If you close your eyes and imagine the singing voice of a true “Texas Gentleman”, you’re hearing Neil Cooper. He’s a traditional country music artist, born and bred in the northwest side of Houston where Clint Black used to play a weekly dinner gig at the neighborhood Longhorn Café. 

Inspired at a young age by the live music of Clint Black as well as cassette tapes and CD’s of George Strait, Merle Haggard, Randy Travis, Eagles, and Alabama; Neil found his sound and has never looked back. It’s fiddle and steel guitar, melodies that get stuck in your head for days and relatable, real-life lyrics that make up Neil’s brand of authentic country music.

“I’ve always felt like for better or worse, my music is my autograph and represents who I am, where I’ve been, what I’ve gone through, and where I’m going.”

Neil started writing and performing when he moved to Seguin, Texas to attend Texas Lutheran University. Being close to the Texas Country Music scene in New Braunfels and San Marcos, Neil spent most of his time at Sanger Hall, Cheatham Street Warehouse, and Gruene Hall. Neil also attended songwriter open mic nights and song swaps where he learned how to bring a song to life and perform it. He learned from inspiring singer-songwriters including Randy Rogers, Todd Snider, Ryan Turner, and Adam Carroll.

During this time, Neil formed “The Raging River Band”, recorded his first album, and landed a weekly gig on The Downtown Square in San Marcos at Nephews Saloon. Neil says his setlist included, “my songs and every other song in the world from 8 to closing.” 

After college, Neil kept playing and landed a deal with Golden Gate Records in 2004. Shortly after his grandfather’s passing that year and inspired by his grandfather’s life, Neil wrote and then released a song called “House Full of Memories” to Texas Radio. This song did well and opened many new doors for Neil. He soon found himself playing at bigger clubs and festivals and even headlining at several honkytonks throughout Texas, including the Ponderosa in Abilene. 

Although things were heading in the right direction for his music career, due to some serious illness in his family, in 2011 Neil chose to step away from touring. But he never fully stepped away from music. Neil continued to play music for his local church and at hometown shows, where he never missed a chance to share his guitar picking and sweet, soaring vocals.

Fast forward to 2019 and Neil was itching to get back to actively recording and performing the music he loves. After meeting with a few producers in both Texas and Nashville, Neil decided to record his new album with Nashville producers Chad Sellers and Smith Curry. 

Neil started recording his album “Palomino” in late 2019 at the historic Benchmark Sound Nashville (formerly Emerald Sound Studio). This is one of the top studios in Nashville where hundreds of gold records have been recorded by Reba McEntire, Rodney Crowell, Clay Walker, Neal McCoy, Waylon Jennings, Ronnie Dunn, Eddie Rabbitt, Steve Earle, The Oak Ridge Boys, Dean Martin, Steven Tyler, Blake Shelton, Hank Williams Jr., Randy Travis, Aaron Tippin, Tanya Tucker and many others.

“It’s always been about the song to me, taking great lyrics that speak to me on paper, and creating melodies that take those words to places that mere words just can’t go. I’ve been through a lot the past decade or so, but I’ve come through it stronger and I have a different take on life. I’m ready to say some things and have fun doing it, and I hope that shines through in my music.” 

Neil has a beautiful wife and two young daughters and now resides in the town of Eldorado in West Texas.