Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 29, 2026

Randy Cooke

Randy Cooke is a Canadian-American drummer, percussionist, session musician, and touring musician.

Last revised
Jul 29, 2026
Read time
≈ 2 min
Length
437 w
Citations
18
Source
Randy Cooke
Born
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
OriginCanada
United States
Genres
Years active1987–present
Member ofSmash Mouth
Websitehttps://www.youtube.com/@randycookedrums

Randy Cooke is a Canadian-American drummer, percussionist, session musician, and touring musician.

Biography

Influenced by his drummer father, Cooke picked up the drums as a child, learning and playing as part of a local drum corps before starting his own bands as a teenager.1 After high school, he took his talents to the recording studio and the national stage, recording and/or touring with the likes of FM, Lee Aaron, Strange Advance, Marc Jordan, Rik Emmett, Amy Sky, Sass Jordan, Kim Mitchell, Edwin, Alannah Myles, and Alanis Morissette, and quickly emerged as one of Canada's top session musicians.2

In 2004, Cooke relocated to Los Angeles and has since worked with some of music's biggest names. Shortly after his move, he was selected to record and tour with Dave Stewart of Eurythmics. Impressed, Stewart recommended Cooke to Ringo Starr, who was looking for a band to back him up as he began the promotional circuit for his solo album, Liverpool 8. Cooke got the spot and would accompany Starr on drums on The Rachel Ray Show and at the European Capital Of Culture Celebration, among other major appearances.1 Since moving to the US, he has also toured and/or recorded with Five for Fighting, Kelly Clarkson, Hilary Duff, Smash Mouth, Natasha Bedingfield, Ian Gillan (of Deep Purple), Colin Hay (of Men at Work), Pointer Sisters, Colbie Caillat, Mick Jagger, Ashley Tisdale, David Archuleta, The Veronicas, K'naan, Mandy Moore, and Taylor Hicks.3 He has also appeared on Jay Leno, David Letterman, Regis & Kelly, A&E Private Sessions, Larry King, CBS Early Show, The View, and Martha Stewart,4 endorsed a brand of signature "Randy Cooke" drumsticks available at retail for leading manufacturer Regal Tip, and been featured as a drummer/percussionist on several major releases.

Credits

Year Artist Album Contribution
1997 The Miller Stain Limit Radiate Drums
2004 Kelly Clarkson Breakaway Drums5
2005 Len The Diary of the Madmen Drums5
2006 Chantal Kreviazuk Ghost Stories Drums, Percussion5
2006 Stacie Orrico Beautiful Awakening Drums5
2007 Ashley Tisdale Headstrong Drums5
2007 Five for Fighting Live: Back Country Drums5
2008 David Archuleta David Archuleta Drums5
2009 K'naan Troubadour Drums5
2009 Chantal Kreviazuk Plain Jane Drums, percussion5
2009 Five for Fighting Slice Drums5
2009 Jesse & Joy Electricidad Drums, percussion6
2010 David Archuleta Other Side of Down Drums5
2011 Kelly Clarkson Stronger Drums5
References

References

  1. "Web Exclusive Interview Ringo Starr's Randy Cooke". ModernDrummer.com. Archived from the original on 2009-02-09. Retrieved 2011-02-04.
  2. "Randy Cooke". DrumSoloartist.com.
  3. "Randy Cooke". NME.com.
  4. "Randy Cooke". DrummerWorld.com.
  5. "Randy Cooke". allmusic.com.
  6. "Electricidad - Jesse & Joy". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved February 12, 2011.