Ray Cooper, a.k.a. Chopper, is a story based singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist living in Sweden. Previously with Oysterband, Ray decided to go solo in 2013.
Since that time he has written, recorded and released five solo albums and completed 42 tours in Europe, Canada, and the UK. On stage Ray sings and plays cello, guitar, mandolin, piano and harmonica. Ray's fifth solo album 'Even For A Shadow', released in May 2024, was nominated for album of the year in the Folk and Singer-songwriter category for the German music critics prize. 'Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik'.
Former bands included Amazorblades, 3 Mustaphas 3 and OK Jive as well as many session recordings with producers such as Steve Lillywhite, Martin Rushent, Joe Jackson, Phil Chevron, Edwin Starr and Pete Bellotte, before eventually hooking up with Oysterband with whom he toured in 27 countries, recorded 19 albums, and won many awards.
Ray's music straddles folk, americana, world, rock and the singer-songwriter tradition, drawing on his wide experience in all these areas, from playing ceilidh music or rocking out on festival stages with Oysterband, to playing Swedish folk music in the local Sörmland tradition where he lives.
