Bob Cooper
b. 6 December 1925, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA, d. 5 August 1993, Los Angeles, California, USA. After studying music at high school, Cooper showed early prowess on tenor saxophone and by the age of 20 was hired by Stan Kenton, with whom he remained for the next six years. During this period Cooper made numerous records with the band and also led a small group largely drawn from fellow sidemen. On some engagements he accompanied Kenton's singer, June Christy, whom he married in 1947. After Kenton, Cooper stayed on the west coast working in the studios and playing jazz with like-minded musicians, especially Shelly Manne and Shorty Rogers. Throughout the '60s, '70s and '80s, Cooper continued working, mainly on the coast, dividing his time between the studios and jazz groups including those led by Terry Gibbs and his old stablemate Rogers. He was also called upon by several of the big bands formed in California, including those led by Bob Florence, Frank Capp- Nat Pierce and Bill Berry. A fluent and inventive soloist, Cooper's bop and post-bop leanings were often submerged in his freewheeling, swing-orientated playing.