Cozy Cole | |
|---|---|
 Photo by Ralph F. Seghers | |
| Background information | |
| Born | William Randolph Cole (1909-10-17)October 17, 1909 East Orange, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Died | January 9, 1981(1981-01-09) (aged 71) Columbus, Ohio, U.S. |
| Genres | Swing |
| Occupation | Musician |
| Instrument | Drums |
| Years active | 1930s–1970s |
| Formerly of | TheCab Calloway Orchestra |
William Randolph "Cozy" Cole (October 17, 1909 – January 9, 1981)[1] was an American jazz drummer who worked withCab Calloway andLouis Armstrong among others and led his own groups.
William Randolph Cole was born inEast Orange, New Jersey, United States.[2] His first music job was withWilbur Sweatman in 1928.[2] In 1930, he played forJelly Roll Morton's Red Hot Peppers,[2] recording an early drum solo on "Load of Cole". He spent 1931–33 withBlanche Calloway, 1933–34 withBenny Carter, 1935–36 withWillie Bryant, 1936–38 withStuff Smith's small combo, and 1938–42 withCab Calloway.[2] In 1942, he was hired by CBS Radio music directorRaymond Scott as part of network radio's first integrated orchestra. After that he played withLouis Armstrong's All Stars.[2]
Cole performed withLouis Armstrong and his All Stars withVelma Middleton singing vocals for the ninthCavalcade of Jazz concert held atWrigley Field in Los Angeles. The concert was produced byLeon Hefflin, Sr. on June 7, 1953. Also featured that day wereRoy Brown and his Orchestra,Don Tosti and His Mexican Jazzmen,Earl Bostic,Nat "King" Cole, andShorty Rogers and his Orchestra.[3][4]
Cole had hits with the songs "Topsy I" and "Topsy II".[2] "Topsy II" peaked at No. 3 on theBillboard Hot 100, and at No. 1 on the R&B chart.[5] It sold over one million copies and was awarded agold disc.[6] The track peaked at No. 29 in the UK Singles Chart in 1958.[1] The recording contained a long drum solo and was one of the few drum solo recordings to make the charts atBillboard magazine. The single was issued by Love Records, a small record label in Brooklyn, New York. Cole's song "Turvy II" reached No. 36 in 1959.[7]
In 1959, Cozy performed at thePeacock Alley inSt. Louis with his wife Lee Parker who was an entertainer.[8] She studied dancing underKatherine Durham.[8]
Cole appeared in music-related films, including a brief cameo inDon't Knock the Rock. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s he continued to perform in a variety of settings alongside names likeJonah Jones,Stuff Smith, andCab Calloway.[9] Cole andGene Krupa often played drum duets at the Metropole in New York City during the 1950s and 1960s.
In 1978,Capital University in Columbus, awarded Cole an honorary degree of Doctor of Musical Arts.[10][9] Cole is cited as an influence by many contemporary rock drummers, includingCozy Powell, who took his nickname "Cozy" from Cole. In 1981, he died of cancer inColumbus, Ohio.
Cole was the teacher ofPhilly Joe Jones.
| Year | Titles (A-side, B-side) | Chart positions | Album | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | US R&B | UK | |||
| 1958 | "Topsy I" / | 27 | 29 | Cozy Cole Hits! | |
| "Topsy II" | 3 | 1 | 29 | ||
| "Caravan"—Part 1 b/w Part 2 Original version | Cozy's Caravan | ||||
| "Turvy II" b/w "Turvy I" | 36 | Cozy Cole Hits! | |||
| "St. Louis Blues" b/w "Father Cooperates" | Non-album tracks | ||||
| "Caravan"—Part 1 b/w Part 2 Re-recording | After Hours | ||||
| "Charleston" b/w "Late and Lazy" | Cozy Cole Hits! | ||||
| 1959 | "Bad" b/w "(Everything Is) Topsy-Turvy" | ||||
| "Blop-Up" b/w "Blop-Down" | Cozy Cole | ||||
| ""D" Natural Rock" b/w "Strange" | |||||
| "Soft" b/w "Melody Of A Dreamer" | |||||
| "Stained Glass" b/w "D'Mitri" | |||||
| 1960 | "Ala Topsy 3" b/w "Ala Topsy 4" | Non-album tracks | |||
| "Cozy's Mambo" b/w "Play Cozy Play" | |||||
| "Teen Age Ideas" b/w "Blockhead" (Non-album track) | Cozy Cole | ||||
| "Drum Fever" b/w "Bag Of Tricks" | Non-album tracks | ||||
| "Red Ball" b/w "Cozy's Corner" | |||||
| "Ha-Ha Cha-Cha" b/w "The Pogo Hop" | |||||
| 1961 | "Bad" b/w "(Wow! Let's Rock That) Charleston" | ||||
| 1962 | "Cozy's