David Cook, Sara Evans, Ginuwine, Nikko Smith added to All-Star festivities

The celebrity names are pouring in for 2009 All-Star Week, Major League Baseball announced today.

We already know about Sheryl Crow and Elvis Costello, performing at the MLB All-Star Charity Concert at the Gateway Arch at 8 p.m. Saturday.

Now part of All-Star Week are Missouri-centric artists David Cook, Ginuwine, Nikko Smith, and Sara Evans, all booked for other All-Star events (though not as part of the All-Star Concert).

– Headliner Crow now has additional duties. The Kennett, Mo. native will perform the U.S. National Anthem as part of the special pre-game ceremony to the 2009 MLB All-Star Game on Tuesday at Busch Stadium.

The broadcast begins at 7 p.m. on Fox with video addresses from President Barack Obama along with former U.S. Presidents George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush and Jimmy Carter, as part of the special pre-game ceremony honoring the 30 “All-Stars Among Us.”

Following the video, President Obama will throw out the ceremonial first pitch.

– Country singer Sara Evans, a  Boonville, Mo., native, will perform “God Bless America” during the 7th inning stretch.

– “American Idol” winner David Cook, who hails from Blue Springs, will sing two songs at the start of the State Farm Home Run Derby at Busch Stadium on Monday. Prior to his performance, “American Idol” finalist Nikko Smith, son of St. Louis Cardinals’ Ozzie Smith, will perform the National Anthem. The State Farm Home Run Derby will be broadcast live on ESPN at 7 p.m. Monday.

– R&B singer Ginuwine will perform the U.S. National Anthem on Sunday prior to the 11th annual XM All-Star Futures Game. The game will begin at 1 p.m. and will be broadcast live on ESPN2, ESPN2 HD and MLB.TV. XM will provide satellite radio play-by-play coverage of the XM All-Star Futures Game on XM 175. Ginuwine recorded his new CD “A Man’s Thoughts” at Notifi Records studio in St. Louis; Notifi is run by Ira DeWitt, wife of Cardinals’ president Bill DeWitt III.

Get more information at www.allstargame.com.

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David Cook to perform at Major League Baseball's Home Run Derby

What's more American than the 4th of July, baseball, and American Idol?  Okay, okay, so the 4th has already come and gone, but season seven American Idol winner David Cook and his band are set to perform two songs at this year's All Star event in St. Louis.  Cook, a Missouri native, will perform just before the start of the State Farm Home Run Derby at Busch Stadium.  It's actually an all-star lineup of singers and Missouri natives, as David joins the ranks of nine-time Grammy winner Sheryl Crow, who will perform the US National Anthem as a part of a special pre-game ceremony, and Country star Sara Evans, who will perform "God Bless America" during the seventh inning stretch.  David won't be the only Idol contender to be a part of the event, as fourth season contestant Nikko Smith, who is also the son of St. Louis Cardinals phenom Ozzie Smith, will perform the U.S. National Anthem at the game. 

The actual game takes place on July 14th, but David Cook's performance before the Home Run Derby will be on July 13th.  You can catch it on ESPN at 8 PM EST.  

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Former 'Idol' winner Cook to perform in Yakima

YAKIMA, Wash. -- David Cook, the hard rockin’ season seven winner of “American Idol,” will perform in Yakima next month.

After leaking limited information about the concert on its Twitter feed over the past week, the Capitol Theatre released the specifics about the concert on its blog Thursday afternoon.

Cook will perform at the Capitol at 8 p.m. Aug. 23. Tickets cost $34 for general admission and go on sale July 17 through TicketsWest, www.ticketswest.com, 800-325-7328, or the Capitol Theatre box office, 509-853-2787.

Also visiting the Capitol next month is radio show host/adult contemporary musician John Tesh, whose “Intelligence For Your Life” radio show airs locally on My 99.3 FM.

Tesh’s concert is at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 21. Tickets, which are already on sale, cost $12, $30 and $65.

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David Cook Named Topps Southern League Player of the Month

HOOVER, AL - The Southern League announced on Thursday that former Barons outfielder David Cook has been named the Topps Southern League Player of the Month for June.

Cook, who was promoted to Triple A Charlotte on Tuesday, finished the month with a .303 average, 8 home runs and 29 RBI, leading the league in both home runs and RBI during the month.

The Columbus, OH native started June in grand fashion, hitting a grand slam on June 1 during a 4-for-5, five-RBI game in Huntsville. He added to those totals with a three-RBI performance the following night. Cook finished June just as hot, hitting two home runs and driving in seven runs in his last five games of the month. In all, he recorded eight multi-hit games and drove in three or more runs on five occasions.

Cook was selected to play in the 2009 Southern League All-Star Game, held at Regions Park on July 13, as well as the 2009 Southern League Home Run Derby, held at Rickwood Field on July 12, but he will be unable to participate in either due to his promotion. On Wednesday, it was announced that Barons outfielder Jordan Danks will replace Cook on the South Division roster. His replacement in the Home Run Derby has not yet been determined.

Tickets to the 2009 Southern League All-Star Game as well as to the 2009 Southern League Home Run Derby and Celebrity Softball Game are available online at barons.com or by calling the Regions Park Box Office. Tickets for both events can also be purchased by visiting the Regions Park Box Office.

The 2009 Southern League All-Star Game will be played on Monday, July 13 at Regions Park in Birmingham, AL.

The Barons won the South Division First-Half Title and will open the playoffs on Thursday, September 10 at Regions Park. Game two will be played Friday, September 11 at Regions Park. Tickets to both games are available online, in-person at the Regions Park Box Office or by calling the Barons at (205) 988-3200

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David Cook takes steely determination on the road

David Cook is a man with a mission, and a wicked sense of humor. Calling after a sound check in Amarillo, Texas, he's feeling good, quick to laugh and dead serious about riding the road of success as long as he can.

