The funeral service for one of Norfolk’s most popular musicians, Albert Cooper, will take place at St John’s Catholic Cathedral in Norwich, where he was a choirboy in the 1940s, on Friday November 29 at 10am.
It will be followed by burial at Earlham Cemetery and a celebration of his life will be held at one of his favourite venues, Norwich Arts Centre, from 11.30am until 4pm, with donations to MIND charity rather than flowers.
Albert, who was Norwich’s very own King of the Blues, died at his city home last month. He was aged 91.
Wendy Baker, who has fond memories of watching Albert live, said: “Al was an icon from my youth and a large part of my lifelong love of the blues. The brothers (Albert and Tony) started their impresario ventures in the cellar of the Shrub House on Charing Cross before the move to the back room at the Mischief on Fye Bridge.
“Every week Al entertained us with Dave on double bass. Memorable nights were the Hickory Nuts, a jug band including Ralph McTell before he was famous and of course Paul Simon before he was well known.
“An annual festival at Earlham Park headlined the Kinks but we were all round Black Anna’s pitch who, with Al on guitar, sang about her lovely water melons! Those were exciting times that I remember with affection.”
Marilyn Jones, a friend of Albert, said: “I have known Albert for a long time and heard him sing in different places, I remember many sessions at Thorpe Red Lion. The places he played were always packed and the evenings were total fun and pleasure.
“I lived in Spain for 20 years and my mum sent me the video of his 80th birthday bash – there were his memories of the Jacquard Club with Geoge Melly and of course his early years with Black Anna at the Jolly Butchers (sadly long gone).”
Colin Burleigh, remembers performing with Albert. He said: “I recall how, during my early years with the Collegians Jazz Band, he would come along to our sessions in the city and sit down on the side of the stage and sing along with me to the tune of Doctor Jazz.
“It was to become one of his ‘trademark’ numbers where he entered the jazz and blues scene a few years later. His was the first card I received at Christmas every year. He will be greatly missed.”
Richard Elsey-Warren added: “I’m in my mid-70s now living in Felixstowe but I was born and bred in Norwich and between the ages of 18 and 26 I spent many happy times in the Jacquard as well as Backs. I did see Al Stewart, George Melly, Stephane Grappelli and Diz Disley among others.
“Albert’s band always kicked off the proceedings and I remember he always played Leaving on a Jet Plane. He was often accompanied by Gerry Parish on harmonica.”
Albert was a truly great musician with a brilliant stage act and he was loved across the county and further afield, especially in Ibiza where he was a regular performer.
He also had a fine way with words and in his book, Only Those Who Love Me Need Attend, Albert wrote Epitaph 1 in 2002 and followed it up with Epitaph II three years later.
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