Jeff Cook was an American country music singer, songwriter, and guitarist best known for being a founding member of the country music band Alabama.
Cook was born in Fort Payne, Alabama, on August 27, 1948. He began playing guitar at an early age and formed his first band, The Mods, while still in high school. In 1969, he joined forces with his cousin Randy Owen and Teddy Gentry to form the band Alabama. The band’s debut album, “Wild Country,” was released in 1979 and went on to sell over 5 million copies. Alabama went on to become one of the most successful country music bands of all time, selling over 75 million albums worldwide. Cook wrote or co-wrote many of Alabama’s biggest hits, including “Mountain Music,” “Tennessee River,” and “Song of the South.” He was also a talented guitarist and his solos were a major part of Alabama’s sound. Cook died on January 8, 2022, at the age of 73.
