Daily Dose Of Jazz…

Leroy “Hog” Cooper ws born on August 31, 1928 in Dallas, Texas and by age twenty, fom 1948 to 1951, he toured with the Ernie Fields territory band. A childhood friend of David Fathead Newman, in 1954 the two played together in the sax section backing Lowell Fulson on his first single for Chess Records, Reconsider Baby.

In 1957, upon the Newman recommendation of Cooper to Ray Charles, who joined Charles’ band the same summer as bassist Edgar Willis, both musicians stayed on with Charles for some twenty years.

Leroy also played, recorded and/or toured with Lightnin’ Hopkins, Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown, The Righteous Brothers, Dr. John, Del Shannon, Bobby Short, and Joe Cocker. 

Performing locally in Orlando, Florida with the Smokin’ Torpedoes & Josh Miller Blues Band till the time of his death, baritone saxophonist Leroy Cooper, who was affectionately known as Hog in the industry, transitioned on January 15, 2009.

Bestow upon an inquiring mind a dose of a Dallas saxophonist to motivate the perusal of the genius of jazz musicians worldwide whose gifts contribute to the canon…

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