Harmonica Entertainer Dennis M. Cooper

Dennis M. Cooper is a professional entertainer who understands the difference between quiet background music for a dinner party and a full-on performance at a major outdoor festival. He can provide the latest in high quality sound reinforcement equipment as part of his service and professionally mix other speakers and musicians (within reason) for a nominal fee.

Dennis is Alcohol and drug free, doesn't smoke an will dress appropriately for any occasion from casual to formal.

He has played a large number of weddings, receptions, memorial services, dinner parties, concerts and festivals over the past 30 years and has toured professionally, entertaining audiences throughout the USA.

Dennis also conducts workshops about how to play the diatonic harmonica ranging from two hours to 5 days for up to 35 attendees.

Please visit (link hidden) to listen to a selection of his music.

Whether its blues, country, big band, bebop, reggae, rock or easy listening, Dennis Cooper is there with the chops.

With a career spanning over thirty years performing with some of the finest musicians in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, California, and Texas, Cooper branched out with his first solo release, “A Boy and His Harmonica” in October, of 2001.

After its release, the album reached the number one spot on (link hidden) “Top Selling Jazz CDs” list on four occasions and every song was in the top three of its genre chart.

He’s won many awards during his career, including a first place finish in the diatonic division of the Yellow Pine Harmonica Contest in 2001 and a B.E.A.M. (Benefiting Emerging Artists in Music) award from the Jim Beam Company.

From the Oregon Coast to the Gulf Coast of Texas, Dennis has entertained at festivals and fairs in his one-man harmonica show.

“It’s not what people expect to hear coming from a harmonica,” says Cooper. “I play a very melodic style and it thrills me when someone in the audience leaves a performance humming or whistling part of something I played.”

In 2002 and 2003 Cooper contracted with Jon Gindick, author of “Rock and Blues Harmonica” as a Co-Instructor at “Jon Gindick’s Harmonica Jam Camp for Blues and Country in Irvine, CA and Austin, TX.

Winter 2006 was a busy creative time for both Cooper and his wife and partner Sandra Cooper.

Together they wrote and published the first in a series of revolutionary new harmonica instructional materials.

The first project, “Harmonica Boot Camp” , was written from an absolute beginners point of view. Dennis taught Sandra how to play the harmonica and she authored a compact and concise book that covers all the bases without the musical jargon. “Harmonica Boot Camp” also includes a 75-minute instructional audio CD.

Two new albums were also recorded during live performances while in Arizona.

“Crossharp Country, LIVE” is a collection of country and bluegrass favorites recorded as they were performed.

“Live From Paradise and Otherwise” features songs that are easy on the ears and includes several new compositions by Dennis.

2009 1st place (tie) combined Grand National Division (diatonic & chromatic), Yellowpine Harmonica Contest
2008 3rd place combined Grand National Division (diatonic & chromatic), Yellowpine Harmonica Contest
2002 Jim Beam B.E.A.M. (Benefiting Emerging Artists in Music) award, one of 23 awarded nationwide.
2001 Yellow Pine Harmonica Contest-1st Place, Diatonic Division
2000 Yellow Pine Harmonica Contest-3rd Place, Diatonic Division
1999 Yellow Pine Harmonica Contest-2nd Place, Diatonic Division

Top Selling Jazz (link hidden) January, 2002, March, 2002, April, 2003, September, 2003
#1 Idaho (link hidden) December, 2002-until the website closed in 2004.

I have my own sound systems for small to large venues. On another PA I require 4 inputs.