I Am My Father's Daughter

A few weeks ago I heard a song on our local radio station (KHTS) which pretty much weakened me to my core. It was like kryptonite for me. There's nothing worse than trying to drive when your eyes are full of tears, Not to mention it's not very safe! What was the song, you may ask? It's called My Father's Daughter. It's a new song, sung by Jewel and Dolly Parton, written by Jewel and Lisa Carver. (I've attached the link to the song below.)

If you've ever delved in to your ancestry, (and if not, I highly recommend it) you'll have a much larger scope and understanding of who you are. When I heard the lyrics below, many of the stories I learned about my ancestors came flooding back in an instant.

"I am the accumulation of the dreams of generations

And their stories live in me like holy water

I am my father's daughter..."

Yes, I am my father's daughter and I am also a third generation musician, with my musical roots extending not only from my father's side but my mother's too.  My grandfather, Jack Cooper Sr. played saxophone and clarinet in Pennsylvania. In fact, music was his ticket out of the coal mines when he moved to Detroit, Michigan in the mid 1920's. His father worked in those mines for 30 years upon arriving to America from Poland. In 1930 my Great Grandfather died in a mining accident (along with his brother) when he was 60 years old. I can't even imagine how hard he worked and what his lungs must've looked like. How I wish I could thank him for his sacrifice. (I am truly standing on the shoulders of giants.)

My father began playing sax and clarinet when he was in his teens. In 1942, while my Dad was playing in his father's big band in Detroit, Pearl Harbor had just been attacked. My Dad enlisted as a musician and in doing so he was able to not only support the war effort but entertain the troops while he served in the Navy up in Kodiak, Alaska.

I never did get to meet my grandfather, let alone sit on his knee or go fishing with him. He died a few years before I was born. Shortly thereafter my father put away his saxophone for good. It was a sacrifice and no doubt, a painful one. In fact, I remember watching a big band with him at a casino about twenty years ago. While they played the classic song, In The Mood  he had tears in his eyes. He told me once, that was one of his favorite songs to play. I'm pretty sure that he let go of his musical dream to live a more conventional life; to raise a family. He worked for nearly 35 years in an office job that left him feeling stressed out and overwhelmed.  I think that's why the song lyric below pierced through my heart like an arrow when I heard it:

"I am my father's daughter

I have his eyes

I am the product of his sacrifice..."

Music has always been my salvation while simultaneously my frustration ever since I was a teenager.  I wish we lived in a world that valued music more, making it more available to learn in schools, allowing more musicians to live more comfortably.  Unfortunately, it is now even harder to make a career in the music industry; so much is given away for free on the internet now.

For this reason - not to mention my age, I am at times tempted to give up my music for good and settle back in to an office job. I should mention that I did give up my musical aspirations for about seven years, working in an office when I was in my mid-forties. But  now I'm back to playing bass and guitar and writing songs (currently in a band called My Friend's Band).  Some day I may be inspired to walk away from it all for good, but one thing will never change: I will always be my Father's Daughter!

Thank you, Dad for the gift of music you passed on to me. I will gratefully carry on this torch for as long as I'm physically able to.

Jack Cooper Sr. and Jack Cooper Jr.

  

 Jack Cooper Jr. & Jack Cooper Sr.

 

Forever in my heart - Always!

 If you'd like to watch the official video for My Father's Daughter, please click on the link below.

https://youtu.be/2TYepdbTIog

To see a video from a recent performance of mine (singing a song I wrote called Fightin' The Good Fight) please click on this link:

https://youtu.be/cbqPx-pLsu0

An Afternoon on the set of the X-Files

It's funny how we remember certain dates as they approach annually.  October 13th is one such date for me. Why, you might ask? Because it's Chris Carter's birthday (of course!). He was the creator and Executive Producer of The X-Files -- a television show that was close to my heart for obvious reasons. My fascination with extraterrestrials and U.F.O.s began long ago. I started painting aliens back around 1985. The one below is one of the first E.T. portraits I painted. Where that painting is now, I have no idea. Like many others I sold it for $50.00 or so to help pay my bills when I first moved to L.A.

