Reggae Jazz Fusion World Beat band led by Jamaica born producer/engineer/keyboardist Joe Cooper, together with radio/TV personality/vocalist/producer Sandi Mallory Cooper comprise sandjoe Productions, Inc.
Cooper, an honoree of the 2010 Rosa Pryor Music Scholarship Fund, and as such has been recognized by Awards and Citations from the Governor of Maryland, members of the US Congress, US Senate, the Maryland Assembly, the Mayor of Baltimore, the Baltimore County Executive, and many Leaders of the Community. Joe has worked with many Reggae legends including Bob Marley, Jimmy Cliff, Third World, Judy Mowatt, Marcia Griffiths, Dennis Brown, Daddy Uroy, Pablo Moses, Big Youth, Mikey Dread, Sugar Minott, Meditations, Boris Gardiner, the Mighty Vikings and bands such as Emperor’s Choice and ADJA, New York City. He has been Head Audio Engineer for Murphy Fine Arts Center at Morgan State University, worked at BET Television as a Lighting Technician, and operates SoundVision Recording Studio in Randallstown.
Sandi Cooper nee-Mallory is the legendary radio air personality who was the first African American woman to have her own FM radio show in Maryland. Sandi started her radio career at WEAA, and has been heard on WMUC, WHUR, WXYV (V-103), and WLIF, before returning to her roots at WEAA. She has won numerous Awards including those from the Maryland Governor, US Congress, Business and Community organizations. Sandi is Director of Public Affairs and Community Engagement and host of “Cool Vibes for Your Midday” on WEAA 88.9 FM. Her show’s theme song “Positive Reflections” is from the Joe Cooper Project CD “Children of the Sun.” She has been voted Best Radio Personality (City Paper) and “Best Music for Morning Radio Award” (Baltimore Magazine). She received the “Lifetime Legacy Award” in 2009 for her work in Communications from Bethel AME Church, and was awarded “Woman of the Year in Communications” by Zeta Phi Beta Sorority-Alpha Zeta Chapter in 2011.
In addition to Joe (keyboards) and Sandi (spoken word vocals), the band and studio members have included Marcus Cooper (keyboards and sequences), Jerry Fields (Drums), Robert Dupree Hailey (percussion), Gregory Hamilton (vibes), Donovan Mckitty (guitar), Berkley Savage (Acoustic, 12 String, and Electric guitars), Richard Semper (Steel Pan), Chris Ras Washington (Vocals, Rap, Alto and Baritone Saxes, Vocals – winner of the 104FM smooth jazz radio’s rap contest at the New Haven Lounge), Percy White (bass), Selah Williams (acoustic guitar, bass)…
The Joe Cooper Project has performed at AFRAM, Baltimore International Festival, Towson Cultural Festival, the Trinidad Carnival Baltimore, Druid Hill Park, ArtScape 92 (headliner), Fox Stage, Eubie Blake Cultural Center, Baltimore Museum of Art, Baltimore Blacks in Wax Museum, the Sphinx Club (Baltimore’s legendary jazz club), Bob Marley Day in the Park (Philadelphia), the Event Solution Magazine Expo (atop the roof of Baltimore’s Maryland Science Building), Adventure World, Washington DC’s Kilamanjaro Club, Baltimore Industrial Museum, the Association of Black Charities at the Grand Hyatt, the Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore Inner Harbor 2000 NYE on ICE, and other Corporate events. The group has also played aboard The Bay Lady, the Spirit of Baltimore, and the Spirit of Philadelphia. They have performed live on TV Channels 2 and 11.
Recordings released under sandjoe Productions include:
19**(CD) – sandjoe — Journey
1995(CD) – sandjoe — Cool Vibes
2004(CD) – sandjoe — Children Of The Sun
2009(CD) – sandjoe — Keeping It Real: The Future Is Now
2013(CD) – sandjoe — A New Day
Bio information from CD liner notes, WEAA, and their website
