Martin Cooper (artist)
Encyclopedia
Martin Cooper is a painter
and a musician
.
group
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
. Prior to joining OMD, Cooper played the saxophone
at some of their concert
s, or they used his pre-recorded work. He also played with Dalek I Love You
. In 1981 he briefly left OMD to join Dave Hughes for a project called Godot
.
Cooper also made some writing
contributions to their song
s. His biggest success was "Souvenir
", co-written with Paul Humphreys
, which reached number 3 in the UK Singles Chart
.
Besides playing in OMD, Cooper and Hughes wrote film score
s for C.H.U.D.
and Knights and Armour amongst others.
After OMD split in 1989, Cooper formed The Listening Pool
with ex-OMD members Paul Humphreys
and Malcolm Holmes
. They also founded their own record label
, Telegraph Records. The Listening Pool released one album Still Life, which had one of Cooper's paintings at the album cover
. The band broke up in 1996.
In 2007 Cooper joined OMD for a reunion tour.
. He obtained a first class honours degree in Fine Arts at the Sheffield
College of Art in 1980. Since leaving OMD, Cooper has devoted most of his time and energy to his painting. Many of his works are still life
pictures.
to Alexandra Bibby, a classical
pianist
, and they have two sons.
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
and a musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
.
Musical career
From 1980 until 1989 Cooper was a member of the rockRock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
group
Band (music)
In music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform music. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* All-female band* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover band...
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark are a synthpop group whose founding members are originally from the Wirral Peninsula, England...
. Prior to joining OMD, Cooper played the saxophone
Saxophone
The saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
at some of their concert
Concert
A concert is a live performance before an audience. The performance may be by a single musician, sometimes then called a recital, or by a musical ensemble, such as an orchestra, a choir, or a musical band...
s, or they used his pre-recorded work. He also played with Dalek I Love You
Dalek I Love You
Dalek I Love You may refer to:* Dalek I Love You, a synthpop group* Dalek I Love You , the group's self-titled album* Dalek I Love You , an audio play broadcast on BBC Radio...
. In 1981 he briefly left OMD to join Dave Hughes for a project called Godot
Godot (band)
Godot was a synthpop band formed in England, in November 1980, by Merseyside musicians Dave Hughes on instruments, and Keith Hartley on vocals and instruments.Hughes and Hartley had relations with also synthpop band Dalek I Love You...
.
Cooper also made some writing
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
contributions to their song
Song
In music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing.A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs...
s. His biggest success was "Souvenir
Souvenir (song)
"Souvenir" is a song written by Paul Humphreys and Martin Cooper of Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark and released as the first single from their 1981 album Architecture & Morality...
", co-written with Paul Humphreys
Paul Humphreys
Paul Humphreys is a British musician.-Life and career:He is best known as a member of synth pop group Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark , which he founded with Andy McCluskey in 1978.He grew up on the Wirral Peninsula in North West England, during which time he developed his interest in German...
, which reached number 3 in the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
.
Besides playing in OMD, Cooper and Hughes wrote film score
Film score
A film score is original music written specifically to accompany a film, forming part of the film's soundtrack, which also usually includes dialogue and sound effects...
s for C.H.U.D.
C.H.U.D.
C.H.U.D. is a 1984 American horror film produced by Andrew Bonime, and directed by Douglas Cheek with Peter Stein as the director of photography and William Bilowit as production designer. The cast includes Daniel Stern and John Heard. It was followed in 1989 by C.H.U.D. II: Bud the...
and Knights and Armour amongst others.
After OMD split in 1989, Cooper formed The Listening Pool
The Listening Pool
The Listening Pool was an English band, founded by three former members of Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark , after the original-lineup split in 1989...
with ex-OMD members Paul Humphreys
Paul Humphreys
Paul Humphreys is a British musician.-Life and career:He is best known as a member of synth pop group Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark , which he founded with Andy McCluskey in 1978.He grew up on the Wirral Peninsula in North West England, during which time he developed his interest in German...
and Malcolm Holmes
Malcolm Holmes
Malcolm Holmes is a British drummer. He is best known for being the drummer with Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, with whom he had a #3 UK hit with "Souvenir" and a #4 US/#48 UK hit with "If You Leave."-Biography:...
. They also founded their own record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
, Telegraph Records. The Listening Pool released one album Still Life, which had one of Cooper's paintings at the album cover
Album cover
An album cover is the front of the packaging of a commercially released audio recording product, or album. The term can refer to either the printed cardboard covers typically used to package sets of 10" and 12" 78 rpm records, single and sets of 12" LPs, sets of 45 rpm records , or the front-facing...
. The band broke up in 1996.
In 2007 Cooper joined OMD for a reunion tour.
Painting career
Cooper studied art at the Laird School of Art in BirkenheadBirkenhead
Birkenhead is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral in Merseyside, England. It is on the Wirral Peninsula, along the west bank of the River Mersey, opposite the city of Liverpool...
. He obtained a first class honours degree in Fine Arts at the Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
College of Art in 1980. Since leaving OMD, Cooper has devoted most of his time and energy to his painting. Many of his works are still life
Still life
A still life is a work of art depicting mostly inanimate subject matter, typically commonplace objects which may be either natural or man-made...
pictures.
Personal life
Cooper is marriedMarriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
to Alexandra Bibby, a classical
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
, and they have two sons.