Joyce Renee Cobb (born June 2, 1945) is an American singer specializing in
jazz
Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its roots are in blues, ragtime, European harmony, African rhythmic rituals, spirituals, h ...
and
R&B. She is closely associated with traditional
blues
Blues is a music genre and musical form that originated among African Americans in the Deep South of the United States around the 1860s. Blues has incorporated spiritual (music), spirituals, work songs, field hollers, Ring shout, shouts, cha ...
and jazz in the style of
Memphis Minnie
Lizzie Douglas (June 3, 1897 – August 6, 1973), better known as Memphis Minnie, was a blues guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter whose recording career lasted for over three decades. She recorded around 200 songs, some of the best known being " ...
,
Bessie Smith
Bessie Smith (April 15, 1892 – September 26, 1937) was an African-American blues singer widely renowned during the Jazz Age. Nicknamed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Empress of the Blues" and formerly Queen of the Blues, she was t ...
,
Billie Holiday
Billie Holiday (born Eleanora Fagan; April 7, 1915 – July 17, 1959) was an American jazz and swing music singer. Nicknamed "Lady Day" by her friend and music partner, Lester Young, Holiday made significant contributions to jazz music and pop ...
, and
Sarah Vaughan
Sarah Lois Vaughan (, March 27, 1924 – April 3, 1990) was an American jazz singer and pianist. Nicknamed "Sassy" and "List of nicknames of jazz musicians, The Divine One", she won two Grammy Awards, including the Lifetime Achievement Award, ...
. She has had a wide-ranging career as a solo artist and vocalist, having charted several
country
A country is a distinct part of the world, such as a state, nation, or other political entity. When referring to a specific polity, the term "country" may refer to a sovereign state, state with limited recognition, constituent country, ...
,
pop
Pop or POP may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media
* Pop music, a musical genre
Artists
* POP, a Japanese idol group now known as Gang Parade
* Pop! (British group), a UK pop group
* Pop! featuring Angie Hart, an Australian band
Album ...
, and R&B singles in the 1970s and early 1980s, later recording as a jazz vocalist.
Biography
Early years (1945-71)
Joyce Cobb was born on June 2, 1945, in
Okmulgee, Oklahoma
Okmulgee is a city in the Tulsa metropolitan area and the county seat of Okmulgee County, Oklahoma, Okmulgee County in Oklahoma, United States. The name is from the Muskogee language, Muskogee word ''okimulgi,'' which means "boiling waters".Bambu ...
, and first sang in her grandmother's church. In 1955 her family moved to
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, often known as Music City, is the capital and List of municipalities in Tennessee, most populous city in the U.S. state of Tennessee. It is the county seat, seat of Davidson County, Tennessee, Davidson County in Middle Tennessee, locat ...
, when her father was hired at
Tennessee State University
Tennessee State University (Tennessee State, Tenn State, or TSU) is a public historically black land-grant university in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. Founded in 1912, it is the only state-funded historically black university in Tennes ...
as the head of the Health and physical education department. Her parents owned a large record collection of music that was influential on her at a young age.
[Email and in person interviews with Joyce Cobb, confirmation of facts and references, October 1–3, 2013 in Memphis, TN.][''Notable Black Memphians'', Miriam DeCosta-Willis, Cambria Press, 2008. pp. 90-91] Her first vocal training during that time was at
Cathedral of the Incarnation, during grade and high school. This mainly consisted of singing requiems and pontifical high masses. She sang in the girls' glee club and choir during that time; also; Cobb had 14 years of private piano training. From 1963 to 1967 she attended
Central State University
Central State University (CSU) is a public, historically black land-grant university in Wilberforce, Ohio, United States. It is a member-school of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund.
Established by the state legislature in 1887 as a two-y ...
and acquired an undergraduate degree in
Social Welfare
Welfare spending is a type of government support intended to ensure that members of a society can meet basic human needs such as food and shelter. Social security may either be synonymous with welfare, or refer specifically to social insurance p ...
.
[
Her professional music career started in ]Dayton, Ohio
Dayton () is a city in Montgomery County, Ohio, United States, and its county seat. It is the List of cities in Ohio, sixth-most populous city in Ohio, with a population of 137,644 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. The Dayton metro ...
