Ian Cooke

Co-producer of “Gypsy Pilot,” Ian Cooke,  from California, is a music historian who has worked in professional theatre and music. He worked with Rick in 1966 in the play “How To Succeed In Business.” 

In 1979, he promoted Rick Nelson: In Concert At San Jose Center For The Performing Arts. He has a degree in Business Administration and is a Vietnam Veteran and recipient of of the Purple Heart. He has been involved with VH1 on Behind the Movie and Behind the Music 

Ian put together a DVD collection of Rick’s performances, “A Musician’s Journey,” and, more recently, he coordinated the production of a tribute CD, “Easy To Be Free: The Songs of Rick Nelson,” released by Planting Seeds Music, 2006 Available at www.myspace.com/ricknelsontribute 

He brought Marshall Crenshaw, John McEuen (Nitty Gritty Dirt Band), John Beland, Dennis Larden, Jeffrey Foskett (Brian Wilson), and Jeff Larson (America, Timothy B. Schmidt) into the tribe CD project Currently, Ian is now publishing a multi-chapter look at Rick’s country rock period, revealing the little known fact that Rick and his Stone Canyon Band were actually the pioneers and co-founders of country rock as made famous later by the Eagles and other groups.