Bob Cooper (musician)


Bob Cooper 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.

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, with the marriage lasting 44 years, until Christy's death in 1990. His last studio recording was on Karrin Allyson's album Sweet Home Cookin' 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.

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
With Shorty Rogers
With Pete Rugolo
With Bud Shank'