MP3 Toby Cooper - Songs Of The South
New Orleans Jazz
13 MP3 Songs
JAZZ: New Orleans Jazz
Details:
Toby Cooper was born in Coushatta, Louisiana on September 21,
1942. He started playing clarinet in the High School Band led by M. I.
Brumfield when he was 14. About 6 months later the band acquired an
army surplus alto saxophone and Toby got permission from Mr. Brumfield
to use the instrument. Within the first 8 months of playing he started his
first jazz band which was comprised of Gloria Hunter (Piano), Gary Strat-
ton (Tenor Sax), Toby (Sax, Clarinet). The band was named "The Saints"
and was kept intact throughout Cooper''s high school years. The personnel
changed at times and it was mainly a rehearsal band, but they did work a
few paying gigs. "We played a lot of popular tunes of the day, but there was
always jazz in the repertoire," says Toby. O. C. Clinton (Drums), Ronald
Smith(Piano), Sammy Giddings(Guitar), Charles Bamburg(Guitar, Vocal),
Jerry Paine(Drums) were all members at one time or the other in this mu-
sical group. "We learned from each other and from other musicians that we
came in contact with. All of us loved playing, and played at every opportu-
nity" Cooper remarked.
The tv stations in Shreveport, Louisiana were in their infancy and
during that time there was a lot of local programming. "I auditioned for a
talent show, which aired on Sunday afternoons on KTBS-TV, at a sock
hop, which was presented by the show''s host, Hub Brandao. They wouldn''t
let me be in the talent portion of the show, but they hired me to be in the
band which accompanied the talent. So, I was on tv every week-end and
was also featured as a soloist occasionally," said Cooper. According to
Cooper the band did sock hops at towns that had skating rinks and
played stage shows in communities that were too small for a rink. "I was
15-17years old and on tv every week-end. When we played those dances
and stage shows the people thought we were stars and even wanted our
auto-graphs ! ! !" Toby has continued to love playing and singing all these
years. It is his hope that you enjoy hearing his music as much as he en-
joys playing for you.