Many of you will have known him, listened to his music and enjoyed his company over so many years. His name was Albert Cooper.

People across the world shared our love of Albert, especially in Ibiza where he was a regular entertainer, but he never had any intention of leaving Norwich.

“Norwich is the best place in the world. I love it,” he said.

A familiar sight on the city streets, wearing his  trademark hat, so many people wanted to stop and chat with him about musical memories and much more.

Born in the city, Albert’s dad, also Albert, was a hairdresser but also a song and dance man in the music halls.

“My dad taught me a few of the old tunes. I used to sing around the house. Then I went up to St John’s Roman Catholic Cathedral. Father Roberts taught me to sing and I became a choirboy,” he told me.

Young Albert went on to sing with the Norwich Philharmonic Chorus before being called up for National Service and when he returned got a job at the 50-bob tailors.

Skiffle came along and then one night he walked past the Jolly Butchers pub on Ber Street in the city and heard an amazing voice, one which would change his life.

“I took a look in and there was this woman, dressed in black, standing on a box singing. I’ll never forget the first time I heard that voice,” he told me.

It was, our most famous mine host of all time, Black Anna, and they became one of the best-loved music acts in the city.

Albert turned to jazz and blues when rock ‘n’ roll came along and never looked back. He and brother Tony went on to open the great Jacquard Club in Norwich attracting many big names including Paul Simon.

In later years Albert and his Blues & Boogie Band became a star act. A band with real bite and style. He was a star, our star.

There is so much more to say about Albert, his life and times, and I will be writing a special tribute to him to appear in the papers next Tuesday.

If you have any memories of this remarkable man to share please drop me a line at derek.james2013@gmail.com