Image of Billy Cobham

Billy Cobham

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."


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Born:
May 16, 1944 In Colón, Panama
Movie/TV Credits:
14
First Appeared:
In the series Le Grand Échiquier 1972-01-12
Latest Project:
Movie Billy Cobham: Spectrum 40 - Live at Lotos Jazz Festival 2014-02-20
Known For
Poster of Jazz Legends: Billy Cobham Live At The Palais Des Festivals Hall Cannes 1989
Poster of Billy Cobham's Glass Menagerie: Live in Riazzino, Switzerland
Poster of Billy Cobham's: New Morning The Paris Concert
Poster of Billy Cobham - Culturemix Live at The New Morning, Paris
Filmography
Movie Billy Cobham: Spectrum 40 - Live at Lotos Jazz Festival Self - drums 2014-02-20
Movie Billy Cobham - Live At Nancy Jazz Pulsation 2011 Self - drums 2011-10-10
Movie John McLaughlin & Billy Cobham: Live at Montreux 2010 Self - drums 2010-07-02
Movie Quincy Jones : 75th Birthday Celebration Live at Montreux Self 2008-07-14
Movie Jazz Legends: Billy Cobham Live At The Palais Des Festivals Hall Cannes 1989 Self 2006-02-20
Movie Billy Cobham's: New Morning The Paris Concert Self 2005-01-01
Movie Common Ground Inspiration Drum DVD Self 2005-01-01
Movie Billy Cobham's Glass Menagerie: Live in Riazzino, Switzerland Self 2005-10-18
Movie Billy Cobham - Culturemix Live at The New Morning, Paris Self 2002-01-01
Movie World of Rhythm: Live in Lugano Self 2002-11-19
Movie Herbie Hancock Trio: Hurricane! Self - Drums 1984-01-01
Movie The Billy Cobham - George Duke Band: Live at Montreaux 1976 Self 1976-08-16
Series Le Grand Échiquier Self 1972-01-12
Movie Mahavishnu Orchestra - Live In France 1972 Self (drums) 1972-08-23