Raymond Cooper (born 19 September 1947) is an English musician who has worked as a session and road-tour percussionist. During his career, Cooper has worked and toured with numerous musically diverse bands and artists including Elton John (as a duo and as a member of his band), Harry Nilsson, Billy Joel, George Harrison, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Pink Floyd, the Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, Mark Knopfler, David Gilmour, Roger Waters and Art Garfunkel. Cooper absorbed the influence of rock drummers from the 1960s and 1970s such as Ginger Baker, Carmine Appice and John Bonham.

Incorporation of unusual instruments for rock drummers of the time such as cowbells, glockenspiel and tubular bells, along with several standard kit elements, helped create a highly varied setup.

Early life

Cooper was born in Watford, Hertfordshire. In addition to percussion, Cooper studied classical piano, strings and woodwind, as well as theatre.

Career

Cooper later joined the band Blue Mink, and as a session musician he played on records for artists such as America, Carly Simon and David Essex. He played on and co-produced the album Somewhere in England by George Harrison in 1981. In 2009, John and Cooper performed a small exclusive series of shows, mostly in the UK and Europe, the first time since 1995 that the two had toured together without a band. In a greeting to Cooper on his 70th birthday, John's website stated that when Elton composed the song "Tambourine" for his 2016 Wonderful Crazy Night album, he made sure to bring in Cooper to play the instrument on the track. In 2023, Cooper toured with John as part of his Farewell Yellow Brick Road farewell tour.

Discography

With Joan Armatrading

  • Whatever's for Us (A&M Records, 1972)
  • Walk Under Ladders (A&M Records, 1981)
  • Sleight of Hand (A&M Records, 1986)

With America

  • America (Warner Bros. Records, 1971)

With Madeline Bell

  • This is One Girl (Pye Records, 1976)

With Colin Blunstone

  • Planes (Epic Records, 1976)
  • Never Even Thought (Epic Records, 1978)

With Teresa Brewer

  • Music, Music, Music (Amsterdam, 1973)

With Chanter Sisters

  • Shoulder to Shoulder (Safari, 1978)

With Roger Chapman

  • Chappo (Arista Records, 1979)

With Eric Clapton

  • Behind the Sun (Warner Bros. Records, 1985)

With Rosemary Clooney

  • Nice to Be Around (United Artists Records, 1977)

With Kiki Dee

  • Kiki Dee (Rocket, 1977)

With Donovan

  • Essence to Essence (Epic Records, 1973)

With Ian Dury

  • Laughter (Stiff Records, 1980)
  • 4,000 Weeks' Holiday (Polydor Records, 1984)
  • Apples (WEA Records, 1989)
  • The Bus Driver's Prayer & Other Stories (Demon Records, 1992)

With Yvonne Elliman

  • Food of Love (Purple Records, 1973)

With Cass Elliot

  • The Road Is No Place for a Lady (RCA Records, 1972)

With David Essex

  • Rock On (Columbia Records, 1973)
  • David Essex (CBS Records, 1974)
  • Imperial Wizard (Mercury Records, 1978)
  • Stage - Struck (Metronome Records, 1982)
  • The Whisper (Mercury Records, 1983)

With Bryan Ferry

  • In Your Mind (EG Records, 1977)

With Pink Floyd

  • The Final Cut (Harvest Records, 1983)

With Art Garfunkel

  • Fate for Breakfast (Columbia Records, 1979)
  • Scissors Cut (Columbia Records, 1981)

With Dana Gillespie

  • Weren't Born a Man (MCA Records, 1973)

With David Gilmour

  • About Face (Columbia Records, 1984)

With Tony Hadley

  • Passing Strangers (Curb Records, 2006)
  • The Mood I'm In (Revolver, 2024)

With George Harrison

  • George Harrison (Dark Horse Records, 1979)
  • Somewhere in England (Dark Horse Records, 1981)
  • Gone Troppo (Dark Horse Records, 1982)
  • Cloud Nine (Dark Horse Records, 1987)
  • Brainwashed (Dark Horse Records, 2002)

With Murray Head

  • Nigel Lived (CBS Records, 1972)

With Mick Jagger

  • She's the Boss (Columbia Records, 1985)

With Elton John

  • Madman Across the Water (Uni Records, 1971)
  • Honky Château (Uni Records, 1972)
  • Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (MCA Records, 1973)
  • Caribou (MCA Records, 1974)
  • Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy (MCA Records, 1975)
  • Rock of the Westies (MCA Records, 1975)
  • Blue Moves (Rocket, 1976)
  • A Single Man (Rocket Records, 1978)
  • Too Low for Zero (Geffen, 1983)
  • Reg Strikes Back (MCA Records, 1988)
  • Made in England (Island Records, 1995)
  • Wonderful Crazy Night (Mercury Records, 2016)

With Davey Johnstone

  • Smiling Face (Rocket, 1973)

With Lulu

  • Don't Take Love for Granted (The Rocket Record Company, 1979)
  • Lulu (Alfa Records, 1981)

With Katie Melua

  • Pictures (Dramatico, 2007)

With Paul McCartney

  • Press to Play (Parlophone, 1986)

With Christine McVie

  • Christine McVie (Warner Bros. Records, 1984)

With Harry Nilsson

  • Son of Schmilsson (RCA Records, 1972)

With Nigel Olsson

  • Nigel Olsson (The Rocket Record Company, 1975)
  • Nigel Olsson (Columbia Records, 1978)
  • Nigel (Bang Records, 1979)

With Roy Orbison

  • Mystery Girl (Virgin Records, 1989)

With Bill Quateman

  • Bill Quateman (Columbia Records, 1973)

With Chris Rea

  • Chris Rea (Magnet Records, 1981)

With Cliff Richard

  • Silver (EMI, 1983)

With Carly Simon

  • No Secrets (Elektra Records, 1972)

With Chris Spedding

  • Hurt (EMI, 1977)
  • Guitar Graffiti (RAK, 1978)

With Ringo Starr

  • Stop and Smell the Roses (RCA Records, 1981)
  • Old Wave (RCA Records, 1983)

With Rod Stewart

  • Smiler (Mercury Records, 1974)

With Sting

  • The Soul Cages (A&M Records, 1991)

With The Rolling Stones

  • It's Only Rock 'n Roll (Rolling Stones Records, 1974)

With Rick Wakeman

  • The Six Wives of Henry VIII (A&M Records, 1973)

With Roger Waters

  • The Pros and Cons of Hitch Hiking (Columbia Records, 1984)

With Bill Wyman

  • Stuff (Victor Records, 1992)

References