, singing with different blues and jazz bands. While pursuing a master's degree at Wright State University
Wright State University is a public research university in Fairborn, Ohio, United States. Originally opened in 1964 as a branch campus of Miami University and Ohio State University, it became an independent institution in 1967 and was named in ...
in social work by day, she was singing in clubs at night.[ She was offered a road gig singing in duo with Bill Temme for ]Ramada Inn
Ramada is a large American multinational hotel chain owned by Wyndham Hotels & Resorts. As of December 31, 2022, it operates 851 hotels with 120,344 rooms across 63 countries under the Ramada brand.
Name
The ''Ramada'' name derives from th ...
hotels and quit pursuing a vocation as a social worker to become a professional singer and songwriter.[D. Antoinette Handy. ''Black Women in American Bands and Orchestras'', Scarecrow Press, 1998, pp. 123-24.] Between 1969 and 1971 Cobb was on Ramada Inn's Midwest circuit for entertainment, performing in duo under the title ''Joyce and William emme Emme may refer to:
People:
* Ivan Fyodorovich Emme (1763–1839), Russian lieutenant general in the Napoleonic Wars
* Otto J. Emme, American politician and World War I veteran
* Emme Gerhard (1872–1946), American photographer
* Emme Rylan, Americ ...
Duo'' both singing and playing guitars.[
]
Nashville (1971–75)
After two and a half years working for the Ramada
Ramada is a large American multinational hotel chain owned by Wyndham Hotels & Resorts. As of December 31, 2022, it operates 851 hotels with 120,344 rooms across 63 countries under the Ramada brand.
Name
The ''Ramada'' name derives from th ...
hotel chain she returned to Nashville
Nashville, often known as Music City, is the capital and List of municipalities in Tennessee, most populous city in the U.S. state of Tennessee. It is the county seat, seat of Davidson County, Tennessee, Davidson County in Middle Tennessee, locat ...
in 1971 and worked in a variety of musical genres appearing at Opryland, on radio, and on television. She was one of the first acts at Opryland USA
Opryland USA (later called Opryland Themepark and colloquially known as Opryland) was a amusement park, theme park in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. The park was located between the Cumberland River and Tennessee State Route 155, Briley Pa ...
in 1972 and was voted "Best Performer" in 1974.[ She became a regular fixture on ]WSM-AM
WSM (650 kHz) is a commercial AM radio station, located in Nashville, Tennessee. It broadcasts a country music format (with classic country and Americana leanings, the latter of which is branded as "Route 650") and is known as the home of the ...
radio's ''The Waking Crew'' with Ralph Emery
Walter Ralph Emery (March 10, 1933 – January 15, 2022) was an American country music disc jockey, radio and television host from McEwen, Tennessee.
Emery promoted numerous stars on his radio and TV shows, and was called the Dick Clark (ent ...
, in addition to the '' Ralph Emery Show'' on NBC
The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) is an American commercial broadcast television and radio network serving as the flagship property of the NBC Entertainment division of NBCUniversal, a subsidiary of Comcast. It is one of NBCUniversal's ...
affiliate WSMV-TV
WSMV-TV (channel 4) is a television station in Nashville, Tennessee, United States, affiliated with NBC. It is owned by Gray Media alongside low-power Telemundo affiliate WTNX-LD (channel 29). The two stations share studios on Knob Road i ...
, broadcasting out of Nashville. She also was a regular guest on Teddy Bart's ''The Noon Show,'' also on WSM-TV.['']Billboard
A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertis ...
'' Magazine, July 18, 1981, Vol. 93, No. 28, p. 62 (Country: Nashville Scene). During that time she had cut her first single for the Truth Records label and was first nationally recognized in the May 1975 edition of Billboard
A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertis ...
with her single "He Just Loved You Out Of Me" in the "Best potential hit" list.['']Billboard Magazine
''Billboard'' (stylized in lowercase since 2013) is an American music and entertainment magazine published weekly by Penske Media Corporation. The magazine provides music charts, news, video, opinion, reviews, events and styles related to th ...
'', May 1975, Vol. 87, No. 20.
This first country music
Country (also called country and western) is a popular music, music genre originating in the southern regions of the United States, both the American South and American southwest, the Southwest. First produced in the 1920s, country music is p ...
single was to launch her career, it was the last time she would record in that genre.[
]
Memphis (1976–91)
Due to her earlier success in country music
Country (also called country and western) is a popular music, music genre originating in the southern regions of the United States, both the American South and American southwest, the Southwest. First produced in the 1920s, country music is p ...
with a promising hit single, in 1976 she was signed with Stax Records
Stax Records is an American record company, originally based in Memphis, Tennessee. Founded in 1957 as Satellite Records, the label changed its name to Stax Records in September 1961. It also shared its operations with sister label Volt Records.
