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Calvin Cooke Interviews

Calvin Cooke lived most of his life in Detroit and is now retired to the greater Atlanta area.  As his family first belonged to the Church of the Living God and later joined the House of God, he immersed himself in the steel guitar musical traditions of both denominations.  Felton Williams served as a steel guitar mentor to Calvin Cooke, Sonny Treadway and Ron Hall when they were teens.  For years, Ron Hall backed up Calvin’s innovative steel guitar playing for worship services, and the two developed a special musical synergy.  Calvin is also a talented singer and songwriter, and his wife, Grace Cooke, frequently sings with him.  Since retiring from his job at a Chrysler auto assembly plant, he has toured extensively with his Sacred Steel Ensemble, played as an opening act for Robert Randolph, and most recently, performed with Chuck Campbell as the Slide Brothers.

– Robert L. Stone

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  • RS-025-027 Calvin Cooke Interview 6/12/02 00:00
  • RS-028 Calvin Cooke Interview 8/4/03 00:00
  • RS-029 Calvin Cooke Interview 8/4/03 00:00
  • RS-030 Calvin Cooke Interview 8/4/03 00:00
  • RS-032 Calvin Cooke Interview 2/22/06 00:00
  • RS-033 Calvin Cooke Interview 2/22/06 00:00
  • RS-034 Calvin Cooke Interview 8/7/03 00:00
  • RS-035 Calvin Cooke Interview 9/5/07 00:00
Interviewee: Calvin Cooke
Interviewer: Robert Stone
Date: 6/12/2002, 8/4/2003, 2/22/2006, 8/7/2003, 9/5/2007
Location: Telephone interview
Language: English

For the archive overview:
The Robert Stone Sacred Steel Archive

This is an interview originally recorded for research purposes. It is presented here in its raw state, unedited except to remove some irrelevant sections and blank spaces. All rights to the interview are reserved by the Arhoolie Foundation. Please do not use anything from this website without permission. info@arhoolie.org

Calvin Cooke Interview Transcripts:

Dear friends,

On Giving Tuesday, we announced the capital campaign to purchase our building at 10341 San Pablo Ave in El Cerrito — home to the Arhoolie Foundation (and before that Arhoolie Records), Les Blank Films, and Down Home Music Store since 1976. We’ve been heartened by the community’s response to our fundraising announcement. To all who have donated so far: thank you. We couldn’t do this without you.

Now, while there is a contract in place to buy the building in partnership with Les Blank Films, we need to raise $1.2 million — our half of the purchase price — by April 15. Donations to the campaign can be made via the link below, by check, or by bank transfer. (To make a bank transfer, please email us at info@arhoolie.org).

In the new year, we look forward to collaborating with Les Blank Films and Down Home Music to bring more public programming to our community. We plan to revive Les Blank and Chris Strachwitz’s tradition of in-store film screenings and will host more informal, free performances and gatherings in the store as part of our outreach work. We believe this collaboration will result in a vibrant community gathering place dedicated to music, film, and deep roots culture.

If you’re interested in donating and would like to discuss our plans for the building, please don’t hesitate to email director Adam Machado at adam@arhoolie.org.

Thank you for your support as we begin this exciting new chapter!

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