Val Cooper began writing songs at the young age of seven. Her first exposure to music was in the second grade, when her teacher entrusted her with the class "Autoharp", which she was allowed to take home from school. Her assignment was to learn to play a variety of Christmas songs for an upcoming pageant that the second graders were to perform for their parents.

It didn’t take long before Val began working out a tune of her own on the instrument, and along with her mother’s minimal asistance, she wrote her first song titled, "Dear Lord Jesus". She often jests that, being only seven, her mother did help her a little, but only with some of the big words…

Val also furthered her interest in music by beginning piano lessons at the age of seven, and eventually moved on to organ lessons later in her early teens. At her parent’s encouragement, she began making public appearances at a very young age; performing at local events and her hometown’s annual Ice Cream Social and, of course, at her yearly piano recitals.

Also, during her teenage years, she joined a "rock ‘n roll" band, in which she played the electric keyboard. In the late 60’s this was an instrument just being introduced to bands and Val took on the challenge of learning all of the current songs, which she then taught to the other musicians. It was clear that, at an early age, she demonstrated an excellent ear for music, and was quickly able to play a song after only hearing it once or twice. The local band she performed with, "The Dark Ages", which also included her older brother on drums, became one of the hottest known ensembles in the southeast Michigan area. They had won many "Battle of the Bands" contests at local drive-in theaters, which was a hot spot that young people frequented during that time.

It wasn’t until she met and felt her first pangs of puppy love, at the tender age of 15, that Val made an attempt at writing music again. After a bittersweet romance, she wrote of her undying love in a song called, "What Has Become of the Love We Once Knew". It certainly wasn’t hit material, but it helped Val to release her feelings in a rather uncommon way – in the form of song. She wrote a few other songs during her teen years, but it wasn’t until she heard a unique voice on the radio one day, that her true passion for writing music really took root, and began to emerge….

It was early 1975. Val was a 23-year-old housewife, driving home one sunny day, onto the Wurtsmith Airforce Base, located in upper, northeast Michigan, where her husband, at the time, was stationed. As she drove onto the base, there on the radio, for the first time, she heard the resonating, astounding voice of a performing artist unknown to her. He was singing something new to her – he was singing about how wonderful the "…sunshine felt on his shoulders; of how the sunshine made him happy and made him cry."

She says, "I recall having to pull the car over to the side of the road, just so I could listen to the song." She reports having waited with an unexplainable, nervous anticipation for the Disc Jockey to announce the name of the unrivaled artist, who had so effortlessly captured her attention. Yet, at the end of the song, another music selection immediately began to play and she was left wondering, "…who was the man behind that incredible voice?"

Hurrying home, she accounts having tuned into the same radio station and waiting impatiently until she heard the song aired again. It didn’t take long to be heard, for "Sunshine On My Shoulders" was one of the top-playing hits at that time; and the song, she discovered, was written and performed by the popular singer/songwriter…John Denver.

Upon hearing the artist’s name, she claims to have driven immediately to the airbases’s local BX, and purchased the "John Denver’s Greatest Hits" album. And from that moment on, she says she was "hooked" – as she began to explore the wonder of creating stories, and expressing her thoughts and feelings, in the form of music – just as this inspirational artist was doing.

"John Denver’s unique style of writing touched something very deep inside me,"
she often tells people. "His openness with his feelings and simple way
of saying what others feel in their heart but cannot express, is what I hope to
do with my music. If I can say something, in a song, that others feel – that
touches their hearts in some way – then I will be a successful songwriter.
It’s all I really want to do with my music – touch people."

Since that time, Val Cooper has written well over 200 songs about love, life and the joys and pain that come with living. She has written songs for her family, friends, loved ones and even for the man who so inspired her to become a songwriter, John Denver, who tragically lost his life in a plane crash, in October of 1997.

Over the years, Val has performed at local clubs and bars in her community, as well as for weddings and a variety of events. Most recently, she performed at two events held in Aspen, Colorado, on the anniversary of John Denver’s death. The events were held in Denver’s memory, with the hope of keeping alive his "Vision for a Better World" – a vision that Val has always passionately shared.

Val’s love for the man who so inspired her – not only with his beautiful music, but with his life-long, invaluable work and commitment to protect and preserve all wildlife and the environment – led her to write one of her most well received songs, "Connecting Hearts", which is featured on her recently recorded "tribute tape", currently available for purchase.