...
and put under contract. Unfortunately the label was in decline at this time: Cobb in fact would be the last artist signed to Stax as the label went out of business shortly after she moved to Memphis
Memphis most commonly refers to:
* Memphis, Egypt, a former capital of ancient Egypt
* Memphis, Tennessee, a major American city
Memphis may also refer to:
Places United States
* Memphis, Alabama
* Memphis, Florida
* Memphis, Indiana
* Mem ...
. She stayed in the city due to the difference and diversity in musical styles she was now exposed to as compared to her initial professional work in Nashville
Nashville, often known as Music City, is the capital and List of municipalities in Tennessee, most populous city in the U.S. state of Tennessee. It is the county seat, seat of Davidson County, Tennessee, Davidson County in Middle Tennessee, locat ...
, "...everything was Black---Black music, Black bands. I said, 'Oh, I want to stay here.'"[ it was during this period that Jake Schorr invited her to perform every week at Jefferson Square, a popular, downtown music venue. From here, her audience grew and her style flourished as her career continued to evolve.
Shortly after her move to Memphis, Al Bennett acquired ]Hi Records
Hi Records is an American soul music and rhythm & blues label founded in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1957 by singer Ray Harris, record store owner Joe Cuoghi, Bill Cantrell and Quinton Claunch (formerly producers for Sun Records), and three silent ...
in 1977; Cobb then become an artist for Bennett's Cream Records.[ Cream produced a different set of artists than Cobb started with in Nashville, they had a solid reputation making ]soul
The soul is the purported Mind–body dualism, immaterial aspect or essence of a Outline of life forms, living being. It is typically believed to be Immortality, immortal and to exist apart from the material world. The three main theories that ...
, R&B, and disco
Disco is a music genre, genre of dance music and a subculture that emerged in the late 1960s from the United States' urban nightclub, nightlife, particularly in African Americans, African-American, Italian-Americans, Italian-American, LGBTQ ...
recordings. With Cream, she first recorded a Top 40
In the music industry, the Top 40 is a list of the 40 currently most popular songs in a particular genre. It is the best-selling or most frequently broadcast popular music. Record charts have traditionally consisted of a total of 40 songs. "To ...
hit single in 1979 with her original tune ''Dig The Gold.'' It was distributed in North America under for the Cream label and sold in Europe under the Polydor
Polydor Limited, also known as Polydor Records, is a British record label that operates as part of Universal Music Group. It has a close relationship with Universal's Interscope Geffen A&M Records label, which distributes Polydor's releases in ...
label. The single showed her versatility as both a performer and writer; a reggae
Reggae () is a music genre that originated in Jamaica during the late 1960s. The term also denotes the modern popular music of Jamaica and its Jamaican diaspora, diaspora. A 1968 single by Toots and the Maytals, "Do the Reggay", was the first ...
style song that was put to a funk/disco beat. ''Dig The Gold'' charted to #42 for ''Billboard
A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertis ...
'' and #10 for '' Cashbox'' giving her a first real success as an internationally recognized pop artist.[''Billboard Top Pop Singles 1955-2010'' (2011). Record Research; 13 edition, p. 184.][''The Cash Box Singles Charts: 1950-1981,'' Scarecrow Press, 1983, p. 117.]
With her reputation growing as a contemporary pop singer and writer who could handle a variety of styles, she was contracted by Atlantic Records
Atlantic Recording Corporation (simply known as Atlantic Records) is an American record label founded in October 1947 by Ahmet Ertegun and Herb Abramson. Over the course of its first two decades, starting from the release of its first recor ...
to record with the Toronto
Toronto ( , locally pronounced or ) is the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, most populous city in Canada. It is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Ontario. With a p ...
-based disco group T.H.P. Orchestra. She recorded as the lead, solo vocalist on T.H.P.'s last studio album: ''Good To Me.'' The LP would end up charting at #16 in the dance category for ''Billboard''.[ The next year she had another release which charted for 6 weeks with ''Billboard'' topping out at #90 for Cream in the R&B category: '' How Glad I Am.''][ She was honored as being #4 in the December edition (for 1980) ''Billboard'' End of the Year Awards list for ''New Female Single Pop Artist'' in the company of singers ]Irene Cara
Irene Cara Escalera (March 18, 1959 – November 25, 2022) was an American singer and actress who rose to prominence for her role as Coco Hernandez in the 1980 musical film '' Fame'', and for recording the film's title song " Fame", which reach ...
