Saturday, January 9, 2016
A legend in the Atlanta music scene passed away recently and with heavy hearts those closest to him mourned and celebrated his life with a fitting tribute concert at The Tabernacle on Saturday. Alex Cooley’s name is synonymous with some of the biggest legends in the music business. Cooley and one time partner Peter Conlon brought the likes of Rush, Bruce Spingsteen, ZZ Top, The Rolling Stones, Billy Joel, Willy Nelson and so many more to the Atlanta area when the music scene was frowned upon back in the day. Cooley and Conlon pushed under, around, above and through the stigmas at the time allowing Atlantans then and now to enjoy all that music had to offer.
Saturday evening was wonderful. Videos of Cooley were played as he spoke about his career, his family and his life. Interspersed were comment from Conlon and others as well as performances by the Indigo Girls, Kristian Bush, Blackberry Smoke and Drivin’ N Cryin’. Michelle Malone and Georgia Satellites’ Rick Richards came up and played a little as well with the bands.
Tears and laughs were shared among the few hundred people in attendance as they remembered a legend in his own right. Alex Cooley will be missed.
A line of people wait to enter the Tabernacle in Atlanta for a tribute to Alex Cooley on Saturday, January 9, 2016. The Indigo Girls, Kristian Bush, Blackberry Smoke and Drivin’ N Cryin’ all performed during the evening.
Ethel Lofton (right), Alex Cooley’s sister, talks with her cousin Tom Robertson during a tribute to the late music promoter at the Tabernacle in Atlanta on Saturday, January 9, 2016.
Robin Steinbrenner (right) watches a video of Alex Cooley during a tribute to the late music promoter at the Tabernacle in Atlanta on Saturday, January 9, 2016.
Peter Conlon speaks during a tribute to the late Alex Cooley at the Tabernacle in Atlanta on Saturday, January 9, 2016.
Peter Conlon speaks during a tribute to the late Alex Cooley at the Tabernacle in Atlanta on Saturday, January 9, 2016.
The Indigo Girls’ Emily Saliers (right) and Amy Ray perform on stage during a tribute to the late Alex Cooley at the Tabernacle in Atlanta on Saturday, January 9, 2016.
The Indigo Girls’ Emily Saliers performs on stage during a tribute to the late Alex Cooley at the Tabernacle in Atlanta on Saturday, January 9, 2016.
The Indigo Girls’ Amy Ray (left) and Emily Saliers perform on stage during a tribute to the late Alex Cooley at the Tabernacle in Atlanta on Saturday, January 9, 2016.
Kristian Bush performs on stage during a tribute to the late Alex Cooley at the Tabernacle in Atlanta on Saturday, January 9, 2016.
Kristian Bush performs on stage during a tribute to the late Alex Cooley at the Tabernacle in Atlanta on Saturday, January 9, 2016.
Kristian Bush performs on stage during a tribute to the late Alex Cooley at the Tabernacle in Atlanta on Saturday, January 9, 2016.
Kristian Bush performs on stage during a tribute to the late Alex Cooley at the Tabernacle in Atlanta on Saturday, January 9, 2016.
Blackberry Smoke’s Richard Turner performs on stage during a tribute to the late Alex Cooley at the Tabernacle in Atlanta on Saturday, January 9, 2016.
Blackberry Smoke’s Charlie Starr performs on stage during a tribute to the late Alex Cooley at the Tabernacle in Atlanta on Saturday, January 9, 2016.
Blackberry Smoke’s Paul Jackson performs on stage during a tribute to the late Alex Cooley at the Tabernacle in Atlanta on Saturday, January 9, 2016.
Blackberry Smoke’s Brit Turner performs on stage during a tribute to the late Alex Cooley at the Tabernacle in Atlanta on Saturday, January 9, 2016.
Blackberry Smoke’s Charlie Starr performs on stage during a tribute to the late Alex Cooley at the Tabernacle in Atlanta on Saturday, January 9, 2016.
Blackberry Smoke’s Paul Jackson performs on stage during a tribute to the late Alex Cooley at the Tabernacle in Atlanta on Saturday, January 9, 2016.
Blackberry Smoke’s Richard Turner performs on stage during a tribute to the late Alex Cooley at the Tabernacle in Atlanta on Saturday, January 9, 2016.
Blackberry Smoke’s Charlie Starr performs on stage during a tribute to the late Alex Cooley at the Tabernacle in Atlanta on Saturday, January 9, 2016.
