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Arnett Cobb
One of the classic Texas Tenors, there was always excitement elicited by Cobb’s uninhibited, blasting style which earned him the label "Wild Man of the Tenor Sax."
Arnette Cleophus Cobbs, was born on August 10, 1918, in Houston, Texas. He was taught piano by his grandmother and went on to study violin before taking up tenor saxophone in the Wheatley High School band. When he was fifteen he joined Louisiana band leader Frank Davis’s band and performed in the Houston area and throughout Louisiana during the summer. He worked with trumpeter Chester Boone for two years and left to become a founding member of the Milton Larkin Orchestra in 1936.
Cobb worked with Larkin for six years and, with members Eddie Vinson, Cedric Haywood, Wild Bill Davis, Illinois Jacquet, and others, made the band one of the most successful territorial bands from Texas. The band became a regular at venues including the Apollo Theatre in Harlem and boxer Joe Louis's Rhumboogie Club in Chicago.
Originator of the “open prairie” tone and “southern preacher” style, Cobb continually turned down offers from many national bands including Jimmy Lunceford, Count Basie, and Lionel Hampton. However, with his mother’s approval, and Gladys Hampton’s offer to Elizabeth (Cobb’s wife), in 1942 Arnett took the lead saxophone chair in Hampton’s band, replacing Illinois Jacquet, who had gotten the position as Arnett’s substitute (from an original 1941 offer to Cobb). Jacquet had held his position with Hampton on the condition that he switch from alto to tenor and “play like Cobb.” With Cobb as the featured soloist, Hampton re- recorded his theme song, "Flying Home [No. 2]. He was a major asset to the Hampton band for five years as co- writer, writer, reed-section arranger, lead saxophone, featured soloist, and talent scout. Gladys Hampton and Elizabeth Cobb helped manage the band, and Cobb’s mother did the tailoring.
Cobb left Hampton in 1947, formed his own combo, and was immediately signed by Ben Bartz of Universal Attractions for management and booking. Under Ben’s direction, Cobb toured extensively through 1949, while recording such hits as “Dutch Kitchen Bounce” ( Princeton University’s theme song), "Big Red's Groove," “Go Red Go,” and "Big League Blues” for the Apollo label. He had begun some of his most influential years in American music history with his showmanship (bar walking and circular breathing techniques) and style (predecessor of Texas “swing” blues).
Between 1950 and 1956, Cobb produced a string of hits including “Jumpin’ the Blues,” “Lil Sonny,” “The Shy One,” and “Smooth Sailing” (Ella Fitzgerald’s signature scat) on the Columbia label; “Night,” “Light Like That” and “Flying Home Mambo” on the Atlantic label; and other popular tunes for these and other labels. His combos and support became a career-building platform for Red Garland (playing with Miles Davis), George Rhodes (Sammy Davis Jr.’s music director), George Duvivier (bassist), Dinah Washington, comedian Redd Foxx, Jackie Wilson, Arthur Prysock, and many others. Arnett scouted James Brown, positioned him as his opening act, and took him to New York to sign with agent Ben Bartz at Universal.
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JazzWax by Marc Myers
Known as the Wild Man of the Tenor Sax," Arnett Cobb began his recording career with the Lionel Hampton Orchestra in 1943. He quickly became one of the band's stars, and his solos were eagerly awaited by audiences. But Cobb would suffer several Job-like misfortunes, only to fight his way back to the microphone, where he established himself as one of the greats on his instrument. The first incident occurred in 1928, when Cobb was 10. After sliding out of ...
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JazzWax by Marc Myers
It's shaping up to be tenor sax sort of week. After all that Charlie Ventura over the past bunch of days, I found myself in the mood for Arnett Cobb. Born in Houston, Cobb played in locally bands until 1942, when he joined the Lionel Hampton Orchestra. Cobb played with Hampton until 1947—a critical period during which Hampton laid track for R&B and all the excitement and showmanship that would follow. Cobb started his own band in the early '50s ...
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Michael Ricci
All About Jazz is celebrating Arnett Cobb's birthday today!
One of the classic Texas Tenors, there was always excitement elicited by Cobb’s uninhibited, blasting style which earned him the label Wild Man of the Tenor Sax." Arnette Cleophus Cobbs, was born on August 10, 1918, in Houston, Texas. He was taught piano by his grandmother and went on to study violin before taking up tenor saxophone in the Wheatley High School band... Read more.
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JazzWax by Marc Myers
Back before electric guitarists were down on their knees in stadiums playing competing rock solos, tough tenors roamed the planet. And in the 1950s and early 1960s, tenor saxophonists were plenty tough and competitive. Most came out of the r&b experience of the late 1940s and early 1950s. Hot r&b bands of the day included ones led by Lionel Hampton, Bull Moose Jackson, Tiny Grimes and Earl Bostic. The list of tough tenors starts with Coleman Hawkins and includes Gene ...
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