Bob Cooper (December 6, 1925 – August 5, 1993) 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, two years later. The union produced a daughter, Shay Christy Cooper (September 1, 1954 – February 21, 2014), 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' (1994) on which he played tenor saxophone. Cooper died of a heart attack in Los Angeles, California, at the age of 67. He was found in his car, which had pulled over to the side of the road.

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