Blackberry Smoke’s Brandon Still performs on stage during a tribute to the late Alex Cooley at the Tabernacle in Atlanta on Saturday, January 9, 2016.
Blackberry Smoke’s Charlie Starr performs on stage during a tribute to the late Alex Cooley at the Tabernacle in Atlanta on Saturday, January 9, 2016.
Blackberry Smoke’s Charlie Starr (left) and Brit Turner perform on stage during a tribute to the late Alex Cooley at the Tabernacle in Atlanta on Saturday, January 9, 2016.
Blackberry Smoke performs on stage during a tribute to the late Alex Cooley at the Tabernacle in Atlanta on Saturday, January 9, 2016.
Drivin’ N Cryin’s Kevn Kinney performs on stage during a tribute to the late Alex Cooley at the Tabernacle in Atlanta on Saturday, January 9, 2016.
Drivin’ N Cryin’s Warner Hodges (left) performs on stage during a tribute to the late Alex Cooley at the Tabernacle in Atlanta on Saturday, January 9, 2016.
Drivin’ N Cryin’s Warner Hodges (left) and Blackberry Smoke’s Charlie Starr perform on stage during a tribute to the late Alex Cooley at the Tabernacle in Atlanta on Saturday, January 9, 2016.
Drivin’ N Cryin’s Kevn Kinney performs on stage during a tribute to the late Alex Cooley at the Tabernacle in Atlanta on Saturday, January 9, 2016.
Drivin’ N Cryin’s Warner Hodges (left) and Blackberry Smoke’s Charlie Starr perform on stage during a tribute to the late Alex Cooley at the Tabernacle in Atlanta on Saturday, January 9, 2016.
Drivin’ N Cryin’s Kevn Kinney performs on stage during a tribute to the late Alex Cooley at the Tabernacle in Atlanta on Saturday, January 9, 2016.
Blackberry Smoke’s Charlie Starr (left) performs on stage with Drivin’ N Cryin’ during a tribute to the late Alex Cooley at the Tabernacle in Atlanta timon Saturday, January 9, 2016.
Drivin’ N Cryin’s Warner Hodges (left) and Kevn Kinney (right) and Blackberry Smoke’s Charlie Starr perform on stage during a tribute to the late Alex Cooley at the Tabernacle in Atlanta on Saturday, January 9, 2016.
Blackberry Smoke’s Charlie Starr (left) performs on stage with Drivin’ N Cryin’s Warner Hodges during a tribute to the late Alex Cooley at the Tabernacle in Atlanta on Saturday, January 9, 2016.
Charlie Starr (left) of Blackberry Smoke, and Warner Hodges Kevn Kinney and Tim Nielsen of Drivin’ N Cryin’ perform on stage during a tribute to the late Alex Cooley at the Tabernacle in Atlanta on Saturday, January 9, 2016.
Charlie Starr (left) of Blackberry Smoke and Rick Richards of the Georgia Satellites perform on stage during a tribute to the late Alex Cooley at the Tabernacle in Atlanta on Saturday, January 9, 2016.
Charlie Starr (left) of Blackberry Smoke, Rick Richards of the Georgia Satellites and Kevn Kinney of Drivin’ N Cryin’ perform on stage during a tribute to the late Alex Cooley at the Tabernacle in Atlanta on Saturday, January 9, 2016.
Rick Richards (right) of the Georgia Satellites and Charlie Starr of Blackberry Smoke perform on stage during a tribute to the late Alex Cooley at the Tabernacle in Atlanta on Saturday, January 9, 2016.
Michelle Malone (left) and Tim Nielsen perform on stage during a tribute to the late Alex Cooley at the Tabernacle in Atlanta on Saturday, January 9, 2016.
Rick Richards of the Georgia Satellites performs on stage during a tribute to the late Alex Cooley at the Tabernacle in Atlanta on Saturday, January 9, 2016.
Rick Richards (left), Charlie Starr, Kevn Kinney, Brandon Still, Michelle Malone and Tim Nielsen perform on stage during a tribute to the late Alex Cooley at the Tabernacle in Atlanta on Saturday, January 9, 2016.
Rick Richards (left) of the Georgia Satellites and Kevn Kinney of Drivin’ N Cryin’ perform on stage during a tribute to the late Alex Cooley at the Tabernacle in Atlanta on Saturday, January 9, 2016.
Robin Steinbrenner (right) throws up the rock n roll symbol as Kevn Kinney performs during a tribute to Alex Cooley at the Tabernacle in Atlanta on Saturday, January 9, 2016.