Billy Cobham, born in 1944 in Panama, is a Panamanian-American jazz drummer renowned for his work in jazz fusion. Rising to fame in the late 1960s and early 1970s with Miles Davis and the Mahavishnu Orchestra, he became known for his powerful, inventive drumming style. Cobham was inducted into both the Modern Drummer Hall of Fame and the Classic Drummer Hall of Fame. His energetic approach influenced not only jazz but also progressive rock, inspiring musicians like Bill Bruford, Phil Collins, and Danny Carey, and his track Stratus has been covered by artists such as Prince and Jeff Beck. Cobham's groundbreaking technique continues to set a standard in drumming across genres.