Roger Cook

Induction Year: 1997

Birth Name: Frederick Roger Cook

Birth Date: 08-19-1940

Place of Birth: Bristol, England

Roger Cook's songwriting career has two distinct chapters. The first was as a prolific British pop composer with his collaborator Roger Greenaway. They created "You've Got Your Troubles," "Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress" and many other hits, as well as a series of Coca-Cola commercials that included the enormously popular "I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing." After moving to Nashville in 1975, Cook had a second career as the writer of country hits for Crystal Gayle, Don Williams, George Strait and others.

In the 1950s and early 1960s, Roger Cook sang in a number of pop acts, including the Sapphires, the Londons and Jon & Julie. In 1965, he joined Roger Greenaway in the Kestrels, and the two became a songwriting team. Their first big successes were "You've Got Your Troubles," sung by the Fortunes, and "Green Grass," recorded by Gary Lewis & the Playboys in the U.S.

When the Kestrels broke up, the two Rogers formed the singing duo David & Jonathan. They had several hits and also worked as backup vocalists in British recording studios. The singing duo ended in 1968, but the Cook-Greenaway songwriting partnership continued.

Cook joined Blue Mink in 1969. The group subsequently became very popular in the U.K., often performing Cook-Greenaway songs. He also joined the other former Kestrels members to record as the studio-only groups Edison Lighthouse, the Pipkins and Brotherhood of Man.

The writers' next big U.S. success occurred with "My Baby Loves Lovin'," a hit for White Plains in 1970. "I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing" became a worldwide musical phenomenon in 1972. "Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress" (the Hollies), "Doctor's Orders" (Carol Douglas) and other hits ensued. Cook and Greenaway were named Britain's Songwriters of the Year in both 1971 and 1972.

Blue Mink broke up in 1974. Cook migrated to the U.S. He was unhappy during brief stints in both New York and Los Angeles and settled in Nashville in late 1975. Crystal Gayle took his "Talking in Your Sleep" to the top of the country charts in 1978. It was named BMI's Country Song of the Year. In 1998, ASCAP named "One Night at a Time," a #1 for George Strait, as its Country Song of the Year. "I Believe in You" (Don Williams, 1980) and "Love Is on a Roll" (Don Williams, 1983) are among his numerous other country successes.

Read More

Read Less

Song Catalog

 

"Baby's Got My Number"

(written with Anthony L. Smith)

South Sixty Five1999 #60 country
 

"Christmas Can't Be Very Far Away"

(written with Wayne L. Jackson)

Amy Grant1999 
 

"Doctor's Orders"

(written with Roger Greenaway, Geoff Stephens)

Sunny1974 
Carol Douglas1975 #11 pop
Sandy Nelson1975 
Meagan1984 
 

"Everything in the Garden"

Petula Clark1965 
The Fourmost1965 
 

"Green Grass"

(written with Roger Greenaway)

Gary Lewis & the Playboys1966 #8 pop
The Ventures1966 
The Statler Brothers1966 
 

"Hang in There Superman"

(written with Hal Ketchum)

Hal Ketchum1996 
 

"Hello Summertime"

(written with Roger Greenaway, William Backer, Bill Davis)

Coca-Cola ad jingle

Bobby Goldsboro1974 #8 adult contemporary
 

"Here Comes That Rainy Day Feelin' Again"

(written with Roger Greenaway)

The Fortunes1971 #8 adult contemporary, #15 pop
Sonny & Cher1971 
Andy Williams1972 
Petula Clark1974 
Connie Cato1976 #80 country
 

"Home Lovin' Man"

(written with Roger Greenaway, Anthony Instone)

Andy Williams1970 #10 adult contemporary
White Plains1971 
The Fortunes1980 
Roger Whittaker1989 

"I Believe in You"

(written with Samuel Hogin)

Don Williams1980 #1 country, #8 adult contemporary, #24 pop
Roger Cook1981 
Bette Midler1994 
Patti Page1998 

"I Just Want to Dance with You"

(written with John Prine)

John Prine1987 
Daniel O'Donnell1992 
George Strait1998 #1 country, #61 pop
 

"I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing"

(written with Roger Greenaway, William Backer, Bill Davis)

Coca-Cola ad jingle

The Hillside Singers1972 #5 adult contemporary, #13 pop
The New Seekers1972 #7 pop, #27 adult contemporary
Mike Curb Congregation1972 
Jim Nabors1972 
Vera Lynn1972 
The Jordanaires1972 
Jan Howard1972 
Edwin Hawkins Singers1972 
Chet Atkins1975 
Bill Gaither Trio1980 
Jessi Colter1996 
Tennessee Ernie Ford1997 
Demi Holborn2002 
 

"Keepin' Power"

(written with Bobby Wood)

Crystal Gayle1983 #49 country
 

"Like Sister and Brother"

(written with Roger Greenaway, Geoff Stephens)

The Drifters1973 
The Flirtations1975 
 

"Livin' in These Troubled Times"

(written with Philip Donnelly , Samuel Hogin)

Crystal Gayle1982 #9 country
Maura O'Connell1988 

"Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress"

(written with Roger Greenaway, Allan Clarke)

The Hollies1972 #2 pop
Wayne Newton1980 
Charlie Sexton1990 
T. G. Sheppard1997 
Clint Black2008 #58 country

"Love Is on a Roll"

(written with John Prine)

Don Williams1983 #1 country
Maura O'Connell1988 
 

"Melting Pot"

(written with Roger Greenaway)

Blue Mink1969 
Three Degrees1970 
Culture Club1984 
 

"Miracles"

(written with Antonin Dvorak)

Don Williams1981 #4 country, #32 adult contemporary
 

"My Baby Loves Lovin'"

(written with Roger Greenaway)

White Plains1970 #13 pop
 

"One Night at a Time"

(written with Eddie Kilgallon, Earl Bud Lee)

ASCAP Country Song of the Year

George Strait1997 #1 country, #59 pop
 

"Only Love"

(written with Sandy Mason, John Prine)

Don Williams1982 
Johnny Cash1982 
George Hamilton IV1982 
Sandy Mason1982 
John Prine1986 

"Talking in Your Sleep"

(written with Bobby Wood)

BMI Country Song of the Year

Crystal Gayle1978 #1 country, #3 adult contemporary, #18 pop
Floyd Cramer1979 
Cilla Black1987 
Reba McEntire1995 
Martine McCutcheon2000 
 

"The Way It Used to Be"

Engelbert Humperdinck1969 #4 adult contemporary, #42 pop
 

"Too Much Love"

(written with Roger Greenaway)

Barbara Fairchild1987 
Don Williams1992 #72 country
 

"Trail of Tears"

(written with Allen Reynolds)

Juice Newton1982 
Kathy Mattea1985 
 

"What's Your Name What's Your Number"

Andrea True Connection1978 #56 pop
 

"Years From Now"

(written with Charles Lincoln Cochran)

Dr. Hook1980 #17 adult contemporary, #51 pop
Don Williams1981 
Roger Cook1981 
 

"You've Got Your Troubles"

(written with Roger Greenaway)

The Fortunes1965 #7pop
David & Jonathan1966 
Peter & Gordon1966 
Lou Christie1966 
Nancy Wilson1966 #20 adult contemporary
Jack Jones1966 
Andy Williams1966 
Brenda Lee1966 
Sammy Davis Jr.1968 
Frankie Valli1970 
Jack Blanchard & Misty Morgan1970 #27 country
Wayne Newton1972 
Neil Diamond1978 
Narvel Felts1979 
Sonny James1986 

Other Media

Roger Cook

Induction Year: 1997