 Painting these ugly little bug-eyed creatures over and over again was my way of getting to the truth. I was looking within myself and trying to access some sort of memory or knowledge buried deep within (a search that continues to this day). I still don't know exactly why I'm obsessed, I just know in my heart that there are other beings out there living on thousands if not millions of planets, and I'm haunted by the amazing possibilities that come along with that fact. (And, yes, I do believe it is a fact.)

So, when The X-Files first began airing in the autumn of 1993 I felt a certain affinity with Chris Carter and the characters he created, like Fox Mulder and Dana Scully. They were also in search of the Truth and they knew it was 'out there' just as I did!

About six years after that show began airing I was working for the City of Santa Clarita.  It was an odd match. I don't consider myself a 'government worker' type but somehow I found my way into the bureaucratic system, and into the Parks & Recreation Department.

During that time I received an offer in the way of a memo that had been circulating:  "Become a Mentor! Make a difference in a young person's life".  I gave it some thought but dismissed it almost immediately. I was too weird to be a mentor! I was an artist and rock musician and an alien painter for chrissakes! No way! I didn't want to be a bad influence on someone's life - that would certainly be counter-productive!  But at the last minute I decided to submit for it. And I'm glad I did because the girl that I was assigned to could not have been a more perfect match!  Her name was Guinevere and she was 13 years old. She and I got along great and when I discovered our mutual love of The X-Files I soon came up with an idea. A scheme if you will.  What if I offered to give one of my alien paintings to Chris Carter in exchange for a day on the set of The X-Files for Guinevere and I?  It was crazy! A total long shot and I was just smart enough to realize that most likely I would never even hear back. But I still had to try, right? So I wrote a heartfelt letter and gathered some photos of some of my alien portraits and sent them in to the production office. I didn't want to get Guinevere's hopes up so I kept it to myself.

After two long weeks of waiting and hoping... It happened! I received a phone call from Chris Carter's assistant and she did indeed invite us to spend an afternoon on the set of The X-Files! Holy Mackerel!!! Only in Hollywood!  Within a day or two Guinevere and I were at the local shopping mall. We each bought a new outfit for that very special occasion.  Mine was metallic silver (of course!).

When the big day arrived I drove us to Fox Studios in West Los Angeles and gave the security guard our names. I half-expected him to look on his roster and search and look again, only to say, "Sorry, I don't see your names here..." But, our names were on the list and he gave us a parking pass along with a map to the stage and nearby offices. Guinevere and I were giddy with excitement as we drove onto the lot. After I parked I scooped up my painting from the backseat and we walked inside and in to the lobby.  Once again, I was nervous. Will he be too busy to see us?  Was there an emergency production meeting or location scout, or trouble on the set?  I guess I still didn't believe it would happen. But, once again we were given the green light as Chris Carter's assistant came out and greeted us. She was gracious and kind and made us feel like we were the V.I.P.s!  A few moments later we were invited into Chris Carter's office. Dressed in a white t-shirt and a casual pair of Levi's, he was very handsome and had an incredible presence about him. He greeted us with a bright smile.

Honestly I have no idea what I said to him! I was stuttering and blushing and I probably sounded somewhat inarticulate. But I'm pretty sure that I at least told him how much I loved his show and Guinevere expressed the same.

Then I presented him with his new painting (pictured here to the left) and I think he genuinely appreciated it!  Although if anyone would appreciate an alien portrait it would be him, right?!

Moments later we were on the set of The X-Files! We got to meet David Duchovny and Mitch Pileggi (Agent Skinner)! We watched several scenes being filmed and sat in a special area designated for the 'production team'.  It was a wonderful and magical afternoon on the set and a special memory that comes back around annually. And along with it, each October 13th, I send out a psychic 'happy birthday' message to Chris Carter through the ethers. After all, if anyone could receive such a message this way, it would be him, right?

Guinevere, Chris Carter & Janine Cooper Ayres (1999)

PATHS By Jack Cooper

Below is a poem written by my Father when he was 85 years old.

PATHS

By Jack Cooper 

©2010

The other night as I lay in bed, thought after thought danced through my head.

I laid there wondering where I’d be today had I taken another path during my early journey’s way.

Have you ever wished you could go back in time? Start all over again when you were in your prime?

