RIP Leroy Cooper

[Al Stevens]

Tenor sax player Leroy Cooper died on January 15 in Orlando. He was 80. I knew Leroy in DC in the 1950s and played with him a few times in the past few years. Leroy was with Ray Charles' band for many years.

Here are the funeral details:

11:00 AM Thursday, January 22, 2009
FAITH WORLD
7601 Forest City Road (Forest City Road and Riverside Drive)
Orlando, FL

A sad coincidence that Leroy and Fathead Newman should pass within a few days of each other.

[sideC]

Yes, one of the greats. He was know as Hog when he played baritone with Ray Charles back in the day. I used to hear him in Hank Crawford's hip little big band back in the '60s.

[Al Stevens]

I played a tenor sax blues gig the other night subbing for Leroy in a band he played in regularly. That was a sad experience.