Dave Cousins
Encyclopedia
Dave Cousins has been the leader, singer and most active songwriter
of Strawbs since 1967.
originally known as the Strawberry Hill Boys, which started out as a bluegrass
band, but eventually moved onto to other styles (folk
, folk rock
, progressive rock
). He has also performed as an acoustic
duo
with Strawbs guitarist
Brian Willoughby, and as Acoustic Strawbs with Willoughby (until August 2004), Dave Lambert
and Chas Cronk
(since September 2004).
Cousins holds an academic degree
in statistics
and pure mathematics
from the University of Leicester
, and has also followed a career in radio
. He was a producer
for Denmark Radio 1969–1979, and has been Programme Controller for Radio Tees
(1980–1982), and the Managing Director of Devon Air in Devon
(1982–1990).
Since 1991 Cousins has been in charge of St. David's Research, and has been instrumental in many successful franchise applications business ventures involving local radio station
s in the UK
. Stations such as Thames Radio (Kingston-upon-Thames), Radio Victory
(Portsmouth
) and XFM
in London. He also runs Witchwood Records, an independent record label
.
Cousins is still active, and is touring North America
and Europe
with Acoustic Strawbs, several months every year.
. On the band's debut album, On Through The Night
, Cousins' voice can be heard at the beginning of the album's sixth track titled "When the Walls Came Tumblin' Down". Cousins does not lend any vocal harmonies, but simply reads a melancholy tale that serves as the track's intro. His voice lends itself well to the mood of the verse. Reportedly, Def Leppard later admitted that they were not happy with this album, as it was their first real studio album from their teenage years. The band has never alluded to any unhappiness with Cousins' performance.
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
of Strawbs since 1967.
Career
Cousins was a founding member of the bandBand (music)
In music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform music. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* All-female band* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover band...
originally known as the Strawberry Hill Boys, which started out as a bluegrass
Bluegrass music
Bluegrass music is a form of American roots music, and a sub-genre of country music. It has mixed roots in Scottish, English, Welsh and Irish traditional music...
band, but eventually moved onto to other styles (folk
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
, folk rock
Folk rock
Folk rock is a musical genre combining elements of folk music and rock music. In its earliest and narrowest sense, the term referred to a genre that arose in the United States and the UK around the mid-1960s...
, progressive rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
). He has also performed as an acoustic
Acoustic music
Acoustic music comprises music that solely or primarily uses instruments which produce sound through entirely acoustic means, as opposed to electric or electronic means...
duo
Duet (music)
A duet is a musical composition for two performers. In classical music, the term is most often used for a composition for two singers or pianists; with other instruments, the word duo is also often used. A piece performed by two pianists performing together on the same piano is referred to as...
with Strawbs guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
Brian Willoughby, and as Acoustic Strawbs with Willoughby (until August 2004), Dave Lambert
Dave Lambert (British musician)
Dave Lambert is an English singer-songwriter and musician, who was a member of The Strawbs in the 1970s.-Career:...
and Chas Cronk
Chas Cronk
-Strawbs:*Hero and Heroine *Ghosts *Nomadness *Deep Cuts *Burning for You *Deadlines *Heartbreak Hill *Blue Angel *Déjà Fou *Strawbs Live at Nearfest 2004...
(since September 2004).
Cousins holds an academic degree
Academic degree
An academic degree is a position and title within a college or university that is usually awarded in recognition of the recipient having either satisfactorily completed a prescribed course of study or having conducted a scholarly endeavour deemed worthy of his or her admission to the degree...
in statistics
Statistics
Statistics is the study of the collection, organization, analysis, and interpretation of data. It deals with all aspects of this, including the planning of data collection in terms of the design of surveys and experiments....
and pure mathematics
Pure mathematics
Broadly speaking, pure mathematics is mathematics which studies entirely abstract concepts. From the eighteenth century onwards, this was a recognized category of mathematical activity, sometimes characterized as speculative mathematics, and at variance with the trend towards meeting the needs of...
from the University of Leicester
University of Leicester
The University of Leicester is a research-led university based in Leicester, England. The main campus is a mile south of the city centre, adjacent to Victoria Park and Wyggeston and Queen Elizabeth I College....
, and has also followed a career in radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
. He was a producer
Radio producer
A radio producer oversees the making of a radio show. There are two main types of producer. An audio or creative producer and a content producer. Audio producers create sounds and audio specifically, content producers oversee and orchestrate a radio show or feature...
for Denmark Radio 1969–1979, and has been Programme Controller for Radio Tees
Radio Tees
Radio Tees was the original name of TFM Radio, the Independent Local Radio station broadcasting in North East England, serving Teesside and parts of County Durham and North Yorkshire....
