He was a saxophonist, bandleader and designer born in Cambridge, England who studied illustration at Cambridge School of Art. At the same time he studied saxophone with Arnold Massey and in his last year at art school was also a performer with local dance bands. He went on to do his National Service and became a sergeant instructor with the Royal Army Educational Corps (RAEC).
Following his service he worked for the Ministry of Agriculture as an illustrator but after four years changed his career path and became a professional saxophonist. He met the holiday camp big band leader Johnny Simmons and performed with him i Skegness for a year before returning to London where he became a freelance graphic designer and saxophonist.
In 1963 he went to work with Georgie Fame as a member of the Blue Flames. He became recognised for performing the saxophone solo on the No. 1 hit record “Yeh Yeh“. Just a few years later in 1966 he was performing on “Got to Get You Into My Life” by The Beatles.
He became a big band contractor and director for Polydor Records but went back to his work as an illustrator in 1970, when he started his own design company. Not leaving music completely he did perform in a jazz quartet every now and again and on three occasions his semi-pro orchestra won the BBC big-band championships.
In 1987 he moved to Spain where he continued to sun his business as well as perform at a jazz bar in Marbella. He returned to Cambridgeshire in England where he occasionally would give performances.
Recordings he performed on include his own Live at the Leather Bottel Volume 2 along with Revolver by The Beatles, Sweet Thing by Georgie Fame, Rhythm & Blues at the BBC 1965 by Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames and Greatest Hits: The Immediate Years 1967-1969 by Small Faces among others.
He died when he was 78 years old.
The Beatles Recordings
Got to Get You Into My Life (John Lennon/Paul McCartney)
Capitol, 4274, S45-X45624 (US 45 PS)
Sources:
- https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/peter-coe-saxophonist-bandleader-and-designer-8hxwkgtb8gj
- https://groups.google.com/g/alt.obituaries/c/WLh5ilCNbW0
- https://www.allmusic.com/artist/peter-coe-mn0001192853
- https://music.metason.net/artistinfo?name=Peter%20Coe
- https://rateyourmusic.com/artist/peter_coe_f1/credits/
- https://www.the-paulmccartney-project.com/artist/peter-coe/