A pioneer of red dirt music, John Cooper has seen the red dirt industry in Oklahoma evolve into something amazing. “It’s been a nice, cool, journey.” Cooper says he is proud to be a part of it.
Red Dirt Rangers has been around, even before red dirt was associated with a genre. “We played Tex-Mex, Cajun, bluegrass, rock, soul, western swing,” Cooper says they had a wide variety of genres Red Dirt Rangers took inspiration from.
“Instead of calling it all that, we just called it red dirt,” Cooper says, “It stuck.” ‘Red dirt’ was first mentioned by Jessie Ed Davis’ song Red Dirt Boogie Brother. Then secondly it made the appearance with Steve Ripley’s band recording at a studio in Stillwater called, Red Dirt Records.
Cooper Speaks on the Origins of Red Dirt
Songwriting is the most important part of our scene, that’s how it started. The Song is the most important part to be sure.
John Cooper
Cooper was a student at Oklahoma State University when he and Danny Pierce rented The Farm together in 1979. It was close enough to ride a bike into campus in 20 minutes and it was far enough on the outskirts of town that law enforcement left them alone. When college kids are given that kind of freedom, that’s where the music came from. Cooper not knowing it would be the birthplace of many famous musicians back then, recalls it being ‘a more innocent time.’
“We made our own fun,” Cooper refers to how they started playing music to pass the time at The Farm. Eventually musicians found out about The Farm, leading to some wild parties. One of these musicians was Bob Childers.
“Live music was everywhere,” Cooper said about the 1970s through the 1990s. He remembers seeing multiple bands in town every weekend, 3 to 4 every night, and they always seemed to end up at The Farm to carry on the party.
Cooper says he encountered Cody Canada at The Farm, and had asked him what he was going to school for. When the reply was, “I came to Stillwater for the music,” Cooper says they must be doing something right. Cody Canada is former founding member of Cross Canadian Ragweed, and now front man of Cody Canada and The Departed.
Cross Canadian Ragweed isn’t the only band that established quickly in the red dirt scene. Jimmy LaFave and Night Tribe, Cimarron, The Red Valley Barnstormers, Medicine Show, and the Red Dirt Rangers were established bands before Cross Canadian Ragweed.
Cooper Says Red Dirt is a ‘United Front’
“What makes our scene different, is we support each other.” Cooper says. When Cross Canadian Ragweed and Garth Brooks made it big, they all celebrated them. Brooks had been hanging out at The Farm, before going to Nashville. Brooks was on a track scholarship at OSU when he encountered Cooper and The Farm. Cooper never saw Brooks play at The Farm, but he recalls his weekly residency at Willie’s Saloon before becoming a star.
“It’s a big love-fest with us.”
John Cooper
“We loved all kinds of music,” Cooper says. “What’s not to love?” Red dirt music is a ‘true brotherhood and sisterhood.’ When one of them does good, they all do good. Red dirt isn’t treated like a competition, it’s about support.
The Next Generation of Red Dirt
Photo from Red Dirt Rangers Facebook Page.
Tom Skinner and Bob Childers taught Cooper and his band how to survive on the road, as a band. This knowledge was then passed down to other generations of red dirt with John Cooper and many others. “It’s hard for me to be objective, and I’m not because I’ve been in it for so long.”
Cooper and many others want the truth of the red dirt music scene out in the world. Childers told Cooper, “One day our scene will be filling large venues.” Cooper didn’t believe him then, but Cody Canada and The Turnpike Troubadours are living proof of this statement. Other big name bands that fill up large venues include Jason Boland, and the Stragglers, Southall, The Great Divide and Stoney LaRue.
“Songwriting is the most important part.” Cooper says the music is never forced. Red dirt is about playing good music. “If it’s not about the music, you’re doing it wrong.”
Oklahoma VS Texas Red Dirt
“Nobody can stay in a college town forever,” Cooper says most of the red dirt legends moved on. Spreading the ‘gospel’ south towards Texas. “Our guys went to Texas and took over,” Cooper says Texas didn’t stand a chance against their united front.
“I love our Texas Friends, and the fans are fantastic.” Cooper says there is a difference in the type of red dirt music played. With Texas having more people, red dirt is more popular there. “Texas has over-the-top Hispanic culture that’s really cool,” Cooper explains the difference of sound.
Oklahoma red dirt music has more Native American influences. “The native culture gives us a spirituality that sets us apart.” Cooper is proud of all they’ve accomplished as a genre and talks fondly of the united front.
Where To See Red Dirt Music
Tulsa is now blowing up with the music scene. While Stillwater still has musicians coming out of it, Tulsa has become the go-to place. Cooper invites everyone out to The Mercury Lounge, in Tulsa, where Red Dirt Rangers play every Saturday, unless they have other gigs scheduled, of course. When it comes to red dirt with John Cooper, Cooper himself even enjoys the dive bar because it focuses on the music.
Keep in touch about Red Dirt Music via Respect My Region.
