Ed Cobb, a multifaceted musician, songwriter, and record producer, was born in 1938 and went on to have a illustrious career spanning several decades.
As a member of the pop group The Four Preps from 1956 to 1966, Cobb was part of a talented ensemble that produced a wide range of music. In addition to his work with The Four Preps, Cobb either wrote or co-wrote numerous songs for a diverse array of artists, including The Standells, The Chocolate Watchband, the Piltdown Men, Brenda Holloway, and Gloria Jones.
Some of Cobb's most notable songwriting credits include "Dirty Water" and "Sometimes Good Guys Don't Wear White" for The Standells, "No Way Out" for The Chocolate Watchband, "Brontosaurus Stomp" for the Piltdown Men, "Every Little Bit Hurts" for Brenda Holloway, and "Tainted Love" for Gloria Jones. The latter song would go on to achieve massive success when covered by Soft Cell in the 1980s.
Cobb's work extended beyond songwriting, as he also worked as a music producer or sound engineer for a variety of artists, including The Standells, The Chocolate Watchband, The Lettermen, Steely Dan, Pink Floyd, and Fleetwood Mac. Throughout his career, Cobb earned an impressive thirty-two Gold and Platinum awards.
In addition to his work in the music industry, Cobb was also a talented film composer, and his songs have been featured in numerous movies, including A Name for Evil (1973),Private Parts (1997),Not Another Teen Movie (2001),13 Going on 30 (2004),Beauty Shop (2005),and This Is England (2006). He also composed the funky score for the trashy blaxploitation feature Tom (1973),also known as The Bad Bunch.
Outside of the entertainment industry, Cobb was a passionate horse breeder and briefly served as the president of the Idaho Racing Commission. Tragically, Cobb's life was cut short when he passed away at the age of 61 due to leukemia on September 19, 1999.
