Dallas Cook
Encyclopedia
Ryan Dallas Cook better known to his fans as Dallas Cook, was one of two trombone players in third-wave ska band Suburban Legends
.
from 1996–2000, where he was a member of the HBHS marching band, to which he attributed his love of music and performing. After graduation, he joined local music group Suburban Legends
. Dallas was well known for his choreographed dance routines with other members of the band including handstands, flips, balancing his trombone on the palm of his hand, and jumping on the shoulders of fellow band mate and best friend Brian Robertson
.
Choreographed antics along with Dallas’ down-to-earth demeanor with fans, helped draw legions to Suburban Legends
’ performances.
where he collided with a Hyundai
automobile. The driver of the Hyundai fled the scene after the accident. Dallas never recovered consciousness and died on the scene.
According to California Highway Patrol officer Denise Quesada, Cook was thrown from his motorcycle, then was struck multiple times by oncoming cars. The driver of the dark-colored Hyundai fled the scene on the southbound 55, Quesada said. Santa Ana CHP began investigating the accident, looking for a dark-colored Hyundai with rear or side damage.
On April 4, 2006, police announced they had determined the identity of the hit-and-run automobile driver: Hyundai Automobile Executive Youn Bum Lee. Police believe Youn was intoxicated the night of the accident, and stopped his car in the carpool lane. Because Youn had turned off his headlights, police believe that Dallas never saw the darkened car, slammed into it, and died instantly.
After contacting his lawyers and showing the damage to associates, Lee fled to Korea.
Airport surveillance footage shows Lee, accompanied by two fellow Hyundai executives, boarding a plane. Hyundai released a statement that they terminated Lee's employment shortly after the incident and do not know his current whereabouts.
On January 28, 2008, the fugitive believed to be responsible for Dallas' death was arrested in South Korea following a warrant issued by a South Orange County Judge. South Korean authorities released him into US custody and the fugitive will be extradited back to Orange County shortly.
On October 23, 2005, a large group of Suburban Legends
fans joined Dallas' friends and family to celebrate his life at Disneyland Resort
's Downtown Disney
(where the band was legendary in the early 2000s). On November 29, 2005, former and current band members performed a benefit show for the Dallas Cook Memorial Fund, set up in Cook's honor to raise money for the Huntington Beach High School
instrumental music program. A memorial chair for Dallas was dedicated and placed in the high school auditorium.
Dallas' family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Hyundai, on May 23, 2007.
Lee was arrested on December 2, 2008 and extradited back to the United States; he could face up to 15 years in prison if convicted on all accused accounts.
On November 10, 2009, Lee plead guilty to manslaughter, for which he could receive up to nine years in prison. On December 7, 2009, Lee was sentenced to nine years in prison.
Inspired by and in honor of Cook, the Western Carolina University Pride of the Mountains Marching Band
performed Suburban Legends
' 2003 song "You" on national television in the 2011 Tournament of Roses Parade
in Pasadena
, California
.
Suburban Legends
Suburban Legends are a third wave ska/pop band that formed in Huntington Beach, California, in 1998, and are currently based out of Santa Ana, California.- History :...
.
Suburban Legends
Dallas attended Huntington Beach High SchoolHuntington Beach High School
Huntington Beach High School is a public high school in Huntington Beach, California. Opened in 1906, it is part of the Huntington Beach Union High School District. HBHS is a California Distinguished School...
from 1996–2000, where he was a member of the HBHS marching band, to which he attributed his love of music and performing. After graduation, he joined local music group Suburban Legends
Suburban Legends
Suburban Legends are a third wave ska/pop band that formed in Huntington Beach, California, in 1998, and are currently based out of Santa Ana, California.- History :...
. Dallas was well known for his choreographed dance routines with other members of the band including handstands, flips, balancing his trombone on the palm of his hand, and jumping on the shoulders of fellow band mate and best friend Brian Robertson
Brian Robertson (Suburban Legends)
Brian Robertson is the trombone player for the Orange County-based third-wave ska band Suburban Legends and, along with Vincent Walker, is one of the two members to have played with the band since its origin as Bomb Squad...
.
Choreographed antics along with Dallas’ down-to-earth demeanor with fans, helped draw legions to Suburban Legends
Suburban Legends
Suburban Legends are a third wave ska/pop band that formed in Huntington Beach, California, in 1998, and are currently based out of Santa Ana, California.- History :...
’ performances.
Discography
Cook appeared on the following releases with Suburban Legends:- Bomb Squad EPBomb Squad EPThe Bomb Squad EP was the first EP from California third wave ska group Suburban Legends, though at the time the band were known as Bomb Squad, making the EP a self-titled one. Other names considered for the EP during production included "Makin' Babies". The EP was their only release as Bomb Squad....
(1998) - Origin EditionOrigin EditionOrigin Edition is the first album of the third-wave ska band Suburban Legends. It was released in 1999 in Los Angeles, California as a CD to sell at early shows of the band. It is considered a fun demo to many because of the recording quality album and because it was burned from a computer and the...
(1999) - Suburban LegendsSuburban Legends (EP)Suburban Legends is the first EP of the Orange County based ska punk band Suburban Legends. It was released in 2001 in Los Angeles, California by Lobster Girl Records. This self-produced album has sold over 20,000 copies. It was re-released the following year with the return of lead singer Tim...
