David Bennett Cohen
David Bennett Cohen | |
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electronic organ | |
Years active | c. 1959–present |
Website | Official website |
David Bennett Cohen (born August 4, 1942)[1] is an American musician best known as the original keyboardist and one of the guitar players for the late-1960s psychedelic rock and blues band Country Joe and the Fish.
Early life and influences
Cohen was born in
Country Joe and the Fish
In 1965, soon after discovering
The band bought me a Farfisa organ and I started playing that. Of course, I had no idea of what to do with it, so I started to steal my own guitar licks. I would get these reviews saying what a unique style I had. The reality was that I had no idea what I was doing. Of course, eventually I did learn to play it.
He was a member of Country Joe and the Fish from December 1965 to January 1969, and played on their first two albums,
Later career
After leaving Country Joe and the Fish, Cohen moved to England before returning to the United States to join the Blues Project in New York in 1971, touring with the band until mid 1972.[7] He has played with many musicians including Janis Joplin, Luther Tucker, Mick Taylor, Tim Hardin, Jimi Hendrix,[8] Johnny Winter, Huey Lewis, Michael Bloomfield and Bob Weir. He also worked as a solo musician, sharing bills with Bonnie Raitt, Richard Thompson, Jerry Garcia, Leo Kottke, Rufus Thomas and others.[2][5]
In 1975,
During the 1990s, he toured with the musical Rent, playing guitar and keyboards.[3] He also recorded with the Bill Perry Blues Band,[6] and toured as part of blues musician Bobby Kyle's band.[2][5] He released three albums in the 2000s, David Bennett Cohen at the Piano, In the Pocket, and Cookin' With Cohen.[3]
He continues to perform in the New York City area, both solo and with the Former Members, a band whose members include Bruce Barthol (also formerly of Country Joe and the Fish), Roy Blumenfeld (of the Blues Project) and Greg Douglass (of the Steve Miller Band).[9]
The summer of 2014 saw Cohen tour the UK with San Francisco Nights, including the other Former Members, Sam Andrew (of Big Brother and the Holding Company) and Bex Marshall (as the voice of Janis Joplin).[6]
Cohen is also a music instructor, and runs workshops.[3][10]
Discography
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (November 2019) |
- The Original Cleanhead (BluesTime, 1970)
References
- ISBN 978-1-58465-303-5. Retrieved August 21, 2013.
- ^ a b c d e Ankeny, Jason. "David Bennett Cohen". Allmusic.com. Retrieved August 31, 2013.
- ^ Breznikar, Klemen (October 14, 2012). "Country Joe & The Fish interview with David Bennett Cohen". It's Psychedelic Baby! Magazine. Archivedfrom the original on July 28, 2016. Retrieved August 31, 2013.
- ^ Rose, Joel (April 9, 2011). "How The Beatnik Riot Helped Kick Off The '60s". NPRMusic. Retrieved August 31, 2013.
- ^ ISBN 9781937317027.
- ^ a b c The Former Members, "UK Tour 2014" Archived July 21, 2014, at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved June 21, 2014
- ^ Bruno Ceriotti, Rock Prosopography 102, 4 January 2011. Retrieved August 30, 2013
- ^ thodoris (April 11, 2012). "Interview:David Bennett Cohen (Country Joe & The Fish,Johnny Winter) – Hit Channel". hit-channel.com. Retrieved June 18, 2016.
- ^ The Former Members, "David Bennett Cohen". Retrieved August 31, 2013
- ^ "David Bennet Cohen's Blues Piano Workshop", The Paramus Post, 6 October 2006. Retrieved August 31, 2013