Only a few times in history has a musician been singled out as
the world-class master of his instrument. Billy Cobham is one of
those few artists. For over 30 years, he has received
international acclaim as the total consummate percussionist.

Billy Cobham's official career started with his diploma at The
High School Of Music And Arts in New York City. As a soldier, he
was part of the Army Bigband as a percussionist between 1965 and
1968. After leaving the Army, he played with Horace Silver,
Stanley Turrentine, George Benson and other fellow artists.
Cobham was also part of Broadway shows.

In 1969, he began recording with Miles Davis while also
performing with Les McCann and Junior Mance. Billy Cobham also
co-founded one of the first Fusion bands named "Dreams" with his
friends Randy and Michael Brecker, John Abercrombie, Don
Grolnick, Barry Rodgers as well as Will Lee. A year later John
McLaughlin hired him for his Mahavishnu Orchestra. In addition,
Cobham started drumming with Freddie Hubbard, Bob James, Hubert Laws, Ron Carter, Eric Gale and
many others.

During the early 1970s, there was no stopping Billy Cobham, who
recorded his legendary "Spectrum" album in 1973. His freshly
founded band included the Brecker Brothers and someone we all
know personally: The Bulgarian keyboard hero Milcho Leviev!
Another album, "Shabazz", was recorded at the Montreux Jazz
Festival the same year. In 1974 another two Billy Cobham albums
hit the record stores: "Crosswinds" and "Total Eclipse". The best
drummer on the planet still found the time to play with Donnie
Hathaway and Roberta Flack.

As a frequent guest in Montreux, countless live albums were
recorded in the mid-1970s. The most legendary one was "Live In
Europe" by the Billy Cobham and George Duke Band. This group,
which also included John Scofield and Alphonso Johnson, toured
America and Europe a lot that year.

In 1977, Cobham became an official Tama Drums endorser while
recording with Dexter Gordon, Maynard Ferguson, George Duke,
Steve Khan and many others. "B.C." was the title of another
brilliant Billy Cobham-album recorded in 1979. "Mendocino" and
other breathtaking compositions could be described as very
sophisticated Jazz-Funk, which Cobham became interested in on top
of the Fusion which had been one of his main trademarks until
then. Extensive tours took him to Japan and all across Europe.

For Billy Cobham the 1980s started with a performance in the
famous CBS show "Saturday Night Live" and one with The Greatful
Dead at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. Tours with Jack
Bruce, Tito Puente, Tim Landers and others. In 1982, another
classic record was released: "Observations" by Billy Cobham's
project "The Glass Menagerie". A Japanese tour with Miles Davis
was another highlight of the early 1980s. In 1984, Billy Cobham
co-produced a Swiss TV show entitled "The World Of Rhythm" which
featured the master himself along with Herbie Hancock, Cheech And
Chong, Ron Carter, Gil Evens - just to name a few. "Warning" and
"Power Play", two superb Jazz-Rock albums, were released via GRP
Records in 1985 and 1986. The 1980s ended with more releases,
recordings and tours as well as tours to Israel, Chile and
Australia.

During the next decade, Billy Cobham was busy touring the world
with fellow stars such as Stanley Clarke, Larry Coryell, Dori
Caymmi, Larry Carlton, Najee, George Duke, Pieces Of A Dream,
Angela Bofill, Donald Harrison, McCoy Tyner, The Crusaders and
even Peter Gabriel. Also Cobham delivered a record number of gigs
with his own projects in countless countries.
Today, in 2007, Billy Cobham plays as if he was still 25 although
he is well over 60. At the Sofia Jazz Peak festival, he will
present Culture Mix, one of the approximately 8 projects he is
working on at the same time.