Cope died on Jan. 16 and the cause has yet to be determined. Taking up guitar at age 11, he grew up listening to Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, as well as rock bands like Led Zepplin. So the last three years with Jason were, he just felt so free and truly healed.. Widely known for their Southern rock style, Copes talent as a songwriter was well-respected within the country music community. On Whiskey Riff Raff, Steve Gazibara and Wes Langeler give an unfiltered and unapologetic take on country music, life, and all the craziness that comes with it. So very sad . He was so cool: https://www.facebook.com/countryrebelclothing/videos/1171901902855487/ Rowdy will be deeply missed! My condolences to his friends and family. The two met at a one-off gig in Nashville, and after a fishing retreat together, decided to give a new band a shot, hitting it off despite a 13-year age difference. Chris January 17, 2021 @ In early 2019 they released their latest record Old News to much critical acclaim. Drink with us. Jason Rowdy Cope, Co-Founder of Country-Rock Band The Steel Woods, Dead at 43, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UY87Qrpw8z4&list=OLAK5uy_n5T2au6TtE1qyiNXmK_eyQ-2Dz8thtaAY, The Steel Woods Axe (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UY87Qrpw8z4&list=OLAK5uy_n5T2au6TtE1qyiNXmK_eyQ-2Dz8thtaAY). He would be so thrilled to see the efforts that people have gone to and feel the love and appreciation, OHandley said. Jason Rowdy Cope, co-founder and guitar player of country rock band The Steel Woods, passed away. Now the conversation is sort of switching to okay, what all can we do? said Copes sister, Bethany OHandley. RIP, Angie Peoples Besides this being Rowdys story of what he went through, and what you guys all went through as a band, and just the general idea. Im saddened every time I look at that signed CD handing on my wall , Christina When the Steel Woods' co-founder Jason "Rowdy" Cope died unexpectedly at the age of 42 in January, the band had recently been recording new music.On May 14, Cope's surviving bandmates will move . Time slips away call a friend you havent talked to in a while and tell them you love them. The Steel Woods were finishing work on their third studio album. At the moment there is no information on the cause of death for Jason Rowdy Cope. The first time I met Jason, it was on a tour bus (when he was with Jamey) and we had the best sit down conversation about history and the education system. . January 16, 2021 @ Cope was the creative lead of the band as well as its lead guitarist, songwriter and co-producer, while Bayliss is a multi-instrumentalist, lead singer and co-producer.. Bayliss grew up in Woodland, Alabama, playing music in his family's gospel band and learned to play harmonica . Pictured: Rowdy (far right) with The Steel Woods. I didnt really want to do the solo thing, which is what everybody moves to Nashville to do, Bayliss says. I was very upset . https://musicrow.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/The-Steel-Woods.jpeg, https://musicrow.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/MusicRow-header-logo-Mar19B.png, The Steel Woods To Release Final Album With Late Founder Rowdy Cope. January 20, 2021 @ Sign up to receive exclusive discounts from Whiskey Riff Shop and breaking news. He was George Jones and Skynyrd and Sabbath all rolled into one magnificent musical beast. I found it to be a task that was going to prove to be impossible to accomplish. I discovered him through you Trig and I appreciate all the hard work you put in to put out the word about artists like them. The groups publicist confirmed Copes death to Rolling Stone.Please like and share this video if you find it informative and if not please comment down below.Jason Rowdy death,Jason Rowdy age,Jason Rowdy net worth,Jason Rowdy rip,Jason Rowdy tribute,How did Jason Rowdy die,Jason Rowdy cause of death,Jason Rowdy 2021,Jason Rowdy news,Jason Rowdy family,Jason Rowdy fans and family reacts,Celebrity Death,Popular Celebrity Death, All rights reserved. The realest of the real., Copes death early this year blindsided those closest to him. Jason Cope made his name and became a familiar face to many country fans after touring in Jamey Johnsons backing band for nearly 10 years. Nuance, thats what struck me, he coaxed pedal steel sounds out of that guitar by doing volume knob swells. We were the last two cars in the garage. January 16, 2021 @ RIP, JB-Chicago For Cope, who earned the nickname Rowdy for his wild-eyed, unpredictable persona, those good deeds and small victories were hard won. Jason "Rowdy" Cope of The Steel Woods performing at the Laurel Cove Amphitheater at Pine Mountain State Park. LEO spoke with Wes Bayliss, The Steel Woods singer and co-songwriter, to talk about All Of Your Stones, musical inspiration, and the bands return to touring in advance of their stop in Louisville. I seen you conquer giants Jason and I watched you become one of the greatest forces in country music. 