Jean Lawrence Cook

... was born in Athens, Tennessee July 14, 1899. He was orphaned by the age of four, and raised by relatives. Cook arrived in New York in the spring of 1920 and was advised by no less than Eubie Blake that New York was the only place to be in the music industry. He worked for the U.S. Music Roll Company and Aeolian before making contact with QRS.  With advice and friendship with Eubie Blake and with close musical ties with Ramsi Tick, president of QRS, J. Lawrence Cook became the most prolific arranger and recordist ever for player pianos.

 

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The AMICA, V13, No. 5, June 1976

J. LAWRENCE COOK, PIANO-ROLL MAKER

J. Lawrence Cook, sometimes known as Piano Roll Cook because of his career as an arranger, composer and maker of the rolls for player pianos, died of a heart attack Friday at his home, 57 Esplanade Street, Mount Vernon, N.Y. He was 76 years old.

Mr. Cook continued until his death to turn out master rolls for manufacturers in various parts of the world to meet the demand of devotees and hobbyists: He had retired from the Aeolian Corporation in 1972 but set up a shop in his home.

Mr. Cook was a friend of such jazz pianists as W. C. Handy, Eubie Blake and Jelly Roll Morton. Teddy Wilson was one of his pupils.

In the 1930's, Mr. Cook was the only person kept on by Q.R.S., one of the famous old piano-roll manufacturers,

making new recordings under his own name and various pseudonyms.

Surviving are his widow, the former Edith Bascomb; a son, Dr. Jean L. Cook; a daughter, Annizella Fugate, and three grauduaughters.

 

 

 

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Automatic Musical Instrument Collectors' Association,
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