CLAY COOPER AND JOEY RILEY

By Rosi Juarez

Together since toddlers, two friends seized their fifteen minutes of fame and made them timeless. So is the story of Clay Cooper and Joey Riley – timeless.

Born and raised in the small town of Wiley, Texas their teen dreams were probably to make it to the “big city”—Dallas. Maybe Fort Worth crossed their minds every once in a while, but Dallas was bigger and closer and just down the road about 30 miles.

But soon Branson, Missouri would be a dream they both lived and shared.

Joey Riley first took the stage at his parents’ Wylie Opry where he performed with his brother Scott. During high school, he moved to Nashville to pursue a music career and continued his high school education there but returned in 1989 to graduate with his Wylie classmates. He toured with several groups in the Midwest, then joined the Texas Gold Minors in Branson, Missouri to join longtime friend Clay Cooper. Fellow Texan Mickey Gilley of Urban Cowboy fame saw his performance and since then, Joey performed with Mickey Gilley for over 20 years as his steel guitarist, fiddle player and comedic sidekick until 2012 when he joined his friend again in Clay Cooper’s Country Music Express show. He was scheduled to headline his own Joey Riley Matinee Show . But early in 2013, Joey was diagnosed with Stage 4 colon cancer. He passed on July 19, 2013 surrounded by family and friends….. and kindergarten pal Clay Cooper still by his side.

At the age of 14, Clay Cooper had also begun his career singing at the Wylie Opry. He continued to perform there until 1986 when he moved to Branson with the Texas Gold Minors, an 80’s teenage honky-tonk band. About six years later, Joey also joined the Texas group and the childhood friends were playing together again. Clay spent several years with various shows including Country Review Show in Eureka Springs Arkansas, the Jim Owens Show , Country Tonite where he performed nine years as lead vocalist and emcee. Then he joined the Paul Harris Live Show in 2003 as the featured vocalist. By 2005, Clay and his wife Tina started their own morning show, Clay Cooper’s Country Express Show. Sometimes referred to as “the best kept secret in Branson”, Clay was already well-known in the Branson area when in 2007, he moved his show to the old Osmond Brothers Theatre right on the Highway 76 strip. Now his show at his own Clay Cooper Theatre attracts visitors to Branson from around the U.S. and worldwide.

Some could say that Clay was born to perform since he was born into a very talented musical family. But, we should also note that he is very much a strong family man. Check out his Facebook, it’s about enjoying family time, check out his show’s website, it includes his family, check out his show, it’s about family and they all play a part. He has created a career in entertainment that not only his family can enjoy, but that he himself can enjoy and share with the rest of us.

It was during a Texas Gold Minors reunion hosted in Clay’s new theatre that he and pal Joey decided that they wanted to perform together again. Clay ‘s Facebook posting reveals his enthusiasm for the idea. “We’ve been best of friends since the first grade and have worked in many shows together over the years….. It’s gonna be a blast working the stage together once again.”

Later that year, after Joey lost his battle with cancer on July 19, 2013, Clay posted “Feeling really lost right now. Doesn’t seem real! Over forty years of talking, sharing, laughing, picking & singing together and now you’re not there! This Sucks….”

But through the entire ordeal, the boys who were friends pretty much since they could walk, fought a tough battle together. Fundraisers and memorial services were held at the Clay Cooper Theatre in Branson and on July 29 Clay Cooper and his family joined Joey Riley and his family for a final eulogy and good-bye in their hometown of Wylie, TX.

Rest in peace Joey Riley. Carry forward Clay Cooper. We love you both!