William Emanuel "Billy" Cobham (born May 16, 1944, Panama) is a Panamanian American jazz drummer, composer and bandleader, who permanently relocated to Switzerland during the late 1970s.Coming to prominence in the late 1960s and early 1970s with trumpeter Miles Davis and then with Mahavishnu Orchestra, and on countless CTI releases, Cobham according to Allmusic's reviewer is "generally acclaimed as fusion's greatest drummer with an influential style that combines explosive power and exacting precision.
William Cobham, Ivy Cobham, Stratus, Red Baron, Taurian Matador
Music Groups
The Mahavishnu Orchestra, Jazz Is Dead, Bobby & The Midnites, New York Jazz Quartet
Nominations
Grammy Award for Best R&B Instrumental Performance
Movies
Sonic Mirror, Billy Cobham's Glass Menagerie, World of Rhythm: Live, Billy Cobham: Culturemix: New Morning Paris Concert, Herbie Hancock Trio: Hurricane, Superdrumming, Gil Evans and His Orchestra, Jack Bruce & Friends in Concert, Jazz Legends: Billy Cobham, Quincy Jones: The 75th Birthday Celebrati...
Star Sign
Taurus
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Trademark
1
Open-handed (ambidextrous) style of playing the drums
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Quote
1
Jazz isn't dead. It's how I make my living.
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Fact
1
Phil Collins states Cobham as one of his earliest influences as a drummer.
2
Now shares his home at New York and Switzerland. [2005]
3
Works actively with two bands called Billy Cobham's Culturemix, and Billy Cobham's Spectrum Band. [2005]
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Inducted into the Percussive Arts Society Hall of Fame in 2006.
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Was voted as the best over-all drummer in 1987 by the Modern Drummer magazine.
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He recorded music for the advertisements of Shaft (1971), which was for a special promotion while being in New York.
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Even though a right-handed person, he can play the drums as if he was ambidextrous.
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He was the first person to approach the drums with the so called "Open-handed" (ambidextrous) style of playing the drums. He started playing with this technique when he was only 15 years old (1959).
Soundtrack
Title
Year
Status
Character
The 90s: Ten Years That Changed the World
2015
TV Movie documentary writer: "Safe from Harm" - uncredited
Schnell ermittelt
2009
TV Series writer - 1 episode
Grand Theft Auto IV
2008
Video Game performer: "Stratus" - as Billy Cobham / writer: "Stratus" - as B. Cobham
Definitely, Maybe
2008
writer: "Safe from Harm" 1991 - as Billy Cobham
Adored
2003
as William E. Cobham Jr., "Red Baron" / performer: "Red Baron" - as Billy Cobham
The Insider
1999
writer: "Safe from Harm" Perfecto Mix - as Billy Cobham
Est-ce bien raisonnable?
1981
performer: "Est-Ce Bien Raisonnable? Générique", "Miou-Miou Reste Seule", "Miou-Miou Dans La Nuit", "La Voiture Jaune"
Saturday Night Live
1981
TV Series performer - 1 episode
Flic ou voyou
1979
"Flic Ou Voyou", "Tendresse Clarinette", "Le Premier Meurtre", "Tendresse Basse Et Guitare", "Ponctuation Trompette", "Variation Sur Le Thème Suspense", "Variation Sur Le Thème Tendresse", "Variation Sur Le Thème Voyou", "Tout Nu", "Filatures", "Final Voyou"
$700,000
