The Alabama band published a black and white Instagram photograph of founding member Jeff Cook on November 8, 2022. The band reported that the guitarist, who was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, has died.
His band revealed that he died peacefully on November 7, 2022.
He was 73 years old and had his close friends and family at his side when he died at his Destin, Florida, beach house. Before death, he fulfilled one of his lifetime aspirations, according to his bandmates.
Jeff got to build the Cook Sound Studios in Fort Payne at his house, known as the “Cook Castle,” as a method of supporting other musicians in promoting their music with others.
When he wasn’t producing music, the late artist enjoyed bass fishing and was honored as Alabama’s “Fishing Ambassador” by five governors. His wife of 27 years was among those who survived him.
The singer was also survived by his brother, David Cook, his mother, Betty Cook, brother-in-law Randy Williams, father-in-law Jerrial Williams, and several nieces and nephews. The actor was fortunate to be with his wife at his castle when he died.
Jeff married Lisa Williams on June 9, 1995, and she was characterized as “the love of his life” in Alabama’s Instagram memorial post.
While Lisa was a Delta Air Lines flight attendant on a trip with him, the couple met and fell in love.
Jeff and his wife valued family, thus they maintained the “Cook Castle” as their principal residence since it could accommodate their large family for vacations. The pair didn’t have kids, but they loved their nieces and nephews.
Jeff adored kids so much that he went fishing with cancer patients from the clinic. Before his death, the artist had struggled with a long-term illness with Lisa’s help.
Jeff was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease four years prior, it was disclosed in 2017. But, until that year, the violin player’s bandmates had kept it under wraps.
In April of that year, the musician decided to take a break from touring due to the effects of the condition on his body. According to his statement, he suffered with equilibrium, coordination, and tremors, and he admitted this has made trying to play guitar, violin, or sing exceedingly difficult for him.
He revealed how he had tried not to bother anyone with his illness since he did not want to stop performing music. Jeff stated that he was not leaving the profession, but that his body occasionally dictated what he should do, and that at the moment, it needed to recuperate and take a vacation.
Lisa’s husband quit travelling with his band in 2018, but they continued to play with his permission. The late actor and his wife founded the Jeff and Lisa Cook Children’s Home, which sheltered orphaned kids all around the world, beginning in the Philippines.
ACM – In Memoriam: Jeff CookAs we mourn the loss of Alabama member, Jeff Cook, we remember his many incredible musical talents. Here's Jeff sawing on the fiddle during one of our favorite Alabama performances from the 21st #ACMawards in 1986.
Posted by ACM – Academy of Country Music on Tuesday, 8 November 2022
