Junie Cobb
Encyclopedia
Junius C. "Junie" Cobb was an American jazz
multi-instrumentalist and bandleader
.
Born in Hot Springs, Arkansas
, Cobb was competent on tenor saxophone, clarinet, banjo, piano, violin, and drums. He played with Johnny Dunn
as a teenager, and after moving to Chicago
he led his own ensemble in 1920-21 at the Club Alvadere. In the 1920s he played with King Oliver (1924-27) on banjo and with Jimmie Noone
(1928-29). Following this Cobb put together another band of his own, and recorded with this ensemble for Vocalion
and Victor. He played in Paris
briefly in the early 1930s, then returned to lead groups in Chicago.
In 1946, he accompanied Annabelle Calhoun as a pianist, and played a number of extended engagements as a solo pianist. He went into semi-retirement in 1955, but played with Red Saunders
in 1961 and Jasper Taylor
in 1962.
In addition to his performing and bandleading activities, Cobb also composed; among his tunes is "Once or Twice", written in 1929. His brother, Jimmy, was a trumpeter who played on a number of Junie's recordings.
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
multi-instrumentalist and bandleader
Bandleader
A bandleader is the leader of a band of musicians. The term is most commonly, though not exclusively, used with a group that plays popular music as a small combo or a big band, such as one which plays jazz, blues, rhythm and blues or rock and roll music....
.
Born in Hot Springs, Arkansas
Hot Springs, Arkansas
Hot Springs is the 10th most populous city in the U.S. state of Arkansas, the county seat of Garland County, and the principal city of the Hot Springs Metropolitan Statistical Area encompassing all of Garland County...
, Cobb was competent on tenor saxophone, clarinet, banjo, piano, violin, and drums. He played with Johnny Dunn
Johnny Dunn
Johnny Dunn was an American traditional jazz trumpeter and vaudeville performer, who was born in Memphis, Tennessee. He is probably best known for his work during the 1920s with musicians such as Perry Bradford or Noble Sissle. In 1928, Dunn recorded four tracks with Jelly Roll Morton, and two...
as a teenager, and after moving to Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
he led his own ensemble in 1920-21 at the Club Alvadere. In the 1920s he played with King Oliver (1924-27) on banjo and with Jimmie Noone
Jimmie Noone
Jimmie Noone was an American jazz clarinetist.- Background :...
(1928-29). Following this Cobb put together another band of his own, and recorded with this ensemble for Vocalion
Vocalion Records
Vocalion Records is a record label active for many years in the United States and in the United Kingdom.-History:Vocalion was founded in 1916 by the Aeolian Piano Company of New York City, which introduced a retail line of phonographs at the same time. The name was derived from one of their...
and Victor. He played in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
briefly in the early 1930s, then returned to lead groups in Chicago.
In 1946, he accompanied Annabelle Calhoun as a pianist, and played a number of extended engagements as a solo pianist. He went into semi-retirement in 1955, but played with Red Saunders
Red Saunders
Red Saunders was a British photographer and founder of Rock Against Racism. He has specialised in rock music photography. He is part of theatre group Complicite.-External links:* * http://www.reddogonline.eu/mcredman.htm...
in 1961 and Jasper Taylor
Jasper Taylor
Jasper Taylor was an American jazz drummer.Taylor performed in Wild West revues and minstrel shows in his teens, touring the American South and Mexico. He played in Memphis, Tennessee in 1913, on washboard, drums, wood blocks, and xylophone. As a xylophonist he collaborated with W.C...
in 1962.
In addition to his performing and bandleading activities, Cobb also composed; among his tunes is "Once or Twice", written in 1929. His brother, Jimmy, was a trumpeter who played on a number of Junie's recordings.