Jeff Cook: 5 Things To Know About The ‘Alabama’ Country Guitarist Dead At 73

• Jeff Cook was the guitarist and co-founder of Alabama.
• He suffered from Parkinson’s illness for 10 years.
• Jeff passed distant astatine the property of 73 connected Nov. 7.

Jeff Cook, the guitarist and co-founder of the band, Alabama, died astatine the property of 73 connected Nov. 7. The singer’s decease was announced via a property release issued by his relatives and it revealed helium was surrounded by household and adjacent friends erstwhile helium passed connected astatine his location successful Destin, FL. A origin of decease has not yet been released but helium was known to person suffered from Parkinson’s illness for respective years.

Find retired much astir Jeff and his palmy euphony vocation below.

Jeff formed Alabama with his cousins successful 1972.

Jeff with his band, Alabama, successful 2019. (Shutterstock)

The band, who started successful 1969 via their Twitter bio, was primitively called Wildcountry but was changed to Alabama successful 1977 and included Jeff’s cousins Randy Owen and Teddy Gentry. Jeff, who earned a broadcast technologist licence astatine the property of 13, provided backing vocals, pb guitar, keyboard, and fiddle for the band, which was named aft the authorities helium grew up in. The set was successful, achieving deed singles similar “Tennessee River,” “Feels So Right,” and “Mountain Music,” and were progressive until 2004, erstwhile they stopped producing and performing regularly until 2013. Jeff went connected to signifier different euphony groups, including Cook & Glenn and the Allstar Goodtime Band, and ended up performing with Alabama again successful 2022 for the band’s 50th day tour.

He besides worked arsenic a solo artist.

Jeff playing the guitar connected stage. (Shutterstock)

Jeff started releasing solo albums successful 2005, with On Fire. He went connected to merchandise 9 more, including Just Pickin’, Ashes Won’t Burn, Jeff Cook Presents Christmas Joy, and Tribute to a Soldier. His past solo album, Why Not Me with William Shatner was released successful 2018.

Jeff was diagnosed with Parkinson’s illness successful 2012.

The talented instrumentalist didn’t publically uncover helium was struggling with the illness until 2017. It led him to halt touring regularly with Alabama successful 2018.

Many celebs paid tribute to him aft his death.

Alabama successful 2017. (Shutterstock)

Kenny Chesney was 1 of galore who shared heartfelt messages astir Jeff and the interaction helium made connected state music. “Jeff Cook, and each of the guys successful Alabama, were truthful generous with contented and amusive erstwhile I got to circuit with them arsenic a young artist,” he shared said successful a statement. “They showed a kid successful a T-shirt that state euphony could beryllium rock, could beryllium real, could beryllium idiosyncratic who looked similar me. Growing up successful East Tennessee, that gave maine the bosom to pursuit this dream.”

Jason Aldean besides took to Twitter to stock a message. “So bittersweet to perceive of the passing of Jeff Cook. I spent a batch of my beingness listening to him play guitar, what an iconic dependable helium had. I got a accidental to execute with him aggregate times implicit the years and I volition ne'er hide it,” it read.

Sending retired my deepest condolences to the family, friends and set mates of Jeff Cook from @TheAlabamaBand. Such a large feline an 1 heckuva bass fisherman. He volition beryllium genuinely missed.

— Travis Tritt (@Travistritt) November 8, 2022

Travis Tritt wrote, “Sending retired my deepest condolences to the family, friends and set mates of Jeff Cook from @TheAlabamaBand. Such a large feline an 1 heckuva bass fisherman. He volition beryllium genuinely missed,” successful a tweet, and Mike Love of The Beach Boys wrote, “Very bittersweet to perceive of the passing of a founding subordinate of 1 of America’s top groups, Alabama. Rest successful bid Jeff Cook. We’ll miss you.”

Jeff is survived by galore household members.

Some of them see his woman of 27 years, Betty Cook, member David Cook, Crystal Cook, father-in-law Jerrial Williams and brother-in-law Randy Williams, arsenic good arsenic respective nieces and nephews.