If I had taken that path I bypassed before  - heaven only knows what might’ve been in store.

I might’ve made it big on the stage or screen – Maybe won an Oscar in the Hollywood scene.

I was good at sports – at the top of my game. Had I stuck to that path – might I been in the Hall of Fame?

 I loved to travel, explore foreign lands  - maybe search for treasure buried deep in the sand.

Or taken the High Sierra road  -  I might’ve found that Mother Lode!

If I studied harder to become more wise  -  I might’ve been a scientist, won the Nobel  Peace Prize.

Ah, yes, if only I’d taken a different lane - I might have wound up with fortune and fame.

I leaned back on my pillow and pondered some more. Then dozed off to sleep – back to the days of yore.

Instead of dreaming of glory and fame - my dreams took me down a perilous lane.

I was on a path that that led into harm’s way  - leading me only toward danger and dismay.

No Hall of Fame, no big prize – no award.  No treasure chest found washed up on the shore.

I was lonely and homeless and roaming the streets  -  Begging for food with no place to sleep.

I woke up and I sat on the edge of my bed  -  shaking and sweating from my toes to my head.

I sat for a moment glancing around the room  -  trying to clear my head of the misery and gloom.

With a sigh of relief I realized how lucky I’ve been  -  that I did take the right path way back when.

I’ve struggled at times with some bumps along the way. But I’ve made it safely to where I am today. 

I’m blessed with a family I’d  never trade  away - and have wonderful friends I’ve met along the way.

One may choose to be happy – or envious and sad - left dreaming of the treasures you might’ve had.

But I do have my treasures on this glorious day!  I just have to look at things in a much different way.

Tomorrow will be the beginning of another day  - I just hope I choose the right path along my long journey’s way.

The coolest job I ever had

Throughout my life I’ve had a few jobs.  Okay, I’ve had a lot of jobs.  I blame this restless behavior on my Hungarian roots.  I have gypsy blood in me.  But, there is one job that stands out from all of the rest.  I must say, it was the hippest - the coolest and most interesting job I’ve ever had!

Of course, I didn’t realize it at the time. 

I was living in the Bay Area (Cupertino) where I graduated from high school and had been playing bass guitar in a few different garage bands. Somehow I discovered  that Guitar Player Magazine was published right there in that silicon suburb so I went down to their office on Stevens Creek and applied for a job.  And miraculously I was hired!

I started out as the receptionist for G.P.I. Publications.  Three magazines were published under its wing:  FRETS, KEYBOARD and GUITAR PLAYER.  I was nervous as hell answering those phones.  I remember once when several lines lit up at once instead of saying, “GPI Publications, may I help you?”, I said, “GPI Publications, may I hold you?” 

Not too long after working in that position another one opened up in the Guitar Player office. It was for the Office Coordinator post and I knew that I didn't have the experience nor the confidence to land that job but somehow I mustered up the courage to apply. To my amazement I got the job and suddenly I found myself in the midst of the coolest folks I’d ever had the privilege of working with!

Of course, I didn’t realize it at the time.

I spent my days transcribing interviews with amazing guitarists like Eric Clapton and The Edge from U2. I was treated like family by Editor Tom Wheeler and his staff, Jas Obrecht, Tom Mulhern, Jim Ferguson, Dan Forte and Art Director, Peggy Shea.  It was an amazing experience and an incredible place to work!  But as much as I loved it there I couldn’t help but feel that my dream job was to be an actual working musician and not one behind the scenes. (This need for attention and craving the spotlight I blame on being the youngest in my family.)  

So, I moved to L.A. to try my hand at making a career out of playing music.  And can you believe – some thirty years later I’m still trying to make that crazy dream a reality?!  Oh, I’ve had run-ins with success and near misses. I’ve had a taste of fame. I’ve stood next to it on stage, or behind it...  But, if I’ve learned one thing during these humbling and interesting years it’s that you have to make the journey the destination - because odds are I will never reach the final destination that I once thought was so important.

In the mean time I’m grateful for the incredible people I’ve met along the way.  My 'work family' at Guitar Player Magazine is certainly right there at the top of the list of amazing people I've come to know during my life's journey.  I was one lucky gal to have had that opportunity!

