J. R. Cobb

James Barney Cobb Jr. (February 5, 1944 – May 4, 2019) was an American guitarist and songwriter, most notable for co-writing "Spooky", "Stormy" and "Traces", among others, as a member of the Classics IV, plus "Champagne Jam" and "Do It Or Die", among others, as a member of the Atlanta Rhythm Section.

Life and career Cobb was born to Rose Hutchins and James Cobb, Sr. in Birmingham, Alabama, on February 5, 1944. His family later moved to Jacksonville, Florida. In 1953, at the age of nine, he and his two siblings were placed in the Baptist Children's Home in Jacksonville after his father left the family and his mother needed assistance. Cobb called the experience "the best and worst thing that could have happened to me. The best thing, because we would not have had anything at the time. The worst, it was scary not being a family anymore."

Following graduation from high school, Cobb became a welder. Jacksonville guitarist Jimmy Amerson, still a Paxon High student, was working on starting a band called the Emeralds and invited Cobb to join the group. After a year or so, Cobb left to join Walter Eaton's group, the Classics, which later became the Classics IV, and included drummer Dennis Yost.

Cobb died of a heart attack on May 4, 2019, at Piedmont Newton Hospital in Covington, Georgia.

Selected hit songs written or co-written by Cobb I Take It Back – Sandy Posey – #12 – 1967 Be Young, Be Foolish, Be Happy – The Tams – R&B #26 – 1968 Spooky – Classics IV – #3 – 1968 Stormy – Classics IV – #5 – 1969 Traces – Classics IV – #2 – 1969 Everyday With You Girl – Classics IV – #19 – 1969 Change Of Heart – Classics IV – AC #25 – 1969 Midnight – Classics IV – AC #23 – 1969 Traces (Medley) – The Lettermen – #47 – 1969 Funniest Thing – Classics IV – AC #11 – 1970 Where Did All The Good Times Go? – Classics IV – AC #14 – 1970 It's Time For Love – Classics IV – AC #31 – 1971 What Am I Crying For? – Classics IV – #39 – 1972 Rosanna – Classics IV – AC #35 – 1973 Champagne Jam – Atlanta Rhythm Section – #43 – 1978 Do It Or Die – Atlanta Rhythm Section – #19 – 1979 Spooky – Atlanta Rhythm Section – #17 – 1979 Stormy – Santana – #32 – 1979 Be Young, Be Foolish, Be Happy – Sonia – AC #13 – 1992 Rock Bottom – Wynonna Judd – HC #2 -1994