Alabama co-founder Jeff Cook has died. The country music group shared the news on social media.
Cook, 73, had been battling Parkinson’s disease since 2012. He died at his beach home in Destin, Florida, on Monday, according to a statement from the band.
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Cook was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame with Alabama in 2005.
Cook began playing lead guitar and the keyboard at the age of 13. In 2017, he was inducted into the National Fiddler Hall of Fame, based in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
“From one fiddle player to another, I always felt I was a pretty good guitarist,” Cook joked at the time.
Cook stopped touring with Alabama in 2018 due to his health problems. The band continued to tour because he never wanted “the music to stop or the party to end.”
Fellow country artists are paying respects on social media.
“One of the highlights of my life is getting to record and jam with you guys. You fought this terrible disease with grace, Jeff. My heart goes out to your wife and the boys and the band. We will miss you,” Brad Paisley posted on Instagram.
“So sad to hear of the passing of Jeff Cook. I spent a lot of my life listening to him play guitar, what an iconic sound he had. I got a chance to perform with him multiple times over the years and I will never forget it. RIP Mr. Jeff, you are a legend to many of us and your influence will be felt forever in country music,” Jason Aldean posted.
“Jeff Cook, and all of the guys in Alabama, were so generous with wisdom AND fun when I got to tour with them as a young artist.” Kenny Chesney wrote. “But maybe even more, they showed a kid in a t-shirt that country music could be rock, could be real, could be someone who looked like me. Growing up in East Tennessee, that gave me the heart to chase this dream.”
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The band said plans for a “celebration of life” for Cook will be announced soon.