8:09 pm. Breaks Down His Killer White House Correspondents Dinner Set, Bernie Sanders: Many GOP Leaders 'Don't Even Believe in Democracy'. Some of it due and some of it probably undue. January 17, 2021 @ In 2017 the band released their premiere album,Straw in the Wind. 8:19 am. 6:15 am. We take comfort in knowing he is in a better place now and his passion for music and art will live forever in the work he has left behind., RIP Rowdy, the band concludes, you will be forever and greatly missed.. We are writing this still in a state of shock and kindly ask for your prayers for the family, friends and band at this time.Nashville Police Department Public Affairs Manager Don Aaron tells Saving Country Music that Jason Copes passing is currently considered an unclassified death, pending an autopsy by the local Medical Examiner. In Cope, Bayliss found the Gary Rossington to his Van Zant, as well as a way out of the solo artist grind. After the incident, Cope stepped up to offer emotional support to Waynes wife Carol, and his son Jack. Cope worked in the Los Angeles area for eight years before moving to Nashville in 2007 where he soon joined Jamey Johnsons backing outfit on lead guitar. What do you most want people to take away from this album? 2023 Rolling Stone, LLC. OHandley and a family friend said they are looking to host more fundraising events in Bell County in the near future. The album was nominated for Saving Country Musics Album of the Year. But, my biggest influence really was my family growing up, and you know they all played and sang, and without that I dont think Id be doing it. January 18, 2021 @ I think thats what he would want everybody to know: that he didnt go out in a bad place.. He played on multiple albums for Lindi Ortega, and produced her 2017 EP Til The Goin Gets Gone. BELL COUNTY, Ky. (WYMT) - For country music artist Jason Rowdy Cope, a lifelong mission for him began with addressing a problem. When I listen back to it now, I go, Damn, man. If I had to sit and learn that, Im not sure I could learn that in a week., He wanted to be Ralph Mooney, the steel player for Waylons band, and he was just the biggest student of him and he wanted to play like that, says Cobb. I was teaching at the time and his Mom was a teacher in NC, he had great insight on how to improve curriculum at the secondary school level. Jason Cope, the guitar player for the Southern rock band the Steel Woods and a collaborator with artists like Jamey Johnson and Brent Cobb, has died. If you think talking about artists like Jason Rowdy Cope results in large numbers of clicks beyond a very small niche of dialed-in independent fans, you dont know anything about how journalism and clickbait works. Heart broken doesnt even touch the feelings inside me. Donnie Shelley I sat down to write about Jason, and his untimely passing shortly after he left this world. The group's publicist confirmed. He was so much more than just an incredible guitar player, he was an incredible human being.. Dennis Williams 3:06 am. 1 On MusicRow Chart For Third Time With Going, Going, Gone, Nashville SC Teams Up With Johnny Cash Estate For Man In Black Alternate Jersey. There may be one or two names on there that people didnt think were, but I think one thing that its easy to go to, you know, like Willie Nelson or Merle Haggard when Im asked that question. One of the best country, outlaw, honky tonk bands and sound Ive ever heard. Mindfulness is the practice of being present in the moment and observing your thoughts and feelings without judgment. An Alabama-bred singer/multi-instrumentalist with a drawling Ronnie Van Zant voice and a love for classic country and Lynyrd Skynyrd, Bayliss first met Cope in 2015 at a bar they were both playing in Dickson, Tennessee, in the hinterlands outside of Nashville. Lexi Len Even though its just him pretending to be wild and crazy, he cared about that stuff, Cobb says. Together theyd take requests and fire off covers of The Devil Went Down to Georgia. Proud of his Southern bona fides and determined to prove he wasnt an actor playing a part, Cope would sell customers