Junie Cobb could play many instruments, but was best on reed instruments and piano. He began as pianist in Johnny Dunn's Band as a teenager , then moved from New Orleans to Chicago, where he led his own band at the Club Alvadere in 1920 and 1921. He played banjo with King Oliver and with Jimmie Noone, and also recorded as a leader on clarinet, alto and tenor sax with Junie Cobb's Hometown Band. His brother Jimmy Cobb often played cornet in his bands. He backed vocalist Annabelle Calhoun throughout the 1930s and 1940s, on many club and recording dates. He retired from full time playing in 1955, but kept playing gigs until 1967.