion but a truly great human.
I am thankful and grateful that John spent so much time with me and I’m extremely glad that we recorded a number of interviews together, they will be forever treasured.