Biographies - Joe Cook
Joe was born on August 18, 1962 in Philadelphia, MS. He was raised around music and began playing in church with his dad. Around the age of 8 years old with his dad, he joined the Paige Family, a bluegrass/gospel group, for his first professional music job. After a while with the Paige Family, he went to work for the Sullivan Family. There he played along side of the Who’s Who in the gospel music industry and the bluegrass music industry.
With hard work and the blessings of God, he quickly became known as one of the innovators of the mandolin as we know it today. He plays mandolin, fiddle, guitar, and bass. He is also a singer/song writer.
He is quick to add that he has the “best” F5 Gibson mandolin in existence today. He and his mandolin have played in several countries, every state, played on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry, the Ryman Auditorium, and the Brooklyn Academy of Music. He is also proud to have been apart of the Bluegrass Gaither Homecoming series.
He was nominated by the Emerald Coast Southern Gospel Music Association for the 2008 Stage Musician of the Year, Songwriter of the Year, Producer of the Year.
Along with his musical abilities, the Lord called him into the ministry. He enjoys traveling and ministering with his family to churches, festivals, gospel sings, or just anywhere the Lord leads.
Loves: ministering, his wife, his family, collecting model buses, watching football, and traveling with his dog Emmett (a black cock-a-poo, named after his best friend, Emmett Sullivan).
Influences: His dad, Bill Monroe, Jethro Burns, and Hershel Sizemore.
Favorite Scripture: 1st John 2:6 - He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.