urn:taro:houpub.00096 Arnett Cobb Collection MSS.0322 Houston Metropolitan Research Center, Houston Public Library
500 McKinney St. Julia Ideson Building, 2nd Floor Houston, TX, 77002 832-393-1662
This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2013-02-07T13:49-0600 Finding aid written in English. Cobb, Arnett, 1918–1989 Arnett Cobb CollectionBulk, 1955-19891929-1989, 1955-1989MSS.0322 4.0 Linear feet, 2 doc. boxes, 1 photo negative box, 2 cassette tapes Materials are in English. Houston Metropolitan Research Center, Houston Public Library Arrangement Related Archival Materials note

Arnett Cobb Oral History, HMRC Oral History Collection, April 21, 1988

MSS 345 Jimmy Ford Collection

MSS 252 Milton Larkin Collection

MSS 403 Illinois Jacquet Collection

MSS 442 Herb Brochstein Collection

MSS 390 Campbell Tolbert Collection

MSS 349 I.H. Smalley Collection

MSS 336 Florence "Bu" Pleasant Collection

MSS 338 Jewel Brown Collection

MSS 397 Art Foxall Collection

MSS 388 Ed Gerlach Collection

MSS 441 Nathaniel "Bill" Barnes Collection

MSS 375 David "Fathead" Newman Collection

 Processing Information

Processed by: Charles Stephenson and Tammy Jordan, November 13, 2006.

 Acquisition Information

Donated by: Lizette Cobb and Steve Williams, October 6, 1989.

 Preferred Citation

Arnett Cobb Collection. MSS 322. Houston Metropolitan Research Center, Houston Public Library.

 Use Restrictions

Permission to publish or reproduce materials from the Arnett Cobb Collection must be obtained from the Houston Metropolitan Research Center or the appropriate copyright holder. Photographs from the Arnett Cobb Collection may not be reproduced for any purpose.

 Access Restrictions

None.

 Arrangement

Materials in the Arnett Cobb Collection are arranged by item type or format. All developed photographs are described at the item level.

 Scope and Contents

The material in the Arnett Cobb Collection chronicles Mr. Cobb’s musical career from the 1940s to his death on March 24, 1989. The bulk of the collection consists of photographs both within his occupation and personal. There are many instances of review clippings and promotional materials in the collection. Two oral history interviews of Mr. Cobb were recorded on cassette tapes in 1988. Both the interviews are fully transcribed.

 Biographical Note

Arnett Cobb (1918-1989) was born in Houston's Fifth Ward. He was exposed to music at an early age; his grandmother taught him to play the piano when he was about 10 or 12 years old. He soon picked up the violin. As the only violinist in an 80-piece brass band at Phyllis Wheatley High School, he switched to saxophone in order to be heard. Known as the "Wild Man of the Tenor Sax," Cobb made his professional debut with Frank Davis in 1933. Cobb played with Chester Boone from 1934-1936, and with Milton Larkin from 1936-1942. In 1942, he replaced Illinois Jacquet in Lionel Hampton's band, where he remained until 1947 when he left to form his own band. Serious injuries resulting from being hit by a car when he was 10 and an automobile accident in 1951 plagued him throughout his career, but they never prevented Arnett Cobb from helping to shape and define what become known as the Texas-tenor sound.

 Historical Note

In Houston in the 1930s, Phyllis Wheatley High School in the Fifth Ward produced many talented musicians from the school’s acclaimed music program. The climate in the Houston community outside the school was also conducive to the development of young musicians. Houston citizens frequently had opportunities to see national acts perform in local venues such as the Puritan Temple, the Houston City Auditorium and Loew’s Theater. This was an inspirational introduction to music for Houston’s young people.

Phyllis Wheatley High School and Jack Yates High School, both in Houston, rivaled each other in sports and band. The rivalry between the two schools encouraged the band students to compete with each other and push their abilities to their full potential. In later years, students from Yates, Wheatley and Washington high schools frequently found themselves playing together in professional bands as adults.

While still enrolled in school, the Phyllis Wheatley Orchestra students would play at all the school functions during the week. On weekends the orchestra would play community venues. Outside the Orchestra, it was not uncommon for seasoned musicians to allow beginners to sit in with them on stage while they performed. This prepared young musicians not only in technique, but also for audience expectations. The older musicians also had no reservations about hiring the young adults to perform in bands. Frequently musicians newly graduated from high school were hired to begin playing professionally.

