Jazz drummer Jimmy Cobb has died of lung cancer aged 91, his family confirmed.
Born Wilbur James Cobb, the musician famously worked with Miles Davis on his legendary 1959 album Kind of Blue.
According to NPR, his wife, Eleana Tee Cobb, confirmed the drummer had died in his New York home on Sunday following a battle with the disease.
Buying his first drum kit at the age of 13, Cobb was a pioneer of the jazz music scene, launching his career in 1950 while touring with Earl Bostic.
The dad-of-two was the last surviving member of the group known as Miles Davis’ First Great Sextet, assembled from 1955 until 1958.
Along with Cobb and Davis, the musical group included saxophonists John Coltrane and Julian “Cannonball” Adderley, pianist Bill Evans, and bassist Paul Chambers.
Jazz musician Jimmy Cobb has died of lung cancer aged 91 (Image: Redferns)
With a career spanning seven decades, Cobb also worked with major names such as Dinah Washington, Billie Holiday and Pearl Bailey.
Speaking about his talent for drumming in an interview at NYU last year, Cobb said: “‘I figured it was something I’d like to do.
“And when I learned enough to do it, I figured that would be what I would do for the rest of my life.”
Cobb famously worked with Miles Davis on his legendary 1959 album Kind of Blue (Image: Popperfoto via Getty Images)
In 2019, he released his final solo album, titled This I Dig of You.
Honouring his life’s work, Cobb was presented with the Don Redman Heritage award in 2008, and received the National Endowment for the Arts NEA Jazz Masters award the following year.
His daughter Serena created a GoFundMe page for her father in January, to help pay for his medical expenses.
Cobb is survived by his wife and their two daughters (Image: Redferns)
She said: “Mentally and spiritually my father is as youthful and energetic as ever.
“But for the past two years he’s been dealing with some medical issues that have been causing severe challenges for him physically.”
Cobb is survived by his wife and their two daughters.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
