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Jim Cooper | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Princeton, Indiana |
| Genres | Rock, contemporary Christian music |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, songwriter, producer |
| Instruments | Keyboards |
| Years active | 1994–present |
| Associated acts | Petra |
Jim Cooper is an American contemporary Christian musician, [1] songwriter, and producer.
Contemporary Christian music is a genre of modern popular music which is lyrically focused on matters concerned with the Christian faith. It formed as those affected by the 1960s Jesus movement revival began to express themselves in a more contemporary style of music than the hymns, Gospel and Southern gospel music that was prevalent in the church at the time. Today, the term is typically used to refer to pop, rock, or praise & worship styles.
Cooper studied at Temple Christian Academy in his hometown. Jim Cooper got his feet wet with Jody Davis (who went on to play guitar in the Newsboys) with the band Phos Also in the Band was a lead singer by the name of Gary. Towards the end of Phos the drummer of David and the Giants Keith Thibodeaux joined Phos. After the breakup of Phos he joined legendary Christian rock band Petra, as a keyboards technician for John Lawry. He credits Lawry for being his mentor and teacher. In 1994 he joined in as their full-time keyboardist, upon Lawry's retirement.
Petra is a music group regarded as a pioneer of the Christian rock and contemporary Christian music genres. Formed in 1972, the band took its name from the Greek word for "rock". Though it disbanded formally in 2006, incarnations have played reunion shows in the years since and released an album in November 2010. In 2013, it reformed with a new drummer, Cristian Borneo, and recorded a new song titled "Holy is Your Name", before going back on tour.
John Lawry is a Christian musician, composer, producer, and songwriter. He was the keyboardist of Christian rock band Petra from 1984 to 1994. After his departure, Lawry dedicated himself to producing and record engineering. From 2010 to 2012, he rejoined some of his former Petra bandmates to record and tour under the name of Classic Petra. In 2013, he officially rejoined Petra as their keyboardist.
His arrival came in time for the release of No Doubt in 1995. He also contributed for the band's second praise album, Petra Praise 2: We Need Jesus in 1997 before being fired for musical differences.
No Doubt is the fifteenth studio album of the Christian rock band, Petra. It was released on August 26, 1995.
Petra Praise 2: We Need Jesus is the sixteenth studio album of the Christian rock band Petra and their second praise album. It was released on February 18, 1997.
Cooper has contributed to several other artists with his songwriting and playing skills. He also started a production company with friend Brian Wooten (formerly of White Heart).
Brian Wooten is an American guitarist. He has played in contemporary Christian rock bands, including Whiteheart in the 1990s. Also in the 1990s, he played and co-wrote songs on Petra albums including God Fixation and Double Take.
White Heart, also listed as Whiteheart, was a contemporary Christian music pop-rock band which formed in 1982. White Heart's discography includes thirteen albums, the most recent of which was released in 1997. Original members Billy Smiley and Mark Gersmehl worked with a continually-changing cast of band-mates. In 1985, former roadie Rick Florian became the lead singer.
In 2005, Cooper became the project coordinator for Petra's last album, the live recording of Petra Farewell .
Farewell is the second live album released by Christian rock band Petra. It was released in 2005. A DVD of the concert was released in 2006.
In 2007 he helped produce the II Guys from Petra album Vertical Expressions with John Schlitt an Bob Hartman and he did the keyboards in the album.
