Alabama's Jeff Cook Reveals Parkinson's Disease Diagnosis

Jeff Cook, the guitarist and fiddle player for the country group Alabama, has revealed that he is battling Parkinson’s disease.

The 67-year-old musician was diagnosed four years ago and while his bandmates have known, he is letting his fans know now as he will step back from touring at the end of the month.

“This disease robs you of your coordination, your balance, and causes tremors,” Cook told the USA Today Network in a prepared statement. “For me, this has made it extremely frustrating to try and play guitar, fiddle or sing. I’ve tried not to burden anyone with the details of my condition because I do not want the music to stop or the party to end, and that won’t change no matter what. Let me say, I’m not calling it quits but sometimes our bodies dictate what we have to do, and mine is telling me it’s time to take a break and heal.”

Jeff will stop touring with Alabama on a regular basis starting on April 29. He is set to play the group’s May 27 concert and an additional fan event.