Don Cook

Don Kirby Cook (born May 25, 1949) is an American record producer and songwriter whose work is mainly in the field of country music. Artists  who recorded Cook’s material include Barbara Mandrell, John Conlee,  Blake Shelton, Chris Young, Olivia Newton-John, The Oak Ridge Boys,  Mark Collie, Michael Martin Murphey, Billy Gilman, Cher, Clay Walker,  Highway 101, Wade Hayes, Conway Twitty, Alabama, New Grass Revival,  Steve Wariner, Joe Diffie, Kenny Rogers, Brenda Lee, George Jones,  Lonestar, Keith Whitley, Ricky Skaggs, Tammy Wynette, Kelly Clarkson,  Tom Jones, Engelbert Humperdink, Paul Anka, Lari White, Deborah Allen,  Loretta Lynn, Waylon Jennings, The Highwaymen, Tracy Lawrence, Vince  Gill, Del McCoury Band, Ronnie Bowman, T. Graham Brown, Suzy  Bogguss, Glen Campbell, Tanya Tucker, Lorrie Morgan, Mark Chesnutt,  B.W. Stevenson, George Strait, and 23 songs by Brooks & Dunn. Cook’s  production work began in the early 1990s when he worked with Brooks &  Dunn. 

 Don Cook began writing songs at age twelve and recorded his first demo at age fourteen. He played at various clubs and coffeehouses in Houston,  Texas during his teenage years, and after graduating from the University of  Texas, moved to Nashville, Tennessee through the suggestion of session  guitar man Mark Casstevens. Through the assistance of Don Gant, he  signed with Acuff-Rose Music. In the 1980s, Cook had several cuts that  were released as singles, including “Lady Lay Down” by John Conlee,  which was Cook’s first Number One as a songwriter.

Cook co-wrote “Brand New Man“, the first single release by Brooks &  Dunn, and was asked to produce for the duo as well. At first, he was  reluctant, but he was encouraged to keep producing after the commercial  success of Brooks & Dunn’s debut album. Over time, Cook produced  most of Brooks & Dunn’s material, including thirteen of their songs which  went to Number One. Don also produced albums on Mark Collie, Conway  Twitty, Wade Hayes, Joe Diffie, Alabama, N’Sync, Lonestar, Neil Diamond,  Olivia Newton-John, James House, The Mavericks, and Tracy Lawrence. In  1994, Cook was named Chief Creative Officer and Senior Vice President of  Sony/ATV Music Publishing. He retired from both positions in 2004, but  has continued to write songs.