Spring 2013
“Small steps lead to big things.” That’s the kind of advice bassist Stormy Cooper offers to rising fellow Cy-Fair artists. His words are from the heart and born of experience. The owner of Stormy Cooper Media (SC Media) and 13-year veteran of the Roger Creager Band has slowly and steadily walked toward success in the music industry.
Cooper’s earliest memories are of his musician father coming home from gigs with his guitars and issuing a stern warning. “He’d tell me, ‘Don’t touch the guitars,’ but of course, I did,” Cooper says. “I messed around with them and learned how to play.”
Playing was a hobby until his teenage years, when Cooper formed his first band. He also acted as a roadie before going back to the bass guitar in a Top 40 Rock band. The group was successful, playing in Austin, Waco, Dallas, and other areas around Huntsville. “They were professional gigs. We got paid, and it supplemented our college student loans,” laughs Cooper.
Getting the Big Break
Many artists anticipate their big break. Cooper worked with the longtime Ezra Charles Band and churned out rock and roll on the Richmond strip before joining a country cover band. “I always wanted to do original music, every band does,” Cooper says. “But it’s a tough path.” Networking and perseverance paid off when Cooper was introduced to some folks from the Jack Ingram camp, and one had gone to college with Roger Creager. “His band needed a bass guitar player. It’s luck, opportunity, and definitely timing,” Cooper says with a laugh about joining the band.
In 15 years, the Roger Creager Band has played in points as close as Gruene Hall in the Hill Country and as far away as the Italian countryside. In 2001, Roger Creager won Entertainer of the Year in the Texas Regional Music Awards and was featured in an episode of Troubadour,TX. Six albums and a dozen hits later prove the band as a musical success.
Making Musicians
Cooper’s SC Media had a hand, or a voice, in the Roger Creager Band’s latest album. Local musician Lyndon Hughes, who works at SC Media, is a singer and a world-class drummer, according to Cooper. Hughes provided the bulk of the harmony back-up for Surrender, released in January 2012.
“My goal is to keep local artists happy and employed,” Stormy says. “The studio is also my happy place, where I can listen and create music.” Cooper enjoys nurturing the zeal in music makers through the production process. “My philosophy is to provide access to up and coming artists,” Stormy explains. “You used to have to go to L.A. and pay two hundred grand to produce an album, but that’s not feasible. SC Media allows us to offer an affordable price.” The company goes above and beyond by creating payment plans and by not letting the cost of a ticking clock guide the performance.
Keeping the Music Going
Band success means a lot of time on the road, which has its challenges. “We can travel ten hours, and then, work for six,” Cooper says. “We have to keep everyone healthy and morale up.” He credits his fellow band members and their families for keeping it all together. They’re a tight-knit group that works and plays together and respects family. Cooper’s wife, Allyson, and her parents help keep SC Media running when Cooper is away and offer wonderful support. “It’s a blessing to come home to them,” he adds.
Fans also keep the music alive, and there is nothing like your hometown crowd. Cooper always has found inspiration in Houston. “Rock, blues, cajun, swing, tejano – we’re lucky to have grown up in this mecca of music. Not to slight Nashville – we work there, too – but in Nashville, music is a business; here, it’s a driving passion.”
Future Goals
Cooper plans to expand his studio to add space for rehearsals, video production performances in HD, and launch a mini- series of concerts to showcase musicians. They are positioned for growth. In his own life he has practiced it, and to others, Stormy advises, “Baby steps. You may not see yourself progressing, but those small steps will get you there. Immerse yourself in your craft, set goals, and strive to reach them.” CFM