(1980–1982), and the Managing Director of Devon Air in Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
(1982–1990).
Since 1991 Cousins has been in charge of St. David's Research, and has been instrumental in many successful franchise applications business ventures involving local radio station
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
s in the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. Stations such as Thames Radio (Kingston-upon-Thames), Radio Victory
Radio Victory
Radio Victory was the independent local radio station for Portsmouth in southern England. It was launched on 14 October 1975 and served south Hampshire, West Sussex and the Isle of Wight.-History:...
(Portsmouth
Portsmouth
Portsmouth is the second largest city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Portsmouth is notable for being the United Kingdom's only island city; it is located mainly on Portsea Island...
) and XFM
Xfm
Xfm is a brand of two commercial radio stations focused on alternative music, primarily indie pop, and owned by Global Radio.-History:Xfm was created in London in 1992 by Sammy Jacob, who later co-founded NME Radio in 2008. Xfm subsequently expanded to a network of four stations; there are...
in London. He also runs Witchwood Records, an independent record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
.
Cousins is still active, and is touring North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
and Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
with Acoustic Strawbs, several months every year.
Special appearances
In 1980, Cousins made a guest appearance on a heavy metal album for British soon-to-be supergroup Def LeppardDef Leppard
Def Leppard are an English rock band formed in 1977 in Sheffield as part of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement. Since 1992, the band have consisted of Joe Elliott , Rick Savage , Rick Allen , Phil Collen , and Vivian Campbell...
. On the band's debut album, On Through The Night
On through the Night
On Through the Night is the debut album by British rock band Def Leppard, released in 1980. The album charted at #51 on The Billboard 200 and #15 on the UK Albums Chart...
, Cousins' voice can be heard at the beginning of the album's sixth track titled "When the Walls Came Tumblin' Down". Cousins does not lend any vocal harmonies, but simply reads a melancholy tale that serves as the track's intro. His voice lends itself well to the mood of the verse. Reportedly, Def Leppard later admitted that they were not happy with this album, as it was their first real studio album from their teenage years. The band has never alluded to any unhappiness with Cousins' performance.
Albums
- Two Weeks Last SummerTwo Weeks Last Summer-Track listing:All songs written by Dave Cousins#"Two Weeks Last Summer" – #"October to May" – #"Blue Angel" – #:"Divided"#:"Half Worlds Apart"#:"At Rest"#"That's the Way It Ends" – #"The Actor" –...
(1972) - Old School SongsOld School SongsOld School Songs is a studio album by singer-songwriter Dave Cousins of the band Strawbs and guitarist Brian Willoughby.-Track listing:All tracks written by Dave Cousins.#"Grace Darling"#"I've Been My Own Worst Friend"#"Ways and Means"...
(1979) (with Brian WilloughbyBrian WilloughbyBrian Willoughby is a British guitarist. He has worked with many musicians , as well as releasing solo work.-With other artists:...
) - The Bridge (1994) (with Brian Willoughby)
- Hummingbird (2002) (with Rick WakemanRick WakemanRichard Christopher Wakeman is an English keyboard player, composer and songwriter best known for being the former keyboardist in the progressive rock band Yes...
) - Wakeman and Cousins "Live 1988" (2005) (with Rick Wakeman)
- High Seas (2005) (with Conny Conrad)
- The Boy in the Sailor SuitThe Boy in the Sailor SuitThe Boy in the Sailor Suit is a studio album by Dave Cousins.-Track listing:All songs written by Dave Cousins except where noted#"Never Take Sweets from a Stranger" – #"Mellow Moon" – #"The Smile You Left Behind" –...
(2007) - Secret PathsSecret Paths-Track listing:All songs written by Dave Cousins except where noted#"Song of a Sad Little Girl"#"Plainsong"#"The Shepherd's Song"#"I Turned My face into the Wind"#"Ringing Down the Years"#"Josephine "#"Canada"#"How I Need You Now"...
(2008) - DuochromeDuochromeDuochrome is a live album by Dave Cousins. It was originally released as a bonus disc for the first 1000 buyers of the Strawbs album The Broken Hearted Bride through their label's on-line shop...
(2008) (with Ian Cutler) live recordings from the U.S.United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
tour in March 2008