Bob Cooper (musician)

Bob Cooper (December 6, 1925 – August 5, 1993) was a West Coast jazz musician known primarily for playing tenor saxophone, but also for being one of the first to play jazz solos on oboe.

Bob Cooper
Cooper, c. 1947
Background information
Born(1925-12-06)December 6, 1925
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
DiedAugust 5, 1993(1993-08-05) (aged 67)
Los Angeles, California
GenresJazz
Occupation(s)Musician
InstrumentsSaxophone
Associated actsStan Kenton

Career

Cooper worked in Stan Kenton's band starting in 1945 and married the band's singer June Christy, a year later. The union producing a daughter Shay Christy Cooper (September 1, 1954 – February 21, 2014), with the marriage lasting 44 years, until Christy's death in 1990.[1] His last studio recording was on Karrin Allyson's album Sweet Home Cookin' (1994) on which he played tenor saxophone.

Cooper died of a heart attack in Los Angeles, California at the age of 67, found in his car apparently pulled over to side of road, before dying in his car.[2]

Bob Cooper and June Christy, ca. 1947

Selected discography

As leader

As sideman With Chet Baker

With Elmer Bernstein

With Buddy Bregman

With June Christy

With Maynard Ferguson

With Jimmy Giuffre

With Stan Kenton

With Barney Kessel

With Shelly Manne

With Jack Nitzsche

With Art Pepper

  • Showcase for Modern Jazz (Brunswick, 1958)

With Shorty Rogers

With Pete Rugolo

With Bud Shank

References
  1. "Bob Cooper Biography". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 11 October 2012.
  2. Folkart, Burt A. (7 August 1993). "Bob Cooper; a Shaper of West Coast Jazz". Los Angeles Times.
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