Toni Hopper
The Duncan Banner
DUNCAN —
Even in this day of technology and instant offerings, there are some things that still take the old-fashioned ways. For instance, getting your name out there, playing music and traveling the rural heartland of America.
Johnny Cooper is one of those people who follow their passion and he said, he owes it to Duncan. It was a small establishment on Seventh Street that opened its doors to the young Cooper.
“When I was 16 and first playing, Wall Street was one of the few places that allowed me in to play,” he said. Because of that opportunity, Cooper enjoys returning to Duncan to perform. Even though he still plays occasionally at Wall Street, he’s expanded his venues to other places, like Main Street Duncan, and now, the Simmons Center.
He’s scheduled to return to Duncan to perform for Cameron University’s CU@SC, at 7:30 p.m. Saturday.
It will be his first performance at the Simmons Center and he’s excited about that. Many of the outlets he plays at are small bars and outdoor concerts.
Cooper also finds the distance to Duncan to be valuable, as he lives in Wichita Falls, Texas. Some of his shows though are a distance and for someone who plays 250 shows a year, that can make for road weariness.
But he said, he’s getting to do what he loves.
“The best part is we get to play music every night. Since I was a kid, I always had my dream, and that was to have a dream to play music and make a living at it,” Cooper said in a phone interview from Canton, Texas, just one of those stops on his schedule.
“I get to see all parts of the country, that some may never get to see. Getting to go through these towns is a good experience,” he said.
As for returning to Duncan, this upcoming performance is also a special one for Cooper.
“It will be on my 22nd birthday and it’s been awhile since I played in Duncan. I’ve always had a good crowd and people are great in Duncan, listening to my music. I’ve done some things with Cameron,” he said.
Cooper said if people haven’t heard the music lately, they will notice a difference, he said, for the better.
“The majority of music we will be playing is from the second and third album. We have some new music we’re incorporating into that show as well,” he said.
And he’s spent the past year producing a new record. He said it will be released in three or four months.
“I’m just excited to see people and for them to see what we are doing now,” he said.
— Toni Hopper is a reporter for The Duncan Banner. She can be reached at 580-255-5354, Ext. 132 or by e-mail at: toni.hopper@duncanbanner.com.
