William Emanuel Cobham Jr. (born May 16, 1944) is a Panamanian–American jazz drummer who came to prominence in the late 1960s and early 1970s with trumpeter Miles Davis and then with the Mahavishnu Orchestra.

[2] AllMusic biographer Steve Huey said, "Generally acclaimed as fusion's greatest drummer, Billy Cobham's explosive technique powered some of the genre's most important early recordings – including groundbreaking efforts by Miles Davis and the Mahavishnu Orchestra – before he became an accomplished bandleader in his own right.

Phil Collins, who named the Mahavishnu Orchestra's The Inner Mounting Flame as a key influence on his early style, said: "Billy Cobham played some of the finest drumming I've ever heard on that record."

He was a house drummer for Atlantic Records and a session musician for CTI and Kudu, appearing on the albums White Rabbit by George Benson, Sunflower by Milt Jackson, and Soul Box by Grover Washington Jr.[4] Cobham started the jazz rock group Dreams with Michael Brecker, Randy Brecker, Barry Rogers, and John Abercrombie.

In 1981, Billy Cobham's Glass Menagerie was formed with Michał Urbaniak on violin and EWI, Gil Goldstein on piano, Tim Landers on bass, and Mike Stern on guitar.

In 2006, Cobham released Drum 'n' Voice 2, a return to the 1970s jazz-funk sound, with guests including Brian Auger, Guy Barker, Jeff Berlin, Frank Gambale, Jan Hammer, Mike Lindup, Buddy Miles, Dominic Miller, Airto Moreira, John Patitucci, and the band Novecento.

Guests included Alex Acuña, Brian Auger, George Duke, Chaka Khan, Bob Mintzer, Novecento, John Scofield, and Gino Vannelli.

[13] Many musicians have cited Cobham as an influence, including Kenny Aronoff,[14][15] Steve Arrington,[16] Ranjit Barot,[17] Danny Carey,[18] Jimmy Chamberlin,[19] Dennis Chambers,[20] Brann Dailor,[21] Matt Garstka,[22] Chris Hornbrook,[23][24] Thomas Lang,[25] Mac McNeilly,[26] OM,[27][28] Opeth,[29] Chris Pennie[30] Mike Portnoy,[31] Thomas Pridgen,[32] Sivamani,[33] Bill Stevenson,[34][35] Jon Theodore,[36] and Tony Thompson.

With Stanley Turrentine With Stanley Turrentine and Milt Jackson With Mose Allison With Gene Ammons With Ray Barretto With Roberto Tola With George Benson With Bobby and the Midnites With The Brothers Johnson With James Brown With Kenny Burrell With Cargo With Ron Carter With Stanley Clarke With Larry Coryell With Miles Davis With Richard Davis With Eumir Deodato With Dreams With Charles Earland With Gil Evans With Fania All Stars With Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway With Peter Gabriel With Johnny Hammond With Billy Harper With Donald Harrison With Freddie Hubbard With Jackie and Roy With Milt Jackson With Jazz Is Dead With Quincy Jones With Robin Kenyatta With Hubert Laws With Mahavishnu Orchestra With Junior Mance With Arif Mardin With Les McCann With John McLaughlin With Mark-Almond Band With Jimmy Owens With Sonny Rollins With Michel Sardaby With Don Sebesky With Horace Silver With Carly Simon With Lonnie Smith With Gábor Szabó With Leon Thomas With McCoy Tyner With Miroslav Vitous With Grover Washington, Jr. With Randy Weston With Jon Anderson With Robby Steinhardt With Michael and Tim Franklin