Alabama founding member and guitarist has died at age 73. A post on social media said that Cook, “a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame, Musicians Hall of Fame, Fiddlers Hall of Fame, and Gibson’s Guitarist of the Year, passed away peacefully on Monday, November 7, with his family and close friends by his side at his beach home in Destin, Florida.”
Alabama was comprised of Cook, along with singer Randy Owen and bassist Teddy Gentry. In the 1980s, the group achieved major success with 26 number one hits on the Billboard Country chart including “Tennessee River,” “Feels So Right,” “Mountain Music,” and “Love in the First Degree.” Alabama has also posted 12 top 10 albums and won the CMA Entertainer of the Year Award from 1982 through 1984. Tthe band is credited with having sold 75 million albums in its career, overall.
Cook was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2012, and due to his health battle, he ceased touring with Alabama in 2018. Jeff and wife Lisa established The Jeff and Lisa Cook Foundation along with The Jeff and Lisa Cook Children’s Home to house orphaned children worldwide.
Cook is survived by his wife of 27 years Lisa Cook, and his mother Betty Cook. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations be made to THE JEFF AND LISA COOK FOUNDATION through the foundation website: thejeffandlisacookfoundation.org. Arrangements for Cook’s “Celebration of Life” will be announced at a later date.
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