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Dee Cooper is no stranger to gospel music circles having stayed involved over the past twenty-five years as a singer, promoter and radio personality. Dee was raised in a “gospel singing” family. His understanding, and an undying love for the music are evident through a lifetime commitment in the preservation and promotion of that which we call southern gospel.

Dee is widely known also as a promoter on the Florida Eastern Coast for the last three decades, and today, is active promoting several major events annually. Combined with 20 years in radio as a music director, and hosting a weekly broadcast, he lives out his dream to be able to minister through gospel music. An avid collector of vintage gospel records he spends hours daily listening to old quartets, as well as reviewing all the new releases that come into the studio. He travels on weekends with his quartet, The Hearts of Harmony, and still finds time to enjoy his grandchildren. His faithful companion, Dewey (a bassett hound) is always by his side. He is married to his best friend Wendy for 38 years and they are members of FBC of Aurantia, Mims, FL.

Dee stated, "My greatest reward is one day, being able join my many heroes, as we sit around the Throne of Glory, singing southern gospel with Jesus."

Won't many be surprised!

On March 14, Dee Cooper & Friends Gospel Show Celebrated 20 years with Dee as Host. This is a recount of that celebration in his own words:

Tonight, Mar 14, 2008, my weekly radio show, Dee Cooper & Friends Gospel Show is celebrating my twentieth year as host. It's been fun going back through old tape recordings, listening to great songs of yester-year, and listening to the many interviews I have had the privilege of doing over these great years. Many guests are heroes of mine, many have become good friends and some have gone on to glory. Each one has a special place in my heart.

Tonight I played a clip from February 1990. After spinning a few old 45s (with a little pop), and listening to some old Cathedral tunes, I took time to share an interview with the listeners of my all-time hero. It was my Grandfather, M. F. Breedlove. The evening interview was intended to recognize (Pop's) 67th wedding anniversary, on the following day.

"Pop" Breedlove was the Patriarch of a large family, in whom he had the utmost respect. His legacy was a hard working man with a forth grade education, who left the company store in the depression and sold a cow and some chickens to start his own business of general merchandise in Lincoln County, WV. A self made millionaire, he was the true example of hard work and honesty. A God fearing, born again Christian who started several churches, including the one in which I was saved. He lived out his life in a modest two bedroom home and the only luxury he afforded himself was for my grandmother to drive around in a Cadillac. He had seventeen grandchildren of which i was the oldest grandson.

I have often said, when I was growing up in WV, I did not know that people had an option about going to church on Sunday and Wednesdays. I did not know that after Sunday church, that we did not have to go to our grandparents house for dinner and then all the families would sit out on the front porch and sing until it was time to go to evening service. That was just the way it was!

Tonight I am in awe to the heritage my grandfather left me. He was the baritone for the Christian Four Quartet. He was the first gospel music hero of mine. He was the first I ever heard sing a four part harmony song. He was the first to take me to hear The Blackwood Brothers and many others. He was the greatest vocal coach anyone could ever have. His passion for the music was instilled in my heart at a young age. He was a teacher, a father, and a shepherd and best friend. My grandfather!

The interview ran for 14 minutes as we talked about his favorite quartet, The Rebels. How he loved the Booth brothers (Ronnie and Charles), and London Parris was his all time favorite bass singer. What a blessing it was growing up watching the entire gospel singing TV programs on Sunday mornings. And then at the ripe age of 89, he came on the radio program for the only time to say how he could not have had any life without Jesus, and the most precious gift he was ever given, his wife of 67 years. Pop passed away six months later, two days before his 90th birthday. I still miss him today. People say I act like him. Some who remember him think I sing like him. No greater compliment could I receive.

Tonight was a special night, as I celebrated twenty years of playing the greatest music in the world, the music that was introduced to me by my grandfather.

Dee Cooper
WPIO Titusville, FL

Visit him online at http://www.wpio.net or http://www.wkto.net

WPIO is the mother station to Florida Public Radio, inc. FPR operates ten FM stations, six in Florida, rwo in Kansas and Two in Iowa. Dee simulcasts to four stations live and the others on a recorded version.

Dee sings with Hearts of Harmony at http://www.heartsofharmony.com

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