About

Known credits:
13
Birthday:
1944-05-16
Place of birth:
Colón, Panama
Website:

Billy Cobham

Overview

William Emanuel Cobham Jr. (born May 16, 1944) is a Panamanian–American jazz drummer who came to prominence in the late 1960s and early 1970s with trumpeter Miles Davis and then with the Mahavishnu Orchestra. According to AllMusic, Cobham is generally acclaimed as fusion's greatest drummer.

He was inducted into the Modern Drummer Hall of Fame in 1987 and the Classic Drummer Hall of Fame in 2013. AllMusic biographer Steve Huey said, "Generally acclaimed as fusion's greatest drummer, Billy Cobham's explosive technique powered some of the genre's most important early recordings – including groundbreaking efforts by Miles Davis and the Mahavishnu Orchestra – before he became an accomplished bandleader in his own right. At his best, Cobham harnessed his amazing dexterity into thundering, high-octane hybrids of jazz complexity and rock & roll aggression."

Cobham's influence stretched far beyond jazz, including on progressive rock contemporaries like Bill Bruford of King Crimson and Danny Carey of Tool. Prince played a version of Cobham's Stratus in concert. Phil Collins, who named Mahavishnu Orchestra's The Inner Mounting Flame as a key influence on his early style said, "Billy Cobham played some of the finest drumming I've ever heard on that record."

Known for

Acting

2014 Billy Cobham: Spectrum 40 - Live at Lotos Jazz Festival Actor Self - drums N/A
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2011 Billy Cobham - Live At Nancy Jazz Pulsation 2011 Actor Self - drums N/A
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2010 John McLaughlin & Billy Cobham: Live at Montreux 2010 Actor Self - drums N/A
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2008 Quincy Jones : 75th Birthday Celebration Live at Montreux Actor Self 59
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2006 Jazz Legends: Billy Cobham Live At The Palais Des Festivals Hall Cannes 1989 Actor Self N/A
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2005 Billy Cobham's Glass Menagerie: Live in Riazzino, Switzerland Actor Self N/A
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2005 Common Ground Inspiration Drum DVD Actor Self N/A
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2005 Billy Cobham's: New Morning The Paris Concert Actor Self N/A
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2002 World of Rhythm: Live in Lugano Actor Self N/A
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2002 Billy Cobham - Culturemix Live at The New Morning, Paris Actor Self N/A
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1984 Herbie Hancock Trio: Hurricane! Actor Self - Drums N/A
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1976 The Billy Cobham - George Duke Band: Live at Montreaux 1976 Actor Self N/A
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1972 Mahavishnu Orchestra - Live In France 1972 Actor Self (drums) 59
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