Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashley Cooper.
Hi Ashley, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
1. I was raised in a household with my grandfather who had a large collection of old albums. My mother was a Jehovah’s Witness and very religious so I was encouraged to listen to my grandfather’s music instead of the music of my peers (gangster rap) in the hopes that it would protect me from bad influences. I took a liking to the old records and would try to mimic the voices of the singers. Singers like Nat King Cole, Bing Crosby, Ray Charles, Elvis Presley. I never received training in song or dance so I did not have aspirations to be an Entertainer. When I became an adult I took up the trade of house framing however when the recession of 2008 hit I found myself out of work. By now I was 25 years old and married 3 years married. Desperate to find work I remembered a conversation that I had had with my mother-in-law a year prior about senior care facilities paying singers to perform for their residents. She mentioned it to me because she would often hear me sing old songs and since she worked at a senior living facility she thought that they would possibly hire me. Well, now out of work and looking for a way to support my new bride I took a chance bought some sound equipment and began walking into senior living facilities offering to sing. December of 2008 I booked my first 3 shows. January of 2009 I secured 17. The following month 27 shows. Eventually, a writer for the Kansas City Star heard about me and came out to watch my show. She was so impressed that she decided to write a several page article to be featured in the Sunday edition of Kansas City Star. 4 months later, June 2009 the article was published and from that moment on I became Ashley The Entertainer.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Breaking into the entertainment business has not been easy. The most common challenges have been.
1) Changing perceptions
2) The Physical and Emotional Demand
3) Keeping my priorities clear.
I’ll elaborate on each of the points a little more.
1) Changing perceptions – To my knowledge there had never been a young African American entertainer for seniors in Kansas before me. So, when I first began pitching myself as an entertainer for seniors there were many Activities Directors (the most common name for those in charge of booking entertainment for senior living homes) that turned me away because of my age and also my appearance. It was hard for them to fathom that a 25 year old baby faced black man could possibly entertain their residents. Their hesitancy was understandable though considering that at the majority of the senior living places almost 100% of the residents that I would be performing for were Caucasian with ages ranging from 70 to 100 yrs old. That demographic can be very particular about their music and entertainment. Undeterred, by those who turned me away I pressed on driven by my desire to be a good provider for my new wife. Fortunately, Kansas City was full of open minded activity directors that did not write me off based on my appearance and were willing to give me a chance to prove that I could successfully entertain their picky residents.
2) Being an Entertainer can be Exhausting – Although being a showman is cool and exciting it is also exhausting. In my case from the beginning I pitched myself as a Song & Dance Man. What no one tells you is just how hard it is to perform high energy dancing & quality singing simultaneously. Dancing requires oxygen but so does singing therefore, while performing you are in a constant deficit of oxygen. While singing, the slightest movements can leave you gasping for air. It is for that reason that many famous singers have gotten away from singing while dancing and rely heavily on playback or lip-synching. In order to continue performing at the level that I do I have had to learn how to take care of my body, strengthening it to keep up with the physical demands of being a Song & Dance Man. Stretching it to avoid injury while dancing. Also, training vocally to avoid damaging my vocal cords. As a One-Man-Show there are no breaks or moments to rest the voice. Aside from the physical toll there is also an emotional strain. An entertainer must be capable of getting on a stage in front of hundreds of people and exuding happiness no matter what may be going on in their personal life. This disconnect requires mental toughness and can be emotionally draining. Also, public speaking or being a spectacle is generally recognized as one of the most fear and anxiety inducing things a person can do. Entertainers are not exempt from the fear and anxiety caused by being in front of a crowd. We feel it before each show however since “the show must go on” we have to face that fear with sheer willpower each time. This also can sap your emotional energy.
3) Keeping My Priorities In Order – Working in the entertainment business there is always external and sometimes internal pressure to self aggrandize oneself, to become a big star, to get rich. As a Christian my goal in life is different. My goal is to use my gifts to make an honest living and provide for my wife all while maintaining a very close relationship with God and helping others to do so as well. That is why in 2010 I moved to Peru, South America to become a full time missionary. At the peak of my popularity in Kansas as Ashley The Entertainer I started to live in Peru 9 months out off the year only returning to Kansas 3 months to perform. As an Entertainer it is vital that you promote yourself constantly to remain in demand so it was risky to disappear for 9 months each year but I have no regrets. Fortunately, 16 years after making the move I still have a robust fanbase in Kansas City that welcomes me with open arms each time that I return
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am well known for being an Entertainer Extraordinaire by night and a missionary by day.
I would describe myself as a Song & Dance Man in the same vein of Sammy Davis Jr. or Ben Vereen. I am known for spot on singing impressions and high energy very athletic dancing. I do impressions of Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, Perry Como, Sammy Davis Jr, Harry Belofante to name a few. The choreography is crafted to interpret every word being sung in a way that makes the song not just an audible experience but a visual. Something that also sets my show apart is that I explain the origins of the songs or of the original singers as a preamble to each song that I perform. It creates a context and an anticipation that breaths new life into the song. The variety of genres of music that I perform in each show is also something that stands out. I often perform big band, swing, jazz, doo-wop, rock & roll, Motown, and even country all in the same show so there is something for everyone.
Last but not least, I always subtly weave an uplifting spiritual message throughout every show. It can be about love, loyalty, kindness, impartiality, etc.
Any big plans?
I have recently been chosen by a non-for-profit charitable organizations to be a full time traveling missionary in Peru. My work will consist of visiting congregations throughout the country to encourage, comfort and give instructions organizational matters to help local leaders to carry out their work more lovingly & efficiently. I am very excited about this new chapter of my life as this work mirrors the work that the famous apostle Paul of bible times engaged in. My travels will take me to the varied regions of Peru: jungle, mountain, desert and coast.
This new endeavor will affect my life as a Showman. I will be reducing my performances from 100 shows a year to 20. That being said, I am excited to focus on quality over quantity. My goal is to put on several high quality shows when I return to Kansas accompanied by a local band that can take my show to the next level.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ashleycooperentertainment.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashycaro?igsh=dHl0eWZlZ204a3ps&utm_source=q
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1D3mSV1sbP/?mibextid=wwXIfr