(#1), Charlie Dore
Charlie Dore (born 1956) is an English singer-songwriter, composer, multi-instrumentalist, and actress.
Although best known as a singer-songwriter, Dore has a multi-faceted career that includes acting in film, TV and radio, comedy-improvisatio ...
(#2), and Bernadette Peters
Bernadette Peters ( ''née'' Lazzara; born February 28, 1948) is an American actress and singer. Over a career spanning more than six decades, she has starred in musical theatre, television and film, performed in solo concerts and released reco ...
(#3). She was the opening act for Al Jarreau
Alwin Lopez Jarreau (March 12, 1940 – February 12, 2017) was an American singer and songwriter. His 1981 album '' Breakin' Away'' spent two years on the ''Billboard'' 200 and is considered one of the finest examples of the Los Angeles pop and ...
and The Temptations
The Temptations is an American vocal group formed in Detroit, Michigan, in 1961 as The Elgins, known for their string of successful singles and albums with Motown from the 1960s to the mid-1970s. The group's work with producer Norman Whitfield ...
during this time.[
During the 1980s she recorded a number of records under contract with Willie Mitchell on his Waylo Records label. From 1984-1987 she recorded several singles, one of which made it to #3 on the British R&B charts: her earlier success with ''Dig The Gold'' paved the way for that single to chart well overseas. She toured internationally in the ]Netherlands
, Terminology of the Low Countries, informally Holland, is a country in Northwestern Europe, with Caribbean Netherlands, overseas territories in the Caribbean. It is the largest of the four constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Nether ...
with Waylo artist Otis Clay
Otis Lee Clay (February 11, 1942 – January 8, 2016) was an American R&B and soul singer, who started in gospel music. In 2013, Clay was inducted to the Blues Hall of Fame.
Early life
Clay was born in Waxhaw, Mississippi, to a musical fami ...
to promote the label and current releases for both artists.[ It was even rumored in Nashville and Memphis that she would return to her earlier successes recording ]country music
Country (also called country and western) is a popular music, music genre originating in the southern regions of the United States, both the American South and American southwest, the Southwest. First produced in the 1920s, country music is p ...
but that never materialized with either the Cream or Waylo record labels.[
]
Joyce Cobb's club, Beale Street, and more (1992-present)
1992 through 1996 she was honored with a music venue/jazz club on Beale Street
Beale Street is a street in Downtown Memphis, Tennessee, which runs from the Mississippi River to East Street, a distance of approximately . It is a significant location in the city's history, as well as in the history of blues music. Today, ...
under her name, ''Joyce Cobb's.'' She is the only woman to have a club named after her on the street while also honored by having a brass note on the Beale Street Walk of Fame. The club had a measure of success when starting out featuring musical acts such as George Coleman
George Edward Coleman (born March 8, 1935) is an American jazz saxophonist known for his work with Miles Davis and Herbie Hancock in the 1960s. In 2015, he was named an NEA Jazz Master.
Early life
Coleman was born in Memphis, Tennessee. He was ...
, Jimmy McGriff
James Harrell McGriff (April 3, 1936 – May 24, 2008) was an American hard bop and soul-jazz organist and organ trio bandleader.
Biography Early years and influences
Born in Germantown, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, McGriff started playing pia ...
, Herb Ellis
Mitchell Herbert Ellis (August 4, 1921 – March 28, 2010) was an American jazz guitarist. During the 1950s, he was in a trio with pianist Oscar Peterson.
Biography
Born in Farmersville, Texas, Ellis grew up on a farm. He was first exposed ...
, Marvin Stamm
Marvin Louis Stamm (born May 23, 1939) is an American jazz trumpeter.
Career
Stamm was born in Memphis, Tennessee, United States. Stamm began on trumpet at age twelve. He attended North Texas State University, where he was a member of the One ...
, James Williams, and Maria Muldaur
Maria Muldaur (born Maria Grazia Rosa Domenica D'Amato; September 12, 1942) is an American folk and blues singer who was part of the American folk music revival in the early 1960s. She recorded the 1973 hit song " Midnight at the Oasis" and h ...
. Unfortunately the venue only lasted four years due to the financial viability being less than expected, ending up getting bought out by another club owner. It was then in 1996 she was honored with the installment of her brass note on the Beale Street Walk of Fame. She also toured the United States
The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...
and Europe
Europe is a continent located entirely in the Northern Hemisphere and mostly in the Eastern Hemisphere. It is bordered by the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the west, the Mediterranean Sea to the south, and Asia to the east ...
with the highly acclaimed Beale Street
Beale Street is a street in Downtown Memphis, Tennessee, which runs from the Mississippi River to East Street, a distance of approximately . It is a significant location in the city's history, as well as in the history of blues music. Today, ...
