ON DEATH

When I die

Please don’t cry

At my grave

Please do not weep

For I will be asleep

To meet all again

One day

In Paradise.

Words written by Albert Cooper in a book called Only Those Who Love Me Need Attend.

Rhymes and Reasons, which was published by Kingsley Harris of the East Anglian Music Archive in 2015 which raised money for Relate.

Last week dear Albert, our King of the Blues, died at his home in Norwich at the age of 91. He leaves wife Valerie and children St John, Rosalie, Gemma, Christopher and grandchildren.

(Image: Family Collection)

And they have shared this photograph of the last time they gathered together earlier this year at what Albert called…the last supper.

“Family meant everything to dad and he meant everything to us,” said Rosalie.

And his son, St John, who now works and lives in Dubai, said: “I always felt so proud of him. He was larger than life. We couldn’t have asked for a better father. He was amazing.”

“He was an extraordinary man and we all loved him so much,” he added.

Can you imagine how they felt when, as children, they would watch their dad walk onto a stage with his guitar as the crowds cheered and clapped..

“I would think, ‘that’s my dad,’  I was so proud of him,” said Rosalie.

“He was certainly larger than life. An amazing father,” added St John, “He was very generous and would help anyone.”

(Image: Newsquest)

Albert took such pride in his family and they would like to thank all those who helped Albert in recent years including Sally and Richard Blackburn and John Blundell.

It is impossible to tell the story of his life in one article but now Kingsley Harris of the East Anglian Music Archive is hoping to re-print and update the book on Albert,  “A Chronicle of Norwich’s King of the Blues,” published in 2003.

Albert was born in the city and had a huge impact on the music scene for more than 50 years. He and his brother Tony ran the world famous Jacquard folk club in Magdalen Street in the 1970s attracting great entertainers.

If you ever listened to Albert and his various bands, not forgetting the jam jar, over the years you will know just how talented he was. The songs and the humour. Brilliant.

There were many highs and lows in his life. Tragedy struck in 1972 when he and Valerie lost their little boy Andrew to Wilm’s disease, a cancer of the kidneys.

(Image: Family Collection)

On the day his son died Albert was due to play that night and the concert went ahead. “I needed to empty my head from feelings of loss and the guilt,” he said.

Band member Gareth Butcher said years ago: “It was the best I’ve ever heard him. He sang everything straight down the line, no stage bravado, he was completely immersed in the performance of the songs.”

And Albert added: “My religion helped me through. I’d like to think now I was singing for Andrew.”

His funeral service will take place at St John’s Catholic Cathedral, where he was a choirboy,  at a date to be arranged and he will be buried at Earlham Cemetery…alongside the grave where his son Andrew lies.

Thank you for your tributes and memories of Albert which we will be sharing soon.

(Image: Family Collection)