Dallas Cook

Dallas Cook
Background information
Birth name	Ryan Dallas Cook
Born	June 5, 1982
Origin	Huntington Beach, California, USA
Died	October 19 2005 (aged 23)
Genre(s)	Ska-punk
Occupation(s)	Musician
Instrument(s)	Trombone
Years active	1998 - 2005
Associated acts	Suburban Legends

Ryan Dallas Cook (June 5, 1982 – October 19, 2005), better known as Dallas Cook to his fans, was one of the two trombone players in third-wave ska band Suburban Legends until his death. Dallas attended Huntington Beach High School from 1996-2000 where he was an active member of the high school marching band, of which he attributed his love of music and performing. Dallas channeled this love of music and performing into the band Suburban Legends where he was known not only for his choreographed dance routines with the other members of the band, but also his handstands, flips, balancing his trombone on the palm of his hand, and jumping on the shoulders of fellow band mate and best friend Brian Robertson. These antics, along with Dallas’ down-to-earth demeanor while talking with fans after shows, helped draw fans to Suburban Legends’ performances again and again. He was killed in a hit-and-run motorcycle accident on the Costa Mesa Freeway in Orange County, California at approximately 12:25 AM on October 19, 2005. His motorcycle collided with a Hyundai, and the driver of the Hyundai fled the scene after the accident. Dallas died on the scene. On October 23, 2005 a large group of Suburban Legends fans and Dallas' friends and family gathered nearby the ESPN Zone at Disneyland Resort's Downtown Disney, where the band played their many performances in the early 2000s, to share their memories about him. On November 29, 2005, former and current band members performed a benefit show for the Dallas Cook Memorial Fund, which was as set up in Cook's honor to donate money to the Huntington Beach High School instrumental music program. In addition, a memorial chair for Dallas was dedicated and placed in the auditorium of the school. On April 4, 2006, police announced they had determined the identity of the driver who killed Dallas. Youn Bum Lee, a Hyundai executive, parked his car in the carpool lane on the freeway and turned off his lights while under the influence of alcohol. Police believe that Dallas never saw the car that was the cause of his death. After contacting his lawyers and showing the damage to associates, Lee fled to Korea. It is suspected that he is still currently located there. On May 23, 2007, Dallas' family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Hyundai, with allegations that airport surveillance footage shows Lee accompanied by two fellow Hyundai executives as he boarded his plane. Hyundai released a statement that they terminated Lee's employment shortly after the incident and do not know his current whereabouts.

External links

• Accident article from Orange County Register
• Link to article announcing Youn Bum Lee as a suspect
• Dallas' page on SuburbanLegends.com (mostly the same as this article, but with information regarding donations to the Dallas Cook Memorial Fund)