PHILADELPHIA — Robert “Bootsie” Barnes, 82, the widely respected tenor saxophone player whose hard-driving sound and restless creative spirit became synonymous with Philadelphia jazz over a six-decade career, died Wednesday.

His wife said he died from COVID-19.

Barnes died at Lankenau Medical Center in Wynnewood. His wife, Sandra Turner-Barnes, said he had been hospitalized for 22 days.

Barnes had a formidable reputation in the jazz world as a rigorously disciplined and adventurous musician. “If you went to another city and they knew you were from Philadelphia,” said Larry McKenna, a friend and fellow sax player, “the first thing they asked you was: ‘Do you know Bootsie Barnes?’”

Barnes grew up in North Philadelphia. One of four brothers, he came from a musical family, Turner-Barnes said. His uncle Jimmy Hamilton played clarinet for Duke Ellington and mentored Barnes. His father played trumpet in the Air Force jazz band.

He started out a drummer, as did his childhood friend Bill Cosby, whom Barnes met in kindergarten. In time, Cosby switched to comedy and Barnes settled on tenor sax. He was featured on several episodes of The Cosby Show and was the opening act on Cosby comedy tours.

Though Barnes could have attained greater exposure on the national and international circuit, “he established himself in Philadelphia, and he was comfortable with it,” said Lovett Hines, the artistic director of the Philadelphia Clef Club of Jazz and Performing Arts.

In addition to his wife, Barnes is also survived by daughters Richelle and Renelle, and five grandchildren.

There will be a private funeral service.