Jerry Coker is a highly respected teacher, theorist and author. His early career was spent in big bands like Woody Herman’s. In late 1953, he left Indiana University to go with Herman. He toured with Herman until the summer 1954. He recorded some tracks in Paris and San Francisco, both as a leader and as a sideman for Mel Lewis in late ’50s. Later, he became a freelance musician on the West Coast. After a brief stint with Stan Kenton in the 1950s, Coker began his involvement with college bands during the 1960s. This led him to various teaching positions. He has written many jazz books and was once a professor at Knoxville University in Tennessee. Allmusic
