Frank Cook (musician)

Frank Cook was a drummer and former member of blues bands Pacific Gas & Electric, Canned Heat and Bluesberry Jam. For a time he was also the manager of Pacific Gas & Electric.

History

Having a background in jazz,^[1] Frank Cook was an experienced musician who had played with jazz musicians Charlie Haden, Chet Baker and Elmo Hope. He also had been in collaborations with soul artists such as Shirley Ellis and Dobie Gray. Cook became a member of Canned Heat when he replaced their drummer Ron Holmes. He then became Canned Heat's permanent drummer.^[2] He would stay with Canned heat until being replaced by Fito de la Parra.^[3] Due to the position vacant in Bluesberry Jam, Cook then became their new drummer.^[4] He later became a member of Pacific Gas & Electric. However, he had an interest in managing the band rather than being its drummer. For a time he actually did manage the group. A car accident finished his days as the drummer for Pacific Gas & Electric and he was replaced by Ron Woods.^[5] At the time of Pacific Gas & Electric's involvement in Lawrence Schiller's Lexington Experience film in 1970, Cook was still their manager. He transcribed the whole film in order to make out that the activities of the band relating to use of illegal substances were actually their lines if there would be any legal problems.^[6]

In later years Cook became a psychiatrist in California.^[7]

References