 Digitized Materials

A portion of this collection has been digitized and is available through the Houston Area Digital Archives. Please view the digitized material at: http://digital.houstonlibrary.org/cdm/search/searchterm/MSS0322/order/nosort

Arnett Cobb and His Mobb (Musical group) Booker T. Washington High School (Houston, Tex.) Boone, Chester Brown, Jewel Cobb, Arnett, 1918–1989 Davis, Frank El Dorado Club (Houston, Tex.) Ellington, Lionel, 1899–1974 Hampton, Lionel Houston Public Library Jack Yates High School (Houston, Tex.) Jacquet, Illinois Larkin, Milton Majestic Theater (Houston, Tex.) Milton Larkin Orchestra (Musical group) Paladium (Houston, Tex.) Phyllis Wheatley High School (Houston, Tex.) Puritan Temple (Houston, Tex.) African Americans--Texas Jazz musicians--Texas--Houston Musicians--Texas--Houston Saxophonists Oral History Interviews Personal interview transcript, Notes from interview 1 1 2/11/1988 Personal interview transcript, 2/11/1988, duplicate 1 2 Personal interview transcript, 1 3 4/21/1988 Promotional Materials Newspaper clippings, no dates 1 4 Periodicals: All That Jazz ’76, signed by Arnett Cobb. Copy available for viewing. Original in donor file. Houston Wave, 1 5 August, 1986 Concert Announcements 1 6 Press clippings, 1 7 1960s to 1980s Newspaper clippings, 1 8 1952 to 1989 Personal Documents Items removed from two scrapbooks, 1926 to 1979 1 9 Grade 2 report card. Bruce Elementary School. 1926 Arnett Cobb Day announcement Signed photo “frame” from music venue. Copy available for viewing. Original in donor file. Obituaries. Order of Service. 1 10 1989 Photo identification sheets 1 11 Photocopied Arnett Cobb Collection photographs Please use these for viewing in lieu of originals 1 12 Photographs Duke Ellington front and Lionel Hampton (drummer) behind drum kit 2 MSS322.001 Arnett Cobb with unidentified group of men 2 MSS322.002 Bobby and Foster Johnson 2 MSS322.003 Ben Webster, saxophonist 2 MSS322.004 Publications: Rotary Club 2 Dinah Washington, singer 2 MSS322.005 Arnett Cobb and unidentified saxophonist 2 MSS322.006 Milton Larkin 2 MSS322.007 Arnett Cobb, Mrs. Arnett Cobb and Steve Williams; others not identified 2 MSS322.008 Red Norvo, John Kirby, Lionel Hampton, Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong 2 MSS322.009 Arnett Cobb, Mrs. Arnett Cobb and unidentified woman and man 2 MSS322.010 Bu Pleasant 2 MSS322.011 Dinah Washington 2 MSS322.012 Arnett Cobb and unidentified musicians 2 MSS322.013 Man, unidentified 2 MSS322.014 Arnett Cobb and unidentified bass player 2 MSS322.015 Milton Larkin Orchestra 2 MSS322.016 Mrs. Arnett Cobb 2 MSS322.017 Arnett Cobb and V. J. Marie in recording studio 2 MSS322.018 Two saxophonists and a clarinetist, unidentified 2 MSS322.019 Saxophonist, unidentified 2 MSS322.020 Arnett Cobb and unidentified man 2 MSS322.021 Arnett Cobb home in New Jersey 2 MSS322.022 Arnett Cobb, Mrs. Arnett Cobb and unidentified woman 2 MSS322.023 Arnett Cobb, Mrs. Arnett Cobb and unidentified couple 2 MSS322.024 Mrs. Arnett Cobb 2 MSS322.025 Arnett Cobb 2 MSS322.026 Arnett Cobb and Milton Larkin 2 MSS322.027 Arnett Cobb and Mrs. Arnett Cobb 2 MSS322.028 Arnett Cobb and unidentified man 2 MSS322.029 Guitarist and singer, unidentified 2 MSS322.030 Arnett Cobb and daughter 2 MSS322.031 Arnett Cobb and Mrs. Arnett Cobb with group of people, not identified, at El Dorado Club, Houston 2 MSS322.032 Arnett Cobb and unidentified man 2 MSS322.033 Arnett Cobb 2 MSS322.034 Milton Larkin 2 MSS322.035 Milton Larkin Orchestra 2 MSS322.036 Man, unidentified 2 MSS322.037 Arnett Cobb and unidentified woman 2 MSS322.038 Arnett Cobb’s grandson 2 MSS322.039 Arnett Cobb and unidentified man 2 MSS322.040 Arnett Cobb playing his saxophone 2 MSS322.041 Arnett Cobb and unidentified