Randy Cooke is one of the busiest and most recorded drummers in Canada who now now makes his home Los Angeles CA. There aren’t many players that can boast being able to comfortably and convincingly slip in and out of musical genres the way Randy does. He keeps plenty busy in his native Toronto as well as Los Angeles by being a first call session artist for recording artists, independant artists, television jingles and movie soundtracks. Randy’s super-musical skills and ebullient personality make him a much in demand player, and he can currently be found on over 170 cd’s.

Randy’s list of performing and recording credits also include work with artists: Hilary Duff, Kelly Clarkson, Jessie McCartney, Chantele Kreviasuk, Edwin, Alannah Myles, and Kim Mitchell. With over 20 Gold, Platinum, and MultiPlatinum awards to his credit, he’s appeared on Country charts, Smooth Jazz charts, Rock, Pop-Rock, MOR, and Alternative charts.

Coming from a musical family, his Dad was a snare drummer with the Scottish pipe band in Toronto, Randy had an early start behind the drum kit. Randy joined the local drum corps and marching band named The Cadet Lancers of Etobicoke at the age of thirteen. Soon after her received his first drum kit for Christmas and began studying with a music teacher with the help of a financial scholarship through the charitable organization “The Imperial Order of the Daughters of the Empire”. Randy counts Stewart Copeland and the music of The Police among his early influences. He also listened to and learned much from the R&B/Funk music of Earth, Wind & Fire, The Commodores, Michael Jackson and Kool and the Gang. Randy considers himself lucky to have hung out with other players who appreciate great Funk, Reggae and groove oriented music. He learned a lot by simply listening and playing along with the music.

Randy studied privately with Rick Gratton who eventually offered him the opportunity to play with international blues recording artist Long John Baldry.