(2001) - Suburban Legends (Tim Remix)Suburban Legends (Tim Remix)After the departure of lead singer Chris Batstone, Suburban Legends re-released their debut album, Suburban Legends, by removing the vocal track featuring Chris, and replacing it with a vocal track of new lead singer, Tim Maurer. Suburban Legends is essentially the same album from the Orange...
(2002) - Rump Shaker (2003)
- Season OneSeason One (Suburban Legends)Season One is a 2-disc DVD and live album released by Suburban Legends in 2004. Disc 1 contains footage of a live set performance from Oakland, California...
(2004)
Death
At 12:25 AM on October 19, 2005 his life was ended in a motorcycle accident on the Costa Mesa Freeway in Orange County, CaliforniaOrange County, California
Orange County is a county in the U.S. state of California. Its county seat is Santa Ana. As of the 2010 census, its population was 3,010,232, up from 2,846,293 at the 2000 census, making it the third most populous county in California, behind Los Angeles County and San Diego County...
where he collided with a Hyundai
Hyundai
Hyundai ) is a global conglomerate company, part of the Korean chaebol, that was founded in South Korea by one of the most famous businessmen in Korean history: Chung Ju-yung...
automobile. The driver of the Hyundai fled the scene after the accident. Dallas never recovered consciousness and died on the scene.
According to California Highway Patrol officer Denise Quesada, Cook was thrown from his motorcycle, then was struck multiple times by oncoming cars. The driver of the dark-colored Hyundai fled the scene on the southbound 55, Quesada said. Santa Ana CHP began investigating the accident, looking for a dark-colored Hyundai with rear or side damage.
On April 4, 2006, police announced they had determined the identity of the hit-and-run automobile driver: Hyundai Automobile Executive Youn Bum Lee. Police believe Youn was intoxicated the night of the accident, and stopped his car in the carpool lane. Because Youn had turned off his headlights, police believe that Dallas never saw the darkened car, slammed into it, and died instantly.
After contacting his lawyers and showing the damage to associates, Lee fled to Korea.
Airport surveillance footage shows Lee, accompanied by two fellow Hyundai executives, boarding a plane. Hyundai released a statement that they terminated Lee's employment shortly after the incident and do not know his current whereabouts.
On January 28, 2008, the fugitive believed to be responsible for Dallas' death was arrested in South Korea following a warrant issued by a South Orange County Judge. South Korean authorities released him into US custody and the fugitive will be extradited back to Orange County shortly.
On October 23, 2005, a large group of Suburban Legends
Suburban Legends
Suburban Legends are a third wave ska/pop band that formed in Huntington Beach, California, in 1998, and are currently based out of Santa Ana, California.- History :...
fans joined Dallas' friends and family to celebrate his life at Disneyland Resort
Disneyland Resort
The Disneyland Resort is a recreational resort in Anaheim, California. The resort is owned and operated by The Walt Disney Company through its Parks and Resorts division and is home to two theme parks, three hotels and a shopping, dining, and entertainment area known as Downtown Disney.The area now...
's Downtown Disney
Downtown Disney (California)
Downtown Disney is an outdoor shopping, dining, and entertainment area, also known as a "shoppertainment center", located at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California, United States...
(where the band was legendary in the early 2000s). On November 29, 2005, former and current band members performed a benefit show for the Dallas Cook Memorial Fund, set up in Cook's honor to raise money for the Huntington Beach High School
Huntington Beach High School
Huntington Beach High School is a public high school in Huntington Beach, California. Opened in 1906, it is part of the Huntington Beach Union High School District. HBHS is a California Distinguished School...
instrumental music program. A memorial chair for Dallas was dedicated and placed in the high school auditorium.
Dallas' family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Hyundai, on May 23, 2007.
Lee was arrested on December 2, 2008 and extradited back to the United States; he could face up to 15 years in prison if convicted on all accused accounts.
On November 10, 2009, Lee plead guilty to manslaughter, for which he could receive up to nine years in prison. On December 7, 2009, Lee was sentenced to nine years in prison.
Inspired by and in honor of Cook, the Western Carolina University Pride of the Mountains Marching Band
Western Carolina University Pride of the Mountains Marching Band
The Catamount Marching Band is the marching band of Western Carolina University and the most recent recipient of the Sudler Trophy....
performed Suburban Legends
Suburban Legends
Suburban Legends are a third wave ska/pop band that formed in Huntington Beach, California, in 1998, and are currently based out of Santa Ana, California.- History :...
' 2003 song "You" on national television in the 2011 Tournament of Roses Parade
Tournament of Roses Parade
The Tournament of Roses Parade, better known as the Rose Parade, is "America's New Year Celebration", a festival of flower-covered floats, marching bands, equestrians and a college football game on New Year's Day , produced by the non-profit Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association.The annual...
in Pasadena
Pasadena, California
Pasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Although famous for hosting the annual Rose Bowl football game and Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena is the home to many scientific and cultural institutions, including the California Institute of Technology , the Jet...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.
External links
- Accident article from Orange County Register
- Link to article announcing Youn Bum Lee as a suspect
- Dallas' page on SuburbanLegends.com (mostly the same as this article, but with information regarding donations to the Dallas Cook Memorial Fund)
- http://www.ocregister.com/articles/lee-cook-hyundai-2293218-death-orange Link to capture of fugitive