Colin Cooper
Colin Cooper
| Full Name | Colin Francis Richard Cooper |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 27 October, 1939 |
| Died | 3 July, 2008 (Colin Cooper Obituary) |
| Place of Birth | Stafford, England |
| Plays | Vocals, reeds, harp, flute and guitars |
| Influences | Wide ranging - New Orleans clarinettist Johnny Dodds, alto sax men Earl Bostic and Johnny Hodges, tenorist Ben Webster, and bluesmen Big Bill Broonzy, Muddy Waters and Junior Wells. |
Started on harmonica aged twelve and moved to clarinet and guitar at sixteen. A couple of years later he began playing saxophone, which subsequently became his main instrument. Colin played in various school and college bands, before forming the Climax Jazz Band in 1963.
First recorded on vocals and sax for Decca with The Hipster Image in 1965, the single "Can't Let Her Go" b/w "Make Her Mine". In 1999, the B-side was used in a Levi's ad in the Far East, and subsequently became a big hit in Japan, nearly thirty-five years later! Formed Climax Blues Band in 1967, and is probably best known as the distinctive voice on Climax’s huge hit single "Couldn’t get it right".