woman 2 MSS322.042 Arnett Cobb and unidentified woman, at a beach 2 MSS322.043 Arnett Cobb 2 MSS322.044 Man, unidentified 2 MSS322.045 Miniature card advertising Arnett Cobb and His Mobb 2 MSS322.046 Arnett Cobb: photographic portrait on a postcard 2 MSS322.047 Arnett Cobb, in saxophone section of Lionel Hampton band, during a Hampton solo 2 MSS322.048 Arnett Cobb and two unidentified saxophonists at a North Sea Jazz Festival 2 MSS322.049 Arnett Cobb during a performance in Bordeaux, France 2 MSS322.050 Dinah Washington, Dizzy Gillespie, Coleman Hawkins and Arnett Cobb 2 MSS322.051 Missing photograph 2 MSS322.052 Missing photograph 2 MSS322.053 Jewel Brown and Arnett Cobb 2 MSS322.054 Bubba Thomas, Mayor Kathy Whitmire and Arnett Cobb 2 MSS322.055 Arnett Cobb during a press conference for the Texas Jazz Archive 2 MSS322.056 Mr. and Mrs. Arnett Cobb 2 MSS322.057 Arnett Cobb with unidentified bass player, Bordeaux, France 2 MSS322.058 Arnett Cobb playing saxophone 2 MSS322.059 Arnett Cobb and unidentified bass player, Bordeaux, France 2 MSS322.060 Herbie Fields and Arnett Cobb 2 MSS322.061 Arnett Cobb and two unidentified men 2 MSS322.062 Mayor Kathryn Whitmire; David Henington, Director, Houston Public Library; Lizette Cobb, Director of Jazz Heritage Society of Texas; Louis J. Marchiafava, Archivist, Houston Metropolitan Research Center, and jazz notables Jewel Brown and Arnett Cobb at a press conference at Houston Public Library 2 MSS322.063 Mayor Kathryn Whitmire, Jack Hilman (Stroh’s Beer Co.) and Hayes Jones 2 MSS322.064 Press conference at Houston Public Library: Mayor Kathryn Whitmire; David M. Henington, Louis J. Marchiafava, Arnett Cobb and Lizette Cobb 2 MSS322.065 Press conference at Houston Public Library: Sammy Price; David Henington; Mayor Kathryn Whitmire; Lizette Cobb, Louis J. Marchiafava and Jewel Brown 2 MSS322.066 Missing photograph 2 MSS322.067 Unidentified woman visiting Arnett Cobb in hospital 2 MSS322.068 Arnett Cobb 2 MSS322.069 Mrs. Arnett Cobb 2 MSS322.070 Modern Jazz Quartet: Milt Johnson; __?_ Kay; John Lewis; and __?_ Heath 2 MSS322.071 Modern Jazz Quartet 2 MSS322.072 Photocopy of poster advertising Jam Sessions at Bordeaux, France 2 MSS322.073 Bill Cosby, Arnett Cobb, Steve Williams and three unidentified men and duplicate copy of photograph 2 MSS322.074 Mrs. Arnett Cobb and two unidentified individuals 2 MSS322.075 Arnett Cobb during a performance 2 MSS322.076 Mr. and Mrs. Arnett Cobb 2 MSS322.077 Signed photographic portrait of Arnett Cobb 2 MSS322.078 Unidentified trumpeter 2 MSS322.079 Signed photograph of Arnett Cobb and His Orchestra 2 MSS322.080 Signed photograph of Arnett Cobb, “The Wild Man of the Tenor Sax,” playing in the aisle of a theater 2 MSS322.081 Arnett Cobb playing his saxophone 2 MSS322.082 Signed photograph of Arnett Cobb during a performance 2 MSS322.082.2 Signed photograph of Arnett Cobb and members of his Mobb performing in theater 2 MSS322.083 Arnett Cobb and daughter, Lizette 2 MSS322.084 Arnett Cobb and unidentified woman 2 MSS322.085 Arnett Cobb and unidentified woman 2 MSS322.086 Unidentified women 2 MSS322.087 Arnett Cobb, his grandson and an unidentified woman 2 MSS322.088 Arnett Cobb and unidentified people at dining table 2 MSS322.089 Unidentified woman and Arnett Cobb in hospital bed 2 MSS322.090 Arnett Cobb in hospital bed 2 MSS322.091 Lizette Cobb as a child 2 MSS322.092 Arnett Cobb and his grandson in hospital bed 2 MSS322.093 Unidentified woman and Arnett Cobb 2 MSS322.094 Unidentified man 2 MSS322.095 Arnett Cobb 2 MSS322.096 Unidentified woman 2 MSS322.097 Arnett Cobb and unidentified woman 2 MSS322.098 Arnett Cobb and unidentified woman 2 MSS322.099 Lizette Williams, Sean Williams and Arnett Cobb at a beach 2 MSS322.100 Lizette Williams and