During his career, Cooper has worked and toured with numerous musically diverse bands and artists including Elton John (as a duo and as a member of his band), Harry Nilsson, Billy Joel, George Harrison, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Pink Floyd, The Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, Mark Knopfler, David Gilmour, Roger Waters and Art Garfunkel.

Incorporation of unusual instruments for rock drummers of the time such as cowbells, glockenspiel and tubular bells, along with several standard kit elements, helped create a highly varied setup.

He later joined the band Blue Mink, and as a session musician he played on records for artists such as America, Carly Simon and David Essex.

In 1983, he participated in a short tour for the Ronnie Lane ARMS Charity Concert along with Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck and other artists, including Bill Wyman and Charlie Watts.

On 15 September 1997, Cooper was the principal percussionist along with Phil Collins at the Music for Montserrat fund raiser concert in Royal Albert Hall.

[6] Cooper has played small roles such as the preacher in Robert Altman's feature film Popeye (1980) starring Robin Williams and Shelley Duvall.

He has performed music in several of Terry Gilliam's productions, appearing on-screen in quirky roles like the technician who swats the beetle at the beginning of Gilliam's 1985 film Brazil and as the functionary whispering in the ear of Jonathan Pryce's Right Ordinary Horatio Jackson character in 1989's The Adventures of Baron Munchausen.

[7] In 2009, John and Cooper performed a small exclusive series of shows, mostly in the UK and Europe, the first time since 1995 that the two had toured together without a band.

[9] With Joan Armatrading With America With Madeline Bell With Colin Blunstone With Teresa Brewer With Chanter Sisters With Roger Chapman With Eric Clapton With Rosemary Clooney With Kiki Dee With Donovan With Ian Dury With Yvonne Elliman With Cass Elliot With David Essex With Bryan Ferry With Pink Floyd With Art Garfunkel With Dana Gillespie With David Gilmour With Tony Hadley With George Harrison With Murray Head With Mick Jagger With Elton John With Davey Johnstone With Lulu With Katie Melua With Paul McCartney With Christine McVie With Harry Nilsson With Nigel Olsson With Roy Orbison With Bill Quateman With Chris Rea With Cliff Richard With Carly Simon With Ringo Starr With Rod Stewart With Sting With The Rolling Stones With Rick Wakeman With Roger Waters With Bill Wyman