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.

Songwriter's Résumé

(Partial List)

Ask God
Don't Thank Us, Thank Jesus
Get That Frown Off Your Face
I'll Sail Away Home
I'm Gonna Shout All Over Heaven
The American Way
We Have A King
You Ain't Heard Nothing Yet