The Origin Story of Legacy Man, a True Houston Character

ByMeredith NudoJune 5, 2023

Derek Cooper is the not-so-secret identity of Legacy Man, one of Houston's quirkiest characters.

Image: Courtesy Derek Cooper

How does a University of Texas–educated engineer who competes in Ironman races become the neon-clad, Rollerblade-wearing, mullet-sporting performer known as Legacy Man? It started, philosophically speaking, in Hawaii.

"When you get to the tail end of an Ironman, you get pretty euphoric. This was not at that stage," says Derek Cooper, the not-so-secret identity of Legacy Man. He was riding his bike and felt a tap on his shoulder. "As I was looking out, there was the ocean on my left, and on my right were big mountains…. Something said surrender to it, and I just had this feeling of okay! Come on in!"

Before this, in the early months of COVID in 2020, Cooper had already begun making a name for himself in the Heights, blasting joyful synthwave music inspired by an eclectic blend of influences such as X Japan and pop-punk, all while Rollerblade-dancing his way around the neighborhood. That ethereal moment on his bike ignited the true purpose of his art: not an exercise in indulging his creative ego, but a spirit of joy in his children, his wife, and the community at large. Legacy Man became an ethos of mirth in a world keeping its sullen head down. "Things just started unfolding, and I found that what I was doing was helping people. This can't be about me," Cooper says.

Legacy Man is the latest in a long line of quirky Houston personalities: folks like onetime Rollerblade-dancing legend Juan Carlos (of America's Got Talent fame) and Montrose's famous wizard, Merlyn. Cooper, following in their footsteps, has now gained a cult following of his own through his performances, during which he is known to jam out on both electric guitars and keytars while singing to his Japanese-inspired synthwave tunes—all while dancing, clad almost entirely in neon, on his skates.

Legacy Man performed during last year's H-E-B Thanksgiving Day Parade and also regularly puts on shows at M-K-T Sunset Market in the Heights, Wakefield Crowbar, and Megaton Brewery in Kingwood.

The latter he praises for the Mortal Kombat arcade cabinet and cyberpunk aesthetics—both features that perfectly complement his bright, cheery, retro, and now locally famous persona.