Born in Panama City in 1944, he first played in public at 8 years old. He has featured with Horace Silver, Roberta Flack, George Duke, Oscar Peterson, Count Basie, Randy and Mike Brecker. He featured on the important Miles Davis recordings ?Bitches Brew?, ?Live Evil? and ?Jack Johnson? and was a founder-member of the legendary Mahavishnu Orchestra with John McLaughlin.

His group Culturemix  combines  jazz fusion with a realistic taste of the Afro-Caribbean experience. The steelpan is an integral part of the sound of Culturemix, as much as the distinctive sound of Billy Cobham drumming. While always clearly in charge, Cobham is a not afraid to share the spotlight long and often with the members of Culturemix on the Colours album [read the CD review].