Jazz Band, recording two CDs with the group during this time.[
Starting in 1997 Cobb served as the co-host with ]Sam the Sham
Domingo Samudio (born February 28, 1937), better known by his stage name Sam the Sham, is a retired American rock and roll singer. Sam the Sham is known for his Camp (style), camp robe and turban and hauling his equipment in a 1952 Packard hears ...
on the nationally syndicated radio program ''Beale Street Caravan'' broadcasting on over 260 stations in North America and worldwide over the Armed Forces Radio Network
The American Forces Network (AFN) is a government television and radio broadcast service the United States Armed Forces provides to soldiers stationed or assigned overseas, and is headquartered at Fort Meade in Maryland. AFN comprises two sub ...
. Since 1983 she has had her own radio show on WEVL Memphis presenting blues, jazz, and cutting edge American
American(s) may refer to:
* American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America"
** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America
** American ancestry, p ...
jazz vocalists.[
The TV show ''Sounds of Memphis'' was premiered on WKNO (PBS) in 1995 and was modeled after ]Austin City Limits
''Austin City Limits'' is an American Concert, live music Television show, television program recorded and produced by KLRU, Austin PBS. The show helped Austin become widely known in the United States as the "Live Music Capital of the World", an ...
; Cobb was featured on this show and it brought her back into a national spotlight. Though the show did not go past four episodes it did propel her into further musical prominence.
In the late 1990s she forwarded the concept of ''Sounds of Memphis'' to help write the script for the show ''Beale Street Saturday Night'' which it has had success as a live show in the mid-part of the country
A country is a distinct part of the world, such as a state, nation, or other political entity. When referring to a specific polity, the term "country" may refer to a sovereign state, state with limited recognition, constituent country, ...
. This was her first in-road to what has been an acting career later in her professional life. In 2006 she recorded on the soundtrack of ''Black Diamonds: The Story of Negro League Baseball'' as part of the internationally recognized exhibit presented at the Memphis Pink Palace Museum.[ In the last 16 years Cobb has been the lead actress and singer for numerous award-winning live productions to include ''Ain’t Misbehavin'', ''Lady Day at the Emerson Bar and Grill'' and ''The Devil's Music: The Life and Times of Bessie Smith.''
Cobb was contacted by Ward Archer in 2009 to record a CD for his recently formed Memphis record label, Archer Records. It was her first solo recording as a jazz artist and again showed her versility and artistry as a recording artist.][Mark Jordan, "For Cobb, jazz is where heart is -- Singer flexes voice on new album of standards" (review), ''The Commercial Appeal'', August 19, 2010.] In 2010 she toured Europe with the Michael Jefry Stevens Trio promoting the CD release for Archer Records. Presently she continues to perform every Sunday in Memphis, Tennessee at Bosco's as well as playing many other engagements internationally. She has also seen the re-issue on CD (digital re-master) of her earlier successes with ''How Glad I Am'' on a compilation in 2012 and T.H.P.'s album in 2013.
Musical style and music educator
Cobb's musical style is derived from but does not mimic blues and jazz singers such as Bessie Smith
Bessie Smith (April 15, 1892 – September 26, 1937) was an African-American blues singer widely renowned during the Jazz Age. Nicknamed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Empress of the Blues" and formerly Queen of the Blues, she was t ...
, Billie Holiday
Billie Holiday (born Eleanora Fagan; April 7, 1915 – July 17, 1959) was an American jazz and swing music singer. Nicknamed "Lady Day" by her friend and music partner, Lester Young, Holiday made significant contributions to jazz music and pop ...
, Ella Fitzgerald
Ella Jane Fitzgerald (April25, 1917June15, 1996) was an American singer, songwriter and composer, sometimes referred to as the "First Lady of Song", "Queen of Jazz", and "Lady Ella". She was noted for her purity of tone, impeccable diction, phra ...
, and Sarah Vaughan
Sarah Lois Vaughan (, March 27, 1924 – April 3, 1990) was an American jazz singer and pianist. Nicknamed "Sassy" and "List of nicknames of jazz musicians, The Divine One", she won two Grammy Awards, including the Lifetime Achievement Award, ...