"Coming off 'American Idol,'" said the rocker who took top honors in television competition's seventh season, "I knew anything could happen. I look at this as my only shot, and I want to make it work until someone calls my bluff."

That's not likely to happen anytime soon, though. His tour recently was extended to mid-October and now it's running into December, filling 90-plus percent of available seats. Watch for him Saturday, July 11, at the Chesaning Showboat Music Festival.

The Associated Press fileDavid Cook

"We've played 73 shows with 73 different set lists," he said. "I like to maintain that spontaneity, to let the music stand alone."

His self-titled album went platinum, and his first three singles -- "Time of My Life," "Light On" and "Come Back to Me" -- hit the Top 10 on the adult-contemporary charts. He got rave reviews playing the Philippines with the former contender he calls Archie -- "American Idol" runner-up David Archuleta.

And he still runs into people who look for proof of his talent, as if winning "American Idol" makes everything that followed suspect. True, the vocal competition centers on singing others' songs, but Cook's album is a sound reflection of what he offers.

"I was lucky that the record label and others involved let me try my own thing," he said. "The band and me, we have a connection, an intimacy with the music we've written. I think everyone gives a little more when it's their own. It's been interesting, for sure. It's amazing."

While Cook took up the guitar when he was 13, and founded his first band when he was 15, it was his brother Andrew who always dreamed of winning "American Idol." He's the one who headed for the audition, asking Cook to come along for support.

Once there, Cook said, his brother and his mother talked him into auditioning, too. The rest is television history. "I've asked Andrew to tour with me but he's into finishing his education now," Cook said. "I'd have him up there in a minute."

His older brother, Adam, in early May lost his battle against brain cancer, a cause Cook championed as a runner in the Race for Hope-D.C. and in his song "Permanent," performed on this season's "American Idol."

It was a devastating blow, but Cook handled Adam's death like a veteran, continuing with the race and the tour. The stage is his home, he said, "and I find comfort there. It's therapeutic, surrounded by people who care. And it sure beats the hell out of lying in bed, crying."

The experience also bonded him with audiences going through their own devastation, he said, especially in areas hit hard by the economy.

"In concert, we make a musical and a social connection with our fans," he said. "There's a lot of responsibility on us to entertain people who've spent their hard-earned money on coming to see us, and that's something we welcome. I love singing. I love talking to people, and I'm very appreciative of everything that has come my way."

And speaking of empathy, he watched season eight of "American Idol" in a whole new way.

"The level of talent was amazing," Cook said. "I used to get down on someone if they didn't sing well but now I'm thinking they probably didn't get enough sleep or they're fighting a bug. I'm on the other side now; I'm less judgmental."

He's also more appreciative of what caustic judge Simon Cowell has to say.

"It took me about two weeks to figure out the trick with Simon," he said. "You can't take what he says at face value. Take the bluntness out, forget the pain it causes, and you'll find constructive criticism you can use. And if Simon says you sound good, you know you're doing something right."

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Ex-Baron David Cook gets Topps honor

David Cook was promoted to Triple-A Charlotte Wednesday, but not before leaving the Birmingham Barons with one last honor.

The Topps Company named Cook the Southern League's Player of the Month for June after he led the league in home runs (eight), RBIs (29) and total bases (65) while hitting .302.

During a stretch from April 30-June the Columbus, Ohio, native reached based in 28 consecutive games.

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David Cook wins Topps Player of the Month Award for June

MARIETTA, GA - Birmingham Barons outfielder David Cook has been named the Topps Player of the Month for June, as selected by the Southern League field managers. The Topps Company of New York, in conjunction with Minor League Baseball, presents the award each month to the top performer in each of the 10 full-season leagues. Before his promotion to Triple-A Charlotte on July 8, the 27-year-old Cook was one of the most productive hitters in the potent Barons lineup. At press time, Cook was tied with teammate Stefan Gartrell for the league lead with 59 RBI. Add in Southern League All-Stars Jordan Danks, C.J. Retherford and Dayan Viciedo, and it's no wonder that the Barons led professional baseball with a 48-21 first half record.

Cook finished June on a high note, blasting two homers and driving in seven runs in his last five games of the month. His two-run homer in the top of the 11th against Mississippi on June 25 proved to be the game-winner in a 7-5 Barons victory. He followed that heroic effort with five RBI in the next two games, both wins. He led Birmingham to a 19-8 June record and a .282 team batting average, both league bests. From April 30 to June 3, Cook reached base in 28 straight games, the third longest such streak this season. He hit 10 homers and drove in 25 runs during that stretch, which started seven days after his 29-game consecutive on-base streak ended.

Cook, a native of Columbus, Ohio, established a season-high six RBI in a 4-for-5 performance against Huntsville on June 1. He blasted a grand slam to left in the second inning and added a run-scoring single in the sixth and a solo shot in the ninth in a 14-5 Barons rout. He followed that performance with three RBI the following day, including a run-scoring single that sparked a five-run ninth that forced extra innings, where Birmingham would prevail 13-12 in 10 frames. In all, Cook recorded eight multi-RBI games in June and drove in three or more runs five times.

A product of Miami (OH), Cook led all Southern Leaguers in homers (8), RBI (29), total bases (65) and ranked 14th in batting (.302) in June. As of July 9, he ranked second in the league with 17 home runs, was tied for first with 59 RBI and was tied for fourth in slugging percentage (.520). 

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