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Pete Cosey Obituary
Cosey died May 30 of complications from surgery at Vanguard Weiss Memorial Hospital in Chicago, said his daughter Mariama Cosey.
Pete Cosey's musical journey began early, his daughter said, noting that Cosey's father died when he was 9 years old.
"That's how he dealt with his father's passing ... and if I had to pick one instance in his life that just really rocked his world, that was it," she said. "I think he tried to spend his time trying to communicate with my granddaddy."
In the 1960s, Cosey was a member of the studio band at Chess Records in Chicago, where he played on Waters' "Electric Mud" and Howlin' Wolf's "Howlin' Wolf Album." Cosey also worked with Etta James and Chuck Berry.
He took a creative approach to stringing and tun ing his guitars, and liberally applied the distortion pedal to his licks. He started to develop his unique sound as a teenager in Arizona, where he would play in the mountains near Phoenix, according to a Chicago Tribune article.
His explorations of sound drew the attention of one of jazz's legendary minds, Miles Davis.
In an interview with music writer George Cole, published on Cole's "The Last Miles" website, Cosey said Davis sought him out, wanted him at the front of the band and told him to turn up his guitar's volume.
Cosey ended up playing on many of Davis' boundary-pushing recordings in the 1970s, including "Dark Magus," ''Agharta" and "The Complete On the Corner Sessions."
Cosey was also in Martin Scorsese's 2003 blues documentary, "The Blues: A Musical Journey."
In recent years, health problems had slowed Cosey, but he had been playing music in children's hospitals and schools, according to the Chicago Tribune.
Cosey's daughter sai d that, to her father, music was a language.
"He taught me that music is not genre-specific. It's one way that everyone around the world communicates," she said. "It wasn't about being black or white, but it was about making notes universally."
Copyright © 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
30 Entries
May 29, 2020
God is a God of all Comfort and he will Comfort the family's..My heartfelt condolences to the family's
May 30, 2017
My condolences to the family may you endure this difficult time. Phillipians 4:6,7
NC
May 30, 2017
May God be with the family and friends during this very difficult time.
How you can show support
Bob Condren
May 19, 2013
I only heard recently of Pete's passing. He was an extraordinary musician with a unique style that defied genres and was as soulful, as it was technologically advanced. My condolences to his family. He will be missed.
Rere
November 15, 2012
As the days and weeks pass, and as you return to life's routine, may you continue to feel comforted by the love and support of family and friends.
June 17, 2012
To the COSEY family sorry for your loss may GOD give you his love, peace, and strength in this time of sorrow. May he R.I.P -|-
Sandy
June 15, 2012
My thoughts and prayers go out to your family and loved ones. Another musical angel in Gods garden!
FREDDY CHEERS
June 15, 2012
R.I.P you will be missed!!!
Patricia Anderson
June 12, 2012
May God bless each of you. Your loss is our loss as well. Much love to you.
June 12, 2012
We are deeply sorrowed to hear of the loss of Mr'Cosey. Please accept our deepest condolences. May the GOD of all comfort, comfort your family in this time of grief. ATLANTA, GA.
mary holmes
June 12, 2012
It is always an untimely, and unwelcome, the loos of a loved one, my condolences to your family, may you have the strength and courage that only our Creator and God can give, from reading praying meditating and applying this accurate knowledge in every day life so that you may cope.
Sharon Walker
June 11, 2012
Family,
I am so very sorry for your loss. May the love and hope God offers comfort you during this difficult time.
June 11, 2012
May God's gentle peace fill your heart
and comfort your ...soul today and in the days to
I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.-John 14:18 come,
Green, L.-W. P. Bch., FLA 33407
June 11, 2012
To the the family of Pete Cosey - May God give you peace and comfort through his word and the Lord Jesus Christ during this time of sorrow, I know that he will be missed by many.
Robyn
June 11, 2012
To the Cosey family: Sorry for your family's loss. I hope Psalm 145:14 can bring your family comfort, knowing you can rely on God for support during this difficult time.
G Woods
June 11, 2012
...truly a spoonful of joy to listen to.
June 11, 2012
With deepest sympathy to the Cosey family during your time of grief...Psalm 46:1...God is for us a refuge and strength, A help that is readily to be found during difficult times...May God provide you with peace and comfort to endure the days ahead.
Tim Moylan
June 11, 2012
Rest in peace Mr. Cosey
June 11, 2012
My condolences to the family of Pete Cosey. I met hime through his mother whom I visited for years, especially on her 100th birthday.
PAT BOHANNON
June 11, 2012
MY PRAYERS TO THE FAMILY. MAY YOU SEEK COMFORT WITH ALL THE GOOD MEMORIES.
Joey Minutolo
June 11, 2012
I will go home tonight and blast Agharta while sipping on a glass of bourbon. R.I.P.
earle w
June 11, 2012
God, please provide strength and comfort for his family and close friends. Oh Lord, hear my prayer.
Eugene Hayhoe
June 11, 2012
Thank you Mr. Cosey for the many hundreds of hours of pleasure I've gotten from listening to your music.
When people ask me 'what my favorite time period of Miles is,' my answer has always been 'the period of time when you were in the band.' Had been listening to you for years by then. Got the Wolf record the week it came out - my 'first Wolf record.' Ripped my head off - for a few brief weeks 'I thought that was the way he'd always sounded' - ha-ha-ha.
Thank you again sir!
M. Joseph
June 11, 2012
My condolences to the family as you mourn your loss. May the God of comfort aid you in this most difficult time.
C.S
June 11, 2012
Good music is good for the soul.May Pete fine memories stay close to your hearts.May God comfort your family and bring you peace.
June 11, 2012
Warm Regards and prayers to the Cosey family, other relatives, and friends.
We should try to see Jesus in the faces of everyone we meet.
Thanks for all you have done, Pete.
Pray for US.
Rest in HIS Arms!
Fred
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