And, yes... of course, I didn’t realize it at the time…

I’m also grateful to Mark Zuckerberg.  If it weren’t for his company Facebook,  I would’ve lost touch with many old friends and work-mates. Last year when I received a Facebook message from Dara Crockett (daughter of Jim Crockett, the publisher of GPI Publications) she told me that she and her father were writing a book about the Glory Days at Guitar Player Magazine.  She asked me if I might want to consider contributing with a story or photographs.  Being the blabbermouth that I am I jumped at the chance!

After reconnecting with Dara and Jim Crockett I soon discovered that Jim and his wife Bobby and I are neighbors! (Well, almost.)  For the past ten years or so we’ve been living not more than thirty miles away from one another.  We've since become friends and I even helped him crack the e-book code recently.  His memoir, Experiencing the Great Whites and Other Interesting Times  is now available at Amazon.com.  It’s filled with some outrageous storytelling which makes me wonder how this man is still alive!  I hope you'll take the time to read it. Here’s the link. 

www.amazon.com/Experiencing-The-Great-Whites-Interesting-ebook/dp/B00QSOA07A

The Guitar Player book is available now too. In fact it arrived in my mail box yesterday and it is filled with great stuff – interviews with many famous and talented guitar players like Craig Chaquico, Steve Morse, John McLaughlin, Pat Metheny, Steve Howe, Pat Travers, Stanley Clarke and Eric Johnson just to name a few, as they look back at how Guitar Player Magazine shaped their careers.  There are also some funny and poignant stories from staff members and advertisers along with never before seen photos. I realize that I may be biased, but I think that this book is a must read for any guitar player, or dedicated fans of guitar players!

Here’s the link for Guitar Player  - The Inside Story of the First Two Decades… 

http://www.amazon.com/Guitar-Player-Decades-Successful-Magazine/dp/148039792X/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1425929063&sr=1-1-catcorr&keywords=guitar+player+dara+crockett

Jim Crockett & J-9 - 2014

J-9 & Jas Obrecht - 1986 - photo by Jon Sievert

Dan Forte & J-9 - 1986 - photo by Jon Sievert

  

Happy birthday Abe!

Most people don't know this, but I have this 'thing' about the presidents. In fact it led to a song I wrote about ten years ago to help kids memorize their names and then I wrote a whole CD of songs called "Remember The Presidents" (available on CD Baby.com by the way!)

Today is February 12th and it's Abraham Lincoln's birthday! And it just so happens that two people whom I love very much have an interesting connection to the 16th president, so I thought I'd feature their stories on this special day.

Below is the first one - it's an excerpt from my mom's memoir called "Looking Back".   

My First Book

By Irene Milko Cooper

I must’ve been about eight or nine years old and looking back from this time of plenty I cannot conceive that I did not own any of my very own books.  Yes, I had school books, and I went to the neighborhood library but these were not my books to keep, to hold and proudly say, “This is my book – my very own book!”

I remember it was raining – a cold autumn rain (in Detroit, Michigan). I was getting wet, very wet so I ran to escape the cold rain, plus the holes in my shoes were starting to absorb the rain and the inner cardboard my mother had shaped into place inside of them was starting to get spongy. Water was swirling along the curb as I made ready to jump across it to the street. I stopped, as something caught my eye. Laying in the swirling water was a book – a beautiful soggy book. I quickly scooped it up, looking around, praying that no one would come and claim it. I hurried home with it.

My Mother had the living room coal stove going full blast and it felt so good to sit on the trunk behind the stove and feel the warmth surround me.  Then I got an old rag and wiped my book, pressing down to get the moisture out. Mom approached me and said it would never be any good; that I shouldn’t bother because it was a mess. (Mom didn’t like to read.)  So I knew I’d better guard my book and I made a mental note to keep it in view.

The stove stood up on four legs on a metal square mat. I wiped the mat under the stove off and placed my book to dry there.  At night I placed it on top of the trunk and would turn it so that it would dry, which it eventually did.  And then, one cold winter day I was able to drink a hot cup of tea and sit and read my beautiful book: “The Story of Young Abraham Lincoln” by Wayne Whipple. And as I read and re-read this book and lived young Abe’s story he became my friend. 

