Ray Cooper, also known as Chopper, is a British singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist living in Sweden.
Contents
Initial musical collaborations and session work
Cooper's first professional band (1975–1978) was Amazorblades together with Rob Keyloch (engineer/producer/remixer) and Ben Mandelson. They were a punk/jazz outfit who toured extensively and recorded the single "Common Truth" in 1977 for Chiswick Records.
Between 1981 and 1982 Cooper played with the London-based band OK Jive, who signed to CBS in 1981. In 1983, he played bass guitar and bugle with The Mighty Clouds of Dust on their single release Flowers on the Wall / Champion (The Wonder Horse) / Mr.Custer.
In 1983, Cooper joined the World Music group 3 Mustaphas 3 where he played cello and sang under the name of Oussack Mustapha, alias The Nightingale of Szegerely. He recorded two albums with them for Globe Style Records. They also recorded a single with Agnes Bernelle produced by Phil Chevron and Elvis Costello. Cooper left the group in 1986. He performed in a reunion of six group members at the 30th Anniversary concert for fRoots magazine at the Roundhouse in London on 22 January 2010.
Member of Oysterband
Cooper was a member of Oysterband between 1989 and 2013.
Discography
With Amazorblades
Common Truth (Single) 1977
With Yachts
Without Radar (1980)
With OK Jive
To You 1982 (Single produced by Rob Keyloch)
On Route 1982 (Single produced by Joe Jackson)
The Mighty Clouds of Dust
"Flowers on the Wall" / "Champion (The Wonder Horse)" / "Mr.Custer" 1983 (Single produced by Phil Chevron)
With 3 Mustaphas 3
Bam! Mustaphas Play Stereo, 1985
From the Balkans to Your Heart: The Radio Years, 1986
With Oysterband
As Oyster Band
Ride (1989)
Freedom and Rain (1990) (collaboration with June Tabor)
As Oysterband
Deserters (1992)
Holy Bandits (1993)
Trawler (1994)
The Shouting End of Life (1995)
Deep Dark Ocean (1997)
Here I Stand (1999)
Rise Above (2002)
25 (2003)
Meet You There (2007)
The Oxford Girl and Other Stories (2008)
Ragged Kingdom (2011) (collaboration with June Tabor)
Live albums
Little Rock to Leipzig (1990) (partially live)
Alive and Shouting (1996)
Alive and Acoustic (1998)
25th Anniversary Concert (2004) DVD
Northern Light (2006)
Compilation albums
The Rough Guide to World Music (1994) (contributing the track "When I'm Up I Can't Get Down")
The Rough Guide to English Roots Music (1998) (contributing the track "Sail on By")
Solo
Tales of Love War and Death by Hanging (2010) CD
Palace of Tears (2014) CD
Between The Golden Age & The Promised Land (2018) CD and LP
Land of Heroes (2021) CD and LP
Other published material
Ray Cooper Songs (2015) songbook
Awards
2003 Good Tradition Award, BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards (with Oysterband)
2005 Best Group, Oysterband Big Session, BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards
2009 Best group, Spiral Earth Award (with Oysterband)
2012 Best album, Spiral Earth Award (with June Tabor & Oysterband)
2012 Best Traditional Track, BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards (with June Tabor & Oysterband)
2012 Best Album, BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards (with June Tabor & Oysterband)
2012 Best Group, BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards (with June Tabor & Oysterband)