D. C. Cooper
Encyclopedia
Donald Christopher "D.C." Cooper (born August 22, 1965 in Johnstown, Pennsylvania
Johnstown, Pennsylvania
Johnstown is a city in Cambria County, Pennsylvania, United States, west-southwest of Altoona, Pennsylvania and east of Pittsburgh. The population was 20,978 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Johnstown, Pennsylvania, Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes Cambria County...

) is an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 singer and musician.

Biography

He started out playing in several area bands and touring the local club circuit in Pittsburgh while he studied singing under renowned opera coach Charlotte Coleman. His first thrust into the international spotlight was as a finalist to be Rob Halford
Rob Halford
Robert John Arthur "Rob" Halford is an English singer-songwriter, who is best known as the lead vocalist for the Grammy Award-winning heavy metal band Judas Priest. He is nicknamed the "Metal God" as a tribute to his influence on metal, and after the Judas Priest song of the same name from 1980's...

's replacement in Judas Priest
Judas Priest
Judas Priest are an English heavy metal band from Birmingham, England, formed in 1969. The current line-up consists of lead vocalist Rob Halford, guitarists Glenn Tipton and Richie Faulkner, bassist Ian Hill, and drummer Scott Travis. The band has gone through several drummers over the years,...

. Having created a buzz at the auditions, he found himself with offers to sing for many European and American bands. He selected Royal Hunt
Royal Hunt
Royal Hunt is a progressive metal band based in Denmark, founded in 1989 by keyboardist Andre Andersen. The band is known for creating melodic music with a progressive and symphonic flair. They made a huge success during mid-90s with their classic albums Moving Target and Paradox mainly in Japan...

 after much deliberation and officially joined the band on December 26, 1994.

After 4 years with Royal Hunt, Cooper was suddenly and unexpectedly fired from the band, which he discovered by reading the announcement on their website. For his next project, a solo album that he began in 1998, he enlisted the help of musicians from many well known bands (among them guitarist Tore Ostby of Conception
Conception (band)
Conception is a power/progressive metal band from Raufoss, Norway.-Formation and record label:The band was formed in Norway in 1989 by guitarist Tore Østby, singer Dag Østby, drummer Werner Skogli and bassist Freddy Samsonstuen. In 1990, after a demo tape, Arve Heimdal replaced Werner Skogli and...

, and members of Pink Cream 69
Pink Cream 69
Pink Cream 69 is a German hard rock band founded in 1987 in Karlsruhe, Germany by Andi Deris, Dennis Ward, Kosta Zafiriou and Alfred Koffler. The band gained their first contract by winning music magazine Metal Hammer 's newcomer competition in Ludwigsburg one year after forming. In 1994, Andi...

). He released D. C. Cooper
D. C. Cooper (album)
D. C. Cooper is the debut studio album released by D. C. Cooper.-Track listing:All songs written by D. C. Cooper/Alfred Koffler except where noted.# "Dream" – 3:52# "Easy Livin'" – 2:35 # "The Angel Comes" – 5:32...

 in 1999.

After a successful tour, Cooper formed a new band with former Sinner guitarist Alex Beyrodt called Silent Force
Silent Force
Silent Force is a German power metal band with neo-classical and progressive influences, founded by German guitarist Alex Beyrodt.-Members:* D. C...

. They have released four studio albums of their own.

When Cooper is not on tour, he can frequently be found volunteering as a firefighter in his home state of Pennsylvania.
Cooper is married to Michelle Cooper, and has two sons, Clayton (b.2003) and Carson (b.2005).

DC Cooper recently recorded guest vocals for Australian progressive metal act Voyager (metal band) for their forthcoming release. In 2011 he reformed with Royal Hunt
Royal Hunt
Royal Hunt is a progressive metal band based in Denmark, founded in 1989 by keyboardist Andre Andersen. The band is known for creating melodic music with a progressive and symphonic flair. They made a huge success during mid-90s with their classic albums Moving Target and Paradox mainly in Japan...

 and did a Japan tour with the band. Later the same year it was announced that Cooper will make a new record with the band.

