Roger Cook

Born Roger Frederick Cook in Bristol, England, U.K. and veteran of the U.K. and U.S. music scenes, Cook and forged a long songwriting partnership with fellow Brit Roger Greenaway when they met as members of the group, the Kestrels in the 1960s. One of Britain's most prolific songwriting teams, Roger Cook and Roger Greenaway first came to prominence when the Fortunes recorded their composition "You've Got Your Troubles," a Top Ten smash in both the U.S. and U.K. The Fortunes released their follow-up hit, "This Golden Ring," and Gary Lewis & the Playboys scored an American Top Ten hit with "Green Grass," both Cook-Greenaway creations.

David & Jonathan, Cook and Greenaway’s alter ego, landed their biggest U.K. hit that summer with the Top Ten "Lovers of the World Unite," and the two subsequently began writing advertising jingles, most notably for Coca-Cola. In late 1967, Gene Pitney scored a Top Five U.K. hit with "Something's Gotten Hold of My Heart." In 1970, Cook and Greenaway wrote a Top Ten U.S. and U.K. hit for White Plains with "My Baby Loves Lovin'" and their "Home Lovin' Man" was also a U.K. hit for crooner Andy Williams. In late 1971, the pair’s iconic Coke jingle was adapted into the pop song "I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing (In Perfect Harmony)" and became a hit for both the Hillside Singers and the New Seekers; the latter's version became the pair's first U.K. chart-topper as demand for their ad jingles skyrocketed.

The Congregation had a U.K. hit in 1971 with a cover of David & Jonathan's "Softly Whispering I Love You." Other Cook and Greenaway hits include "Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress" with the Hollies, "I Was Kaiser Bill's Batman" with Whistling Jack Smith and “Here Comes that Rainy Day Feeling Again” with the Fortunes.