298 – Randy Cooke: A Self-Imposed Freeze on Live Gigs, The Influence of an Approach, The Live Gig Hustle vs. the Session Gig Hustle

Working Drummer

Influenced by his drummer father, Cooke picked up the drums as a child, learning and playing as part of a local drum corps in Toronto before starting his own bands as a teenager.[1] After high school, he took his talents to the recording studio and the national stage, recording and/or touring with the likes of FM, Lee Aaron, Strange Advance, Marc Jordan, Rik Emmett, Amy Sky, Sass Jordan, Kim Mitchell, Alannah Myles, and Alanis Morissette, and quickly emerged as one of Canada’s top session musicians.[2]

In 2004, Cooke relocated to Los Angeles and has since worked with some of music’s biggest names. Shortly after his move, he was selected to record and tour with Dave Stewart of Eurythmics. Impressed, Stewart recommended Cooke to Ringo Starr, who was looking for a band to back him up as he began the promotional circuit for his solo album, Liverpool 8. Cooke got the spot and would accompany Starr on drums on The Rachel Ray Show and at the European Capital Of Culture Celebration, among other major appearances.[1] Since moving to the US, he has also toured and/or recorded with Five for Fighting, Kelly Clarkson, Hilary Duff, Natasha Bedingfield, Colin Hay (of Men at Work), Pointer Sisters, Mick Jagger, David Archuleta, Mandy Moore, and Taylor Hicks.[3] He has also appeared on Jay Leno, David Letterman, Regis & Kelly, A&E Private Sessions, Larry King, CBS Early Show, The View, and Martha Stewart.

In this episode, Randy talks about:

* Getting video of EVERYTHING he does in the studio* His criteria for returning to travel work* The lasting influences of Stewart Copland and Steve Gadd* Getting multiple mini-lessons out of learning one short groove or fill* Habits from live playing that don’t serve you in the studio* Why LA was the place for him * The separate worlds of networking for live work vs. session work