Actor-comedian Bill Cosby announced that he has stepped down as emcee of the Playboy Jazz Festival. The concerts, which always take place in the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, celebrate jazz and feature both established and up-and-coming jazz musicians. Cosby has offered countless quips and one-liners to Hugh Hefner’s annual event since 1979. But after more than 30 years of introducing stars like Miles Davis, Benny Goodman, Herbie Hancock and Sarah Vaughn, this weekend’s 34th annual concert will be his last. The 74-year-old Cosby, who started his acting career in the 1960s with “I Spy” and reached his greatest success in the 1980s with “The Cosby Show,” exemplifies his own passion for jazz music through his band, Cos of Good Music.
