There’s something about seeing your all-time favorite artist perform in person; that moment when the pedestal you’ve put them on is validated. You’re no longer listening to a recording of their voice, but rather seeing them in the flesh, a human just like yourself, and their words and voice hang with a bit more depth. Newcomer Ricky Cook had that moment when he saw Loretta Lynn, whose cassette Just a Woman was the first he ever owned, perform for the first time in Knoxville, TN. And now, this coal miner’s son has come full circle, releasing his first single “Thanks A Lot, Loretta,” ahead of his debut album of the same title due April 2.
We caught up with Cook to talk about his musical journey, those who have inspired him, and of course his new album.
CN: For our readers who may not be familiar with you, can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
RC: I’m basically as country as cornbread. Not a lot to tell. When you get to know me…what you see is what you get. I’m a hard worker. Not sure if that is bred in my DNA because my whole family is hard workers, or if I just always had to work a hair harder.
CN: Born and raised in the town of Oakdale, TN, which is the smallest town in the state with a population of 200. How did that influence you as a person, and as a musician?
RC: Well, I’m not sure Oakdale had much of an influence on me as a person because I just thought back then that everyone lived in the same kind of town. I can say when there are only 200 people, you learn to get along with everyone because there aren’t any new people to make friends with. I guess that helped mold my character. You also learn to be real honest because someone is bound to tell your momma if you did something wrong, especially if 40 of the 200 are your kin. As far as being a musician, it probably pushed me along because we had limited things to do there. I had plenty of time to spend on writing my thoughts down and creating songs.
CN: You’ve credited your grandmother with introducing you to songwriting. At what age did you start writing? How did she impact you as a songwriter?
RC: Well yes, my Grandmother was the one that had the most impact on getting me started. She was quite a singer, songwriter and pretty gifted guitar player. I’ve told this many times, but I was mesmerized with how she wrote her songs. One day I said mammaw, “ How do you write songs?” She said, “Well just tell a story and make the ends rhyme.” As we all know, there is a bit more to it than that, but it made sense, and it got me started around the age of 7 or 8.
CN: Do you remember the first song you ever wrote?
RC: I do remember the first song I ever wrote. It was called, ‘Somewhere Down the Road.’ The chorus was kind of redundant but not bad for a little guy and his first attempt. “Somewhere down the road there’s dreams comin’ alive. Somewhere down the road I see ‘em just in sight. Somewhere down the road I see the light of a better life. And I also see a vision of hope, somewhere down the road.” I really wasn’t a depressed kid. LOL!
CN: Can you tell us a little bit about your songwriting process? Do you pull mostly from personal experiences, experiences of those around you, or elsewhere?
RC: My process has no process. I might come up with a chorus and then have to go find a verse. Or I might get a third verse and wonder how I’m going to find a first verse. For this first album, most of my inspiration came from personal experience and family members.
CN: As someone who wears two hats, you are also an elite horse trainer, well known in the state of Kentucky. When did you decide to pursue a career in horse training, and then switch to singing / songwriting full-time? Did both careers ever co-exist?
RC: Well after my first trip to Nashville and a weekend on Music Row, I didn’t get a record deal. I just remember they said they already had a Randy Travis. I said yeah, but what about a Ricky Cook. No takers. Well I had to make some money, so I decided to follow my second passion: horses. I got an opportunity to move to Kentucky. I was fairly successful and definitely blessed. The industry led me to a friend of a friend to J.P. Pennington. The rest is history. It seems like all roads somehow led back to Nashville, and what I think I was meant to do. At the very least, take care of some unfinished business.
CN: Country music legends Loretta Lynn, Conway Twitty and Dolly Parton are listed as some of your biggest influences. How have they impacted you and your career? Are there any current country artists that you are inspired by?
RC: I would say I probably impacted their career more by putting money in their pockets buying all their records. I think I have all of Loretta’s albums in my collection. But seriously, Dolly and Loretta definitely inspired me to believe that just because you came from a small town you can still follow your dream and probably get there one day. I can’t say there are any current artists that have been as inspiring to me as those three.
CN: Speaking of Loretta Lynn, in January you released your debut single “Thanks A Lot, Loretta”, which is also the title track of your upcoming album. Obviously THE Loretta inspired you, but can you talk about how this song came to be? Apparently the end result wasn’t what you first envisioned?
RC: I had the title, ‘Thanks a Lot, Loretta,’ and my intention was to pretty much pour my heart out and tell her how much I love her, but it didn’t quite come out that way! Somehow it got twisted around, and I kind of started to blame her for having to straighten up and do right. I hope she knows it’s all tongue-in-cheek, maybe a little like her early songs.
CN: And Peggy Sue is in the music video! How did that come about?
RC: Ironically, I’ve been using Crystal Gayle’s guitar player as my steel player. Her Manager is also a very good friend of mine. When the song came out on CDX in January, they were all traveling together and listened to it on Crystal’s bus. Peggy Sue tours with Crystal (they’re all sisters, you know), and she heard it. She actually liked it. When Peggy Sue found out we were shooting a conceptual video, and there was a perfect spot for her to be featured, she agreed to do it. We really had a blast filming the big scene that day. Lulu Roman is in it as well.
CN: You co-wrote all 12 tracks on the album with J.P.Pennington, founding member of Exile. Tell us what that experience was like.
RC: J.P. and I just seemed to click and became close friends in the first few times of being around each other. I don’t know who brought it up, but we agreed to write together. I had several lyrics and songs started, but his experience just helped to polish them enough to make them demo worthy. It’s been a great partnership, and he has really helped me to perfect crafting the structure of a song.
CN: The album takes us back to 90s country with honk-tonk tunes and beautiful, yet melancholy, ballads – such as “It’s All In The Kiss.” What is the story behind this song?
RC: It’s funny, most all of the people who have heard the album, you know friends and family all seem to keep choosing this song as their favorite. I guess you could say maybe it’s a sleeper. The idea is pretty simple, although there are big fancy cars, houses, successes in life, sometimes all you need for a great love is a simple kiss.
CN: Do you have a dream collaboration in mind?
RC: Well, of course I do. Sometimes your biggest dream may just need to remain that way, but if I could sing a song with my two favorite ladies, Loretta and Dolly, it would mean the world to me. But what’s even more important than my dream is that Loretta keeps getting better from her stroke and recent fall. I hope everyone will join me in sending prayers for a full recovery.
CN: If you could describe yourself in one word, what would it be?
RC: I can’t, so I’ll say, “Stubborn as a double-tailed mule.” Think on that one…my manager had to.
CN: Excited for your debut album’s release on April 2? What else can we look forward to from you? Tour?
RC: Oh sure, releasing this CD is a life-time dream come true and a long way from that first trip to Music Row. Right now, I’m concentrating on a pretty big radio tour coming up on the horizon, just after the release of the album on April 2.
For more information Ricky Cook, visit his website: www.rickycookmusic.com
I’m really excited to see Ricky do well and I believe he will, his family and mine have a lot in common,we are lifelong friends and neighbors, I grew up with his Dad ,brothers and sisters, Rick’s Dad and mother are two of the hardest workers I’ve known we were next door neighbors and our children played together every day. We will be watching and praying that Gods will be done in your life and endeavors,best to you our friend.