Joseph Cooper was born on 7 October 1912 in Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol, England. He developed an early interest in music and went on to become a skilled concert pianist.

His father was banker, and although little is known about his family, his upbringing supported his musical education and career in performance and broadcasting.

Cooper trained as a pianist and built a career performing and working in broadcasting. He became known for presenting classical music programmes on radio and television, combining musical knowledge with an engaging on-screen presence.

He achieved national fame as the host of Face the Music, a classical music quiz show broadcast on BBC2 (1966–1979) and later BBC1 (1983–1984), where he remained presenter throughout its run.

He was married twice and remained active in music and broadcasting until later life. Cooper died on 4 August 2001 in Ranmore, near Dorking, leaving a lasting legacy in British classical music television.