Career
He is remembered for his work with saxophonist Albert Ayler in the midand late 1960s. Although Cobbs was a veteran musician, Cobbs" recorded output is fairly small. Cobbs also worked and recorded with the alto saxophonist Johnny Hodges in 1954, when Hodges" band included John Coltrane.
He studied the Schillinger System of musical composition.
He worked most notably with the free jazz saxophonist Albert Ayler from 1964 through 1970, playing piano, rocksichord, and electronic organ in live performances and recordings. He also acted as Ayler"s copyist and musical director
When Ayler"s body was found floating in the East River in New York City on November 25, 1970, Cobbs was called upon to identify the body. (Ayler"s parents also came from Cleveland to identify the body)
Cobbs was killed by a hit and run driver on September 21, 1971.
He died at Jacobi Hospital in the Bronx, New New York
He was 60 years old.