Haskell Cooley

Haskell Cooley (April 15, 1939 — April 2, 2024)

Biography

Haskell "Hack" Cooley was a Southern Gospel pianist and songwriter and a native of Buffalo Valley, Oklahoma. His parents bought him a piano when he was nine years old which he learned to play by ear. He began playing for the Travelers Quartet at the age of 13 and attended the Stamps Quartet School Of Music when he was 14.

After college, Cooley served in the US Army after being drafted in late 1963. He received an early discharge in 1965 so he could begin a career as a schoolteacher. In 1966, Cooley and his wife JoLee opened a music store in Ada, Oklahoma. They also launched a music publishing company.

Cooley began playing piano for the Weatherfords in 1972. After two years, the Cooleys moved to Stow, Ohio and Haskell joined the Cathedral Quartet. He was their pianist from 1974 until 1979.

After leaving the Cathedrals, Haskell and JoLee moved to Wichita, Kansas where they began singing as a duet. Their children Cason and Camissa joined the family group in later years.

Cooley and his wife composed many Southern Gospel songs over the years including Don't Thank Us, Thank Jesus. In 1995, Cooley participated in the Cathedrals Reunion project and was featured in a piano solo performance of I'll Be Listening.

Solo Discography

(Incomplete)

hi-res
1975 A Meeting With God (Headline Records/HR-101): I’ll Be Listening; A Meeting With God; When We All Get To Heaven; One So Dear; On Judgment Day; What Are You Gonna Leave; Haskell's Tune; No One But God; At The End Of The Trail; A New Born Feeling; Bell Of Joy Keep Ringing; The Old Rugged Cross.

hi-res
1977 Jesus, The Piano, And Me (Headline Records/HR-103): Onward Christian Soldiers; Londonderry Air; He's Coming Back Again; His Ways; Whispering Hope; Sing Unto The Lord; When They Ring Those Golden Bells; If To Gain The World; Revive Us Again; The Highest Hill.

1978 Pictures Of Christmas (Headline Records/HR-104): Pictures Of Christmas; What A Wonderful Day Christmas Is; Winter Wonderland; Do You Hear What I Hear?; Silent Night; Christmas Coming Down; Keep Christ In Christmas; Jingle Bells; Away In A Manger; Joy To The World.

hi-res
1979 You Ain't Heard Nothing, Yet (Headline Records/HR-105): You Ain't Heard Nothing, Yet; Just One Life To Live; Between Two Thieves; One More Day; I'm So Glad That I'm A Christian; I'll Sail Away Home; Devil, Get Out Of My Way; The Time Is Now; Get That Frown Off Your Face; Too Late My Child (Haskell Cooley, Jolee Cooley).

1980 Singing Easy (Headline Records/HR-106): Singing Easy; Think On These; Jesus Is Right; Don't Thank Us, Thank Jesus; He Made It, Oh, So Real; Gonna Shout All Over Heaven; The Prodigal Son; Come On Home; Shine On For Jesus; Mothers Are Very Special People (as The Cooleys).

1983 Shades Of Blue (Headline Records/HP-109): A Shade Of Blue; Lonely Mile; Everybody's Gonna Have A Terrible Time Down There; How Green Is Your Valley; I'll Leave It All Behind; Troubles; You Just Don't Know What Lonesome Is; Just A Closer Walk With Thee; Sinner's Plea; Go Down To The Jordan.

1984 Coming To You From Kansas (Headline Records/HR-8412): The Greatest Thing He's Done For Me; Sunset With God; His Ways; The Drummer; I'm Gonna Live Forever; Keep Holding On; It Was God; Live In Me; That's Your Father; Thanks For Loving Me (as The Cooleys).

hi-res
1985 Singing And Playing (Headline Records/HR-8513): You Can't Do Any Better Than That?; Even Winds Whisper His Name; I'm Just A Little Boy?; The Greatest Valentine?; The American Way; I Don't Want To Live No More Without Jesus; Until Tomorrow; Amazing Grace; Devil, Get Out Of My Way; Ask God (Haskell Cooley, Jolee Cooley, Cason Cooley).

Songwriter's Résumé

(Partial List)

A Meeting With God
A Shade Of Blue
Ask God
Don't Thank Us, Thank Jesus
Get That Frown Off Your Face
Gonna Shout All Over Heaven
Haskell's Tune
His Ways
I'll Sail Away Home
I'm Gonna Shout All Over Heaven
One So Dear
Pictures Of Christmas
Singing Easy
That's Your Father
The American Way
The Greatest Thing He's Done For Me
The Highest Hill
Troubles
We Have A King
What A Wonderful Day Christmas Is!
You Ain't Heard Nothing Yet