Anthony Cooperwood has spent most of his life performing. Whether it be on stage in front of thousands of people or in hospitals and private one-room events, this Kansas City, Missouri native has attempted to bring his philosophy of entertainment to everyone touched by his talent. “It makes me feel good to share my talent with others in an effort to make THEM feel good. When I step onto a stage this is my opportunity to give all I can to either make someone laugh or lead them into and through whatever myriad of emotions created by what I might do, say or play.”

Born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri Anthony began playing at the age of 9 years old. “When I first began playing, I did not even have a piano to practice on. My dad drew a keyboard on the kitchen table and I began by practicing my lessons there.” Demonstrating this interest in music led to the purchase of his first piano, inclusion into the school band program (on flute), the jazz band (on piano), and the marching band (on bass drum). While still in High School Anthony went on to study classical piano at UMKC in it's Continuing Education series.

In 1989, Anthony won a 4-year, full-ride scholarship in the Northeast Missouri State University Piano Fellowship Competition. It was there he received a double Bachelors Degree in Music and Piano Performance while studying classical music. At the same time he was enrolled into and subsequently completed the courses for the Masters Degree in Education resulting in a teaching degree for Elementary & Secondary Education.

Following college Anthony completed a brief 3-year career in university administration. All the while he continued to perform music in a variety of atmospheres. “My secretary could never understand why I hated so much to come to work at 8 a.m. in the morning! I had probably been out the evening before until late playing in a bar or some other gig somewhere.” Realizing the pull of the applause and fervor of the public audience was too strong Anthony decided to set his sights on New York City. Without even an apartment to move into he packed everything into a truck and ventured out to the “Big Apple”.

It was there he continued his music career playing for Bill Turner & Blue Smoke, a country & rock-a-billy band that performed music from the 50s & 60s as well as Elvis Presley impersonators. From time to time he also worked with New York City's own Big Apple Circus. It was there he was discovered by a composer that also worked with the Cirque du Soleil. This led to a 5-year adventure touring with Dralion, a show combining the elements of “eastern Asian culture meets western influence” and an introduction to world music.

Anthony's travels with Cirque traversed the globe as they performed in North America and Europe. This also helped him develop his language skills as he learned first French, Spanish and finally German. “I wouldn't say that I am fluent . . . but I CAN say I am able to meet others and successfully live in a variety of cultural environments. I've learned it is much more viable to meet “real” people in their own circumstances. In order to do this effectively it is necessary to communicate in their language, not mine.”

Anthony is currently living in Montreal, Quebec where he performs with the Freddie James Project. The Project recently returned from a successful 6-week engagement in Macau, China. Combining music, comedy, and dance, the Project caters to a variety of nationalities. “Freddie is a hard-working artist that shares my same basic philosophy in performance. The audience ALWAYS comes first! The show is only the vehicle that carries the message across. If the show is strong enough then you do not have to speak their idiomatic language. The enjoyment of a strong performance, whether it be music, comedy or otherwise is contagious.”