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Ray Cooper

Michael Berkeley's guest is the percussionist Ray Cooper.

The percussionist Ray Cooper is often referred to as the ‘father of rock and roll percussion’. He is renowned for his exuberant stage presence and for incorporating unusual instruments, including cowbells, glockenspiels, timpani and tubular bells to name but a few. He has worked with many of the world’s leading musicians including Pink Floyd, the Rolling Stones, Billy Joel, Carly Simon, Eric Clapton, Sting, Art Garfunkel, Paul McCartney, John Lennon, Ringo Starr and George Harrison.

His most enduring collaboration has been with Elton John. Ray is on more than 90 of Elton’s recordings, and has performed over 1000 concerts with him, most recently on the Farewell Tour.

In 1979, Ray was asked by George Harrison to help run Handmade Films and he remained at the helm for just over a decade, overseeing the production of seminal British films such as Withnail and I, Time Bandits and The Long Good Friday.

Ray's musical choices include Bach, Shostakovich, John Tavener and Elton John.

Producer: Clare Walker

Available now

35 minutes

Last on

Sun 18 Feb 2024 12:00

Music Played

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Partita No 3 in E major for violin, BWV 1006 (Prelude)

    Performer: Isabelle Faust.
    • J.S. Bach: Sonatas & Partitas. Isabelle Faust.
    • Harmonia Mundi.
    • 10.
  • Gerry Goffin

    Take a Giant Step

    Composer: Carole King. Singer: Taj Mahal.
    • The Essential.
    • Legacy Recordings.
    • 7.
  • Dmitry Shostakovich

    Foxtrot [Blues] (Suite for Jazz Band no.1)

    Orchestra: Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. Conductor: Riccardo Chailly.
    • Shostakovich: The Jazz Album - Brautigam, Masseurs.
    • Decca.
    • 3.
  • Olivier Messiaen

    Turangalîla-Symphonie (1st mvt)

    Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: André Previn.
    • Turangalila Symphony/ Concert Champetre/ Concerto in G etc.
    • Warner Classics.
    • 1.
  • Elton John

    Sixty Years On

    Composer: Bernie Taupin. Music Arranger: Paul Buckmaster. Singer: Elton John.
    • To Be Continued....
    • EMI.
    • 10.
  • John Tavener

    The Protecting veil for cello and string orchestra [1987]: opening

    Performer: Steven Isserlis. Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Gennady Nikolayevich Rozhdestvensky.
    • The Protecting Veil.
    • VIRGIN CLASSICS.
    • 1.
  • George Harrison

    Here Comes The Sun

    Ensemble: The Beatles.
    • Abbey Road (Super Deluxe Edition).
    • UMC (Universal Music Catalogue).
    • 7.

Broadcast

  • Sun 18 Feb 2024 12:00

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