Royal Hunt

  • Moving Target
    Moving Target (album)
    Moving Target is the third studio album released by the Danish progressive metal band Royal Hunt.-Track listing:All songs written by André Andersen.# "Last Goodbye" – 6:33# "1348" – 4:32# "Makin' a Mess" – 4:00# "Far Away" – 4:58...

    (1995)
  • Far Away (EP) (1995)
  • 1996 (1996)
  • Paradox
    Paradox (Royal Hunt album)
    Paradox is the fourth studio album released by the Danish progressive metal band Royal Hunt. This is a concept album, with lyrics inspired by religion and divinity.-Track listing:All songs written by André Andersen except where noted....

    (1997)
  • Closing the Chapter (1998)
  • The Best (1998)
  • The Best Live (1998)
  • Show Me How To Live (2011)

Silent Force

  • The Empire of Future (2000)
  • Infatuator (2001)
  • Worlds Apart (2004)
  • Walk the Earth (2007)

Guest appearances

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Artist
! Album
! Year
|-
| Shadow Gallery
Shadow Gallery
Shadow Gallery is an American progressive metal band formed in Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania, United States, during the early 1980s, originally under the name Sorcerer. After changing their name to Shadow Gallery and recording a short 8-track demo, the band was signed to Magna Carta Records in 1991...


| Tyranny
| 1998
|-
| Explorer's Club
| Age of Impact
Age of Impact
-Personnel:*James LaBrie – lead vocals*Bret Douglas – lead vocals*Matt Bradley – lead vocals*D.C. Cooper – lead vocals*Trent Gardner – keyboards, trombone, lead vocals*Wayne Gardner – electric and acoustic guitars, some bass...


| 1998
|-
| Various Artists
| Missa Mercuria
| 2002
|-
| Edenbridge
Edenbridge (band)
Edenbridge is a symphonic metal band from Austria.-History:Edenbridge was formed in 1998 by guitarist and keyboardist Lanvall, his girlfriend - vocalist Sabine Edelsbacher - and bassist Kurt Bednarsky. The line-up was completed when drummer Roland Navratil joined the band...


| Aphelion
Aphelion (album)
Aphelion is the third album by Austria's symphonic metal band Edenbridge. It was released in 2003.- Track listing :All music and lyrics written by Arne "Lanvall" Stockhammer# "The Undiscovered Land" — 6:08# "Skyward" — 4:39...


| 2003
|-
| Gary Hughes
Gary Hughes
Gary Hughes is an English hard rock singer, songwriter and musician. Apart from his work as a solo artist, Gary Hughes is the front man and main songwriter of Hard Rock/Melodic Rock band Ten...


| Once and Future King Part II
Once and Future King Part II
-Track listing:All songs written by Gary Hughes.# "Kill the King" – 5:51# "There by the Grace of the Gods " – 5:10# "I Still Love You " – 4:06# "Oceans of Tears" – 4:30# "Rise from the Shadows" – 3:44# "Believe Enough to Fight" – 5:02...


| 2003
|-
| Dol Ammad
Dol Ammad
Dol Ammad is a heavy metal band formed in 2000 by Greek keyboard player Thanasis Lightbridge. Dol Ammad is characterizeded with instrumentation which layers conventional metal instrumentation , synthesizers, and the vocal support of a fourteen member four-part choir...


| Ocean Dynamics
| 2006
|-
| Steel Seal
Steel Seal (Band)
Steel Seal are an Italian Neoclassical Power Metal band that formed in 2003 by guitar player and main songwriter, Marco Valerio Zangani , and vocalist Bruno Baudo, bassist Roberto Fasciani and the keyboardist Adriano Rossi. They produced their first demo in 2003, entitled Demo 2003, which led to a...


| By the Power of Thunder
| 2007
|-
| Persephone's Dream
| Pyre of Dreams
| 2007
|-
| Daniele Liverani's Genius: A Rock Opera
| Episode 3: The Final Surprise
| 2007
|-
| Voyager
| The Meaning Of I
| 2011
|-
| ictory (Band)
| Voiceprint
| 1996
|-

External links

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