unidentified person 2 MSS322.101 Arnett Cobb in a family photograph 2 MSS322.102 Arnett Cobb 2 MSS322.103 Arnett Cobb and unidentified person at a beach 2 MSS322.104 Arnett Cobb and unidentified man 2 MSS322.105 Arnett Cobb and family 2 MSS322.106 Cobb family photographs above fireplace 2 MSS322.107 Arnett Cobb and unidentified woman 2 MSS322.108 Arnett Cobb and unidentified woman 2 MSS322.109 Arnett Cobb and daughter 2 MSS322.110 Arnett Cobb with family members at beach 2 MSS322.111 Arnett Cobb and two women, unidentified 2 MSS322.112 Group sitting around a nightclub table 2 MSS322.113 Group of people on a boardwalk 2 MSS322.114 Group at a beach 2 MSS322.115 Unidentified group 2 MSS322.116 Unidentified woman 2 MSS322.117 Unidentified woman 2 MSS322.118 Unidentified woman 2 MSS322.119 Unidentified woman and a dog 2 MSS322.120 Arnett Cobb and daughter, Lizette Williams 2 MSS322.121 Lizette Williams 2 MSS322.122 Four women: Vivian __?_; “Auntie __?_; Nora __?_; and Ruby Faye __?_ 2 MSS322.123 Lizette Williams and an unidentified child 2 MSS322.124 Lizette Williams 2 MSS322.125 Signed postcard photographic portrait of Arnett Cobb 2 MSS322.126 Unidentified person 2 MSS322.127 Dog 2 MSS322.128 Two unidentified women 2 MSS322.129 Arnett Cobb and unidentified couple 2 MSS322.130 Group photograph, no identification 2 MSS322.131 Arnett Cobb and unidentified woman 2 MSS322.132 Two women and a child, no identification 2 MSS322.133 Lizette and Sean Williams 2 MSS322.134 Arnett Cobb in group photograph, no identification 2 MSS322.135 Sean Williams, child 2 MSS322.136 Unidentified woman in front yard 2 MSS322.137 Arnett Cobb 2 MSS322.138 Arnett Cobb and two unidentified saxophonists 2 MSS322.139 Arnett Cobb during a performance 2 MSS322.140 Arnett Cobb during a performance 2 MSS322.141 Three unidentified persons 2 MSS322.142 Arnett Cobb and unidentified man 2 MSS322.143 Arnett Cobb performing at the Paladium with Paul Schmidt, pianist, and “Duke” Barker and Daisy Richards, in wheelchair 2 MSS322.144 Arnett Cobb and Daisy Richards 2 MSS322.145 Arnett Cobb and Clifton “King Bee” Smith of the Houston Colt 45’s 2 MSS322.146 Arnett Cobb playing the saxophone, close-up photograph 2 MSS322.147 Missing photograph: Mr. and Mrs. Arnett Cobb and unidentified persons 2 MSS322.148 Closeup, Arnett Cobb playing saxophone 2 MSS322.149 Arnett Cobb, Mrs. Arnett Cobb, Lizette Cobb and Clifton “King Bee” Smith 2 MSS322.150 Arnett Cobb and family after returning to Houston 2 MSS322.151 Arnett Cobb and family in automobile 2 MSS322.152 Paladium Ballroom welcoming Cobb Family back to Houston 2 MSS322.153 Arnett Cobb, in automobile, and his family 2 MSS322.154 Trummie Cain 2 MSS322.155 Arnett Cobb and Daisy Richards 2 MSS322.156 Daisy Richards and Trummie Cain 2 MSS322.157 “Duke” Barker; photograph missing 2 MSS322.158 Don Wilkerson, saxophonist; Paul Schmidt, pianist; Trummie Cain; Arnett Cobb and Daisy Richards 2 MSS322.159 Mrs. Arnett Cobb in a crowd of people 2 MSS322.160 Don Wilkerson, saxophone; Paul Schmidt, piano and Arnett Cobb, saxophone 2 MSS322.161 Arnett Cobb and Paul Schmidt 2 MSS322.162 Paul Schmidt and Arnett Cobb 2 MSS322.163 Audience at The Paladium 2 MSS322.164 Audience at The Paladium 2 MSS322.165 Arnett Cobb playing saxophone 2 MSS322.166 Woman, unidentified 2 MSS322.167 Woman, unidentified 2 MSS322.168 Lizette Cobb 2 MSS322.169 Trummie Cain 2 MSS322.170 Slinger, unidentified 2 MSS322.171 Arnett Cobb and two unidentified men 2 MSS322.172 Arnett Cobb and three unidentified men 2 MSS322.173 Arnett Cobb and two unidentified saxophonists 2 MSS322.174 Poster announcing Arnett Cobb collection of “jazz albums for public use” 2 MSS322.175 Group photograph: Arnett Cobb, Trummie Cain, Mrs. Arnett Cobb and unidentified man 2 MSS322.176 Negatives 3