Wilma Lee Cooper

Born Wilma Lee Leary, songwriter and singer Wilma Lee Cooper was raised in a well-known musical group that sang at local churches and festivals, billing themselves as the Leary Family. At one point, the Learys were even invited by Eleanor Roosevelt to perform at a national folk festival. Upon graduating from high school Wilma obtained a degree in banking at Davis and Elkins College. Near the same time she met and married guitarist <a href="spotify:artist:151pVpaq4HKrz8omqcssMm">Stoney Cooper</a>. For the next 40 years the two performed as one of country music's most popular duos. Their performances, including a ten-year stint on Wheeling, WV's Jamboree and another decade performing at the Grand Ole Opry, led to recording contracts with both <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Columbia%22">Columbia</a> and <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Decca%22">Decca</a>. Wilma, a skillful banjoist, guitarist, and organist, wrote or co-wrote several of their most successful compositions, including "Cheated Too," "Loving You," "I Tell My Heart," and "Heartbreak Street." After <a href="spotify:artist:151pVpaq4HKrz8omqcssMm">Stoney</a>'s death in 1977 Wilma continued to perform, once again joining the cast of the Grand Ole Opry. However, her performing days ended when she had a stroke while playing on the Grand Ole Opry stage in 2001, although she recovered sufficiently to appear at the Opry later as a non-performer and offer greetings and thank-yous to fans. Wilma Lee Cooper is featured among the Smithsonian Institute's collection of great singers. ~ Steve Kurutz, Rovi