Lawrence Cooley is the type of singer-songwriter who ignores convention and instead focuses on leaving it all on the stage, with raw emotion and sincere talent. With crafted melodies and soul-bearing vocals reminiscent of Bill Withers, Dave Mathews, Martin Sexton, John Mayer and Jack Johnson, Cooley seamlessly combines soul, classic rock, reggae, pop, and funk.
This unique gift is evident in his latest effort, “Listen In,” produced by Kiyanu Kim, award-winning songwriter responsible for hits like Miley Cyrus’ emotional anthem, “Wrecking Ball.” The album is available on iTunes and Cooley’s Soundcloud page: https://soundcloud.com/lawrence-cooley
A veteran of the stage, Cooley has been performing professionally since the age of 16. For over 10 years he served as the lead singer & guitarist of Straight Wired, a top-drawing band in NYC known for their debut at Woodstock ’94. He has played in the French West Indies, and is currently building a strong following in NYC as a solo act, after being a dependable draw out east for audiences summering in the Hamptons.
Born in Tarrytown, NY to an English Lit. professor and French teacher, Cooley was heavily encouraged to explore his creative writing and master his craft of live performance. These days he can hypnotize an audience with his impressive acoustic set, laying down a percussive groove by drumming on his guitar while recording it through a loop station, steadily building on top of it until he creates a full band sound with a single instrument.
His songwriting abilities are right on par with his live shows. Brother, an original song featuring a string arrangement scored by Rob Matthes, hits an emotional chord with fans and was used to benefit the Montel Williams M.S foundation. Russ Desalvo, the song’s producer, boasts, "I have been a successful songwriter in the industry for many years and I don't know if I could write a song as beautiful as Brother.”
With a strong team behind him (Wicked Dream Artist Management), Lawrence Cooley is positioned to bring his distinctive blend of soul, folk, and rock-n-roll to music fans across the country. His willingness to bare it all in his songs has allowed him to develop a special bond with his fans. Listening to his music truly allows them to get to know the man behind the mic.
