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Cobb, J.R. (5th February 1944-4th May 2019)

He was a guitarist and singer-songwriter born in Birmingham, Alabama who was a member of the 1960s group Classics IV.

He became a member of Atlanta Rhythm Section in 1971 on guitar and vocals, and co-wrote many of their songs including the successful “Champagne Jam”.   He also wrote or co-wrote the songs “Traces”, “Spooky” and “Stormy” for Classics IV, “Rock Bottom” for Wynonna Judd and the hit song “Be Young, Be Foolish, Be Happy”.

Artists he worked with through the years are many and include Johnny Cash, Frankie & Johnny, The Highwaymen, Wynonna Judd, Al Kooper, Kris Kristofferson, Billy Joe Royal and Hank Snow among others.

He was a member of the Alabama and Georgia Music Hall of Fame and is currently in The Dirty Blues Band alongside artists such as Ray Manzarek.

Albums he appeared on over the course of his career include Back Up Against The Wall, Champagne Jam, Quinella and Third Annual Pipe Dream by Atlanta Rhythm SectionHeroes by Johnny Cash & Waylon Jennings, City of New Orleans by Willie Nelson, King of Hearts by Roy Orbison and the soundtrack of Lost Highway.

He died of a heart attack in May 2019 when he was 75 years old.

Atlanta Rhythm Section recordings
The Ballad of Lois Malone (Buddy Buie/Robert Nix/Dean Daughtry /Barry Bailey)
(Polydor PD 14484, 77 NP 3347 2066 937)(US 45)
Champagne Jam (Buddy Buie/Robert Nix/J.R. Cobb )
(Polydor PD 14504, 77 NP 3341 2066 980) (US 45)
The Great Escape(Buddy Buie/Robert Nix /Barry Bailey)
(Polydor PD 14504, 77 NP 3348 2066 980)(US 45)
I’m Not Going to Let It Bother Me Tonight (Buddy Buie/Robert Nix/Dean Daughtry )
(Polydor PD 14484, 77 NP-3343-2066 937)(US 45)
Silver Eagle (Buddy Buie/J.R. Cobb)
(Polydor PD 2142, 80 NP 5177 2095 302)(US promo 45)

Here’s Classics IV performing his co-written “Stormy”…

Sources:

  1. www.atlantarhythmsection.com/arsStory07.htm
  2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._R._Cobb
  3. www.classicwebs.com/ars.htm
  4. http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:wvfwxqr5ldje~T4
  5. http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:fiftxq95ldte~T2
  6. http://shopping.yahoo.com/p:J.R.%20Cobb:1927050121?sort=az