moonshine that he bootlegged from North Carolina to California in his grandmothers car, disguising the white lightning in water bottles. The album that ultimately became All Of Your Stones has more than just COVID as a back story. It is an absolutely irresponsible, ludicrous, and aggressively insulting assertion to make, and its embarrassing I even have to address it. It was so smooth. KEARNEY When Jason "Rowdy" Cope died at age 42 in January, his band members in The Steel Woods dealt with the shock of his death. I had the pleasure of hearing the Steel Woods open up for Whiskey Myers in Michigan in Jan of 2020 & it was a show I shall never forget since both bands rocked it! Founding guitarist for fast-rising and critically-acclaimed country and Southern rock band The Steel Woods, and long time session guitarist and touring member of Jamey Johnsons backing band Jason Rowdy Cope has died according to the band. The Test Pressings are Numbered and Dated 17/25, 10-01-2018..What kills me is Friday Night, I turned 61 Yrs old, and The LAST Record I listened to, Was Straw in The Wind..I am STUNNED Beyond Grief.I have NOT Liked a Bands Music Like these Guys in a LONG Time to Go Out and Spend that Kind of Money, Because I believed They Were (ARE !) So when we met and [Rowdy] brought the idea [of the Steel Woods], it was like music to my ears. Kenny Dubman I mean there may be if you ask us all what our favorite bands were as kids or something. Hes a killer player and I dont foresee anyone else in that seat for a long, long time, says Bayliss, who unknowingly eulogized his bandmate when he wrote the ballad Ole Pal for All of Your Stones. He came from a metal background, but he could play guitar like a steel player.. All rights reserved. It was like a gut punch when my wife ( a huge SW fan also) told me of Rowdys passing this afternoon. Its like trying to wake myself up from a dream.. RIP Brother , Jimmy Its made from all the judgment that was cast down on us. - 2 years ago @amandacannon: RT @JoniKni56808241: Jason Cope - 2 years ago He will be missed. Time slips away call a friend you havent talked to in a while and tell them you love them. Jason Cope started The Steel Woods with lead singer/guitar player Wes Bayliss. January 17, 2021 @ Jason "Rowdy" Cope, the 42-year-old co-founder of Southern rock band the Steel Woods, has died. Cope became familiar to fans performing onstage with Jamey Johnson for nearly a decade, and was an in-demand session guitarist, playing on albums by Lindi Ortega and the Secret Sisters, among others. The surviving members of The Steel Woods include Bayliss, bassist Johnny Stanton and drummer Isaac Senty. This story will be updated as further information becomes available. 9:01 am. Trigger ' says songwriter Brent Cobb, who crashed on Copes couch when he followed his cousin, the producer Dave Cobb, to L.A. He was like, Im so real that Ill sell you a jar of moonshine right now. He was just cool as shit. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Notify me of follow-up comments via e-mail. Send us a tip using our anonymous form. Its an absolutely heartbreaking loss for the country/southern rock community. And of course he loved those haunted ringing minor chords and used them to maximum effect behind Wes Bayliss voice. Later, the two recruited bassist Johnny Stanton and drummer Jay Tooke, putting the final touches on the Steel Woods lineup (Isaac Senty replaced Tooke in the band in 2020). He says his friend left this world happy and satisfied. He was an extremely kind, funny, smart, and talented individual. What do you most want people to take away? After knocking on the door repeatedly and receiving no response, the friend forced entry where he found Jason Cope unresponsive, and called 911. He produced Lindi Ortegas 2017 EPTil the Goin Gets Gone. The Steel Woods' Jason "Rowdy" Cope was with Mills on the last night of his life. 28 subscribers 1.2K views 2 years ago In this video, we are sharing the sad news of Jason Rowdy's death. Jason "Rowdy" Cope, a co-founder of the country-rock band, The Steel Woods, has passed away at 43. And one of the things we both kind of marveled at is the idea that even through that, God used us. 2023 Music Row Enterprises, LLC All rights reserved. January 31, 2021 @ Man, sad sad news, how old was he? It seems to be unnamed. It serves to remind me that we should never take our friends for granted and we should reach out while we can. Breaks Down His Killer White House Correspondents Dinner Set, Bernie Sanders: Many GOP Leaders 'Don't Even Believe in