(among others). She is a fluent and adept scat singer and improvisor who has a wide range of timbre and emotion in her presentation of songs. Her musical background has been diverse having sung country
A country is a distinct part of the world, such as a state, nation, or other political entity. When referring to a specific polity, the term "country" may refer to a sovereign state, state with limited recognition, constituent country, ...
, disco
Disco is a music genre, genre of dance music and a subculture that emerged in the late 1960s from the United States' urban nightclub, nightlife, particularly in African Americans, African-American, Italian-Americans, Italian-American, LGBTQ ...
, R&B, soul
The soul is the purported Mind–body dualism, immaterial aspect or essence of a Outline of life forms, living being. It is typically believed to be Immortality, immortal and to exist apart from the material world. The three main theories that ...
and jazz
Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its roots are in blues, ragtime, European harmony, African rhythmic rituals, spirituals, h ...
. This diversity has created a unique sound that does not really directly mimick any other singer; she has her own signature style. "Joyce Cobb's big, vivacious voice can interpret everything from pop to country to classical to her truest love, jazz."
She is a very pro-active advocate of music education and the history of singing style in American pop and jazz music. Cobb has served for close 20 years as adjunct vocal professor at the University of Memphis
The University of Memphis (Memphis) is a public university, public research university in Memphis, Tennessee, United States. Founded in 1912, the university has an enrollment of more than 20,000 students.
The university maintains the Herff Col ...
School of Music.Joyce Cobb, University of Memphis bio
She has worked with younger jazz vocalists and musicians at the Stax Music Academy helping aspiring younger artists.[
]
Awards and honors
* New Female Single Pop Artist, End of the Year Awards list, ''Billboard'' magazine, 1980
* Best Female Singer, Memphis Chapter of NARAS, 1986, 1988, 1997
* Best Female Entertainer, Beale Street Merchants Association, 1995
* Honorary doctorate in music, Grand Valley State University
Grand Valley State University (GVSU, GV, or Grand Valley) is a public university in Allendale Charter Township, Michigan, Allendale, Michigan, United States. It was established in 1960 as Grand Valley State College. Its main campus is situated on ...
, 1995
* Music Pioneer, United Music Heritage, 2000
* Initiative award, Women of Achievement, 2000
* Emissary of Music, Memphis and Shelby County Music Commission, 2009
* HEBE Award, Memphis Symphony League, 2009
* Best Vocalist, ''Memphis Flyer
The ''Memphis Flyer'' is a free weekly alternative newspaper serving the greater Memphis, Tennessee, area. The ''Flyer'' covers Memphis news, politics, music, entertainment, sports, food, and spirits.
The ''Flyer'' was founded February 14, 1989 ...
'' readers' poll, 2011 and 2012
Discography
References
External links
*
*
* Joyce Cobb, Wikipedia DE
Joyce Cobb, Resource Entertainment
Joyce Cobb, The University of Memphis
Bibliography
* DeCosta-Willis, Miriam. ''Notable Black Memphians'' (2008), Cambria Press, Amherst, NY, . pp. 90–92.
* Elkington, John. ''Beale Street: Resurrecting the Home of the Blues'', History Press. , pp. 89
* Geran, Paul. ''Woman with Guitar: Memphis Minnie's Blues'' (1992), Da Capo Press, p. 86
* Handy, D. Antoinette. ''Black Women in American Bands and Orchestras'', (1998), Scarecrow Press, , pp. 123–24.
* Herzhaft, Gérard. ''Encyclopedia of the Blues'' (1997), University of Arkansas Press, , pp. 137, 235.
* Lisle, Andria. Evans, Mike. ''Waking up in Memphis'' (2003), Sanctuary Publishing. , pp. 82–84
* ''Joyce Cobb: Deeply rooted in the blues, jazz and gospel'' Jazzpodium, 10 (2010), pp. 9
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cobb, Joyce
1945 births
African-American women singer-songwriters
American women singer-songwriters
American women jazz singers
American jazz singers
American rhythm and blues singer-songwriters
American soul musicians
Jazz songwriters
Singer-songwriters from Oklahoma
Soul-jazz musicians
American torch singers
Living people
Memphis blues musicians
Scat singers
Traditional pop music singers
Soul-blues musicians
Singers from Memphis, Tennessee
Singer-songwriters from Tennessee
Jazz musicians from Tennessee
Jazz musicians from Oklahoma
21st-century African-American women singers
21st-century American women singers
20th-century African-American women singers
20th-century American women singers
20th-century American singers