I still have the book. I keep it safely wrapped in a bag, its faded pages fragile but when I hold it I can still remember the joy it gave me when I found it and it became my very first book.  How very proud and happy I was with my great find!

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Now I have hundreds of books. Far too many, but I just can’t give them up! They are mine. ALL MINE!

And, below is the second - It is the introduction of a book my husband Alex edited called The Wit and Wisdom of Abraham Lincoln (available on Amazon.com by the way!).

Abraham Lincoln is remembered as a tragic figure, a martyred emancipator. But he is also a great comic figure. Comedy was married to tragedy in his life and his personality.

It was the wit and wisdom of Abraham Lincoln that first won him the hearts of the people.  Prior to his election as president in 1860 he never held a higher post than that of a one-term Illinois congressman. But people trusted Lincoln instinctively because he seemed wiser than other men, and they liked him because he was funnier than other men.

Abraham Lincoln was a great writer and a great orator as well as a great leader. He deserves a place in American Literature as well as history.  However, he wrote no books, he composed no memoirs, he left behind no magnum opus.  The quotations sited in this book are drawn from a variety of sources, both oral and written.

The Wit and Wisdom of Abraham Lincoln includes both stories told about Lincoln and stories told by Lincoln. No president has had more stories told about him than Lincoln.  Many of these stories have passed from American history into American folklore. Sometimes it is hard to separate Lincoln the historical figure from Lincoln the folk hero.

No president told more stories than Lincoln.  He was the storytelling president. He used anecdotes the way Christ is said to have used parables, to make a point, to illustrate a principle. He used humor the way Mark Twain used humor, to break down barriers and throw light on truth.

Ultimately it's for you to decide if the stories told about Lincoln are true and if the stories told by Lincoln contain truth.  

The Wit and Wisdom of Abraham Lincoln is for anyone who would like to know what Lincoln said to us - and what he is saying to us today.

Alex Ayres

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If you would like to read the first ten pages of Alex's book (or see some of the other books he has available) please click on the link below.

www.alexayresbooks.com

Remembering Grant McLennan

It was one of those unexpected, fateful encounters.  I had gone with my friend, and then band-mate Geoff Gans to Genghis Cohen in Los Angeles to hear some music. It must've been around 1990. And in walked a handsome Aussie singer/songwriter named Grant McLennan.  He was in a band called The Go-Betweens, but I didn't know much about them. Geoff introduced the two of us and we spent the evening conversing and drinking at the bar.

I was living in a guesthouse in Santa Monica at the time so I invited him over.  We took turns singing songs to one another - passing my old acoustic guitar back and forth till around 4:00 in the morning. We finally fell asleep on my futon. The following morning we had breakfast at a nearby restaurant called "A Votre Sante". (We split an order of scrambled tofu.)  It was one of those magical nights and the start of a very special friendship with a man who was not only kind and a true gentleman, but he was also a brilliant artist. And the crazy and almost unbelievable thing was that he believed in me and my songwriting! The next time he came to L.A. we picked up where we left off and played more tunes for one another.  He even remembered a few of my songs and made a point to tell me how much he enjoyed listening to the cassette I sent to him in Australia!

Grant sent me three postcards in the coming years which I will always treasure, but there was one in particular that means very much to me.  I have never liked my singing voice much but on the card he said, "You also sing like a diva..."  Often, throughout the years I've contemplated giving up the crazy dream of pursuing a career in songwriting, but his belief in me is one of the main reasons I've never given up.

Okay, yes - I was smitten by Grant but the only connection he and I had was a musical one. I didn't realize it at the time but he would become one of my all-time favorite singer/songwriters.

Grant McLennan died of a heart attack at the age of 48 on May 6, 2006.  I'll never forget receiving that phone call and the devastating news from my friend Rachel. It took several weeks to get over that sadness and still brings tears to my eyes now as I think of him. I'm thankful for the music he left behind for us. I'm also grateful that I was able to spend a little time with this amazing man. 

I miss you Grant.  I hope we get to sing songs together again some day. Not too soon! But, some day...

  

Thanks to Steven Schayer for delivering this note to me

To listen to one of my favorite Grant McLennan songs - CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

http://youtu.be/sJ9096U897k