Democracy'. Jason was sooo cool. He always had his feet on the ground and head in the clouds. Country is more than just a steel guitar. We take comfort in knowing he is in a better place now and his passion for music and art will live forever in the work he has left behind. And now all of a sudden its in perfect line., With hindsight, Cobb sees a lot of knowing signs from Cope, especially in the smooth integration of Powers to the bands lineup and in key collaborations on All of Your Stones. Thought this dying crap would slow down after 2020. The Steel Woods' Jason "Rowdy" Cope died in January, but his power-chord-meets-chicken-pickin' guitar style lives on with a posthumous album. Jason "Rowdy" Cope, co-founder of the country-rock band the Steel Woods, has died. January 24, 2021 @ Jason "Rowdy" Cope, a guitarist for country acts like Jamey Johnson and Cope's own band the Steel Woods, has died. He lived it. He was a metalhead through all of his teenage years and he could play, like, Pantera, Cobb says. Formed in 2016 after guitarist Jason Rowdy Cope, who played in Jamey Johnsons band for many years, met lead singer Wes Bayliss at a music venue in Nashville, The Steel Woods have been growing their grassroots following out on the road while opening for the likes of Miranda Lambert, Blackberry Smoke, Jamey Johnson, Whiskey Myers, Cody Jinks, and more. 10:39 pm, Discovered the Steel Woods when they opened for Cody Jinks in Dubuque IA a couple of years ago, they quickly became one of my favorite bands. Angela My heart goes out to his family, friends, and all who knew him. Join our e-mail list to receive LEO exclusives and special offers on tickets and giveaways. January 17, 2021 @ The Steel Woods shared the news Saturday evening (1-16) to many shocked fans. We take comfort . Heres what really grabbed me about his playing. There might have been 100 people in that tiny room, but those boys played like it was a packed stadium. I am 1, of 25 People Who Ordered, and Received The double Autographed TEST PRESSINGS of Old News, + an Autographed copy of the Original Artwork ! Big loss for country music. Heaven will be rocking to his guitar solos. Jason "Rowdy" Cope onstage with the Steel Woods in Nashville in 2018. May his family and friends find comfort in knowing that Jason touched many lives in a positive way through his music. J. Bair Cope received his diagnosis in 2018, when he temporarily left the Steel Woods to seek treatment for heavy drinking. After knocking on the door repeatedly and receiving no response, the friend forced entry where he found Jason Cope unresponsive, and called 911. Saw The Steel Woods in a small venue in FL and he was a hell of a guitar player. 6:56 am. He was 42 years old. Man!! RIP Mr. Despite the unexpected death in January of his bandmate Jason "Rowdy" Cope, who made up the other half of The Steel Woods, which pulls into The Shed in Maryville for a two-night stand starting Friday he's made his peace with it, he told The Daily Times this week. Hes a Telecaster man, but hes not a clone of Don Rich. Anyone who saw Jameys band immediately after lonesome song was released, knows the deal. We take comfort in knowing he is in a better place now and his passion for music and art will live forever in the work he has left behind. "Out of the Blue" is an autobiographical song written by the group's late co-founder, co-songwriter, and guitarist Jason "Rowdy" Cope, who passed away unexpectedly in his sleep on January 16 th following the completion of the album. The album was nominated for Saving Country Musics Album of the Year. View latest articles, news and information about what happened to Jason Cope, American musician (The Steel Woods, that died on Sunday January 17th 2021. . Please watch the full video to know more about Jason Rowdy's cause of death, age,. Not sure of his vaccination status. Rant with us. I think thats what All Of Your Stones is about, and, you know, we named the record that; I think the whole thing is stay positive, and keep your head down, and press on. 7:23 pm, I am so sad to hear this I met Rowdy back around 2014-ish in Nashville. His ability to collaborate with artists across the musical spectrum leaves a long list of friends and colleagues morning the loss. Cope was an in-demand session guitarist, playing on albums by Lindi Ortega and the Secret Sisters, but he first became visible to country music fans by performing onstage with Johnson for nearly a decade. RIP. His death was already heartbreaking but it would be even more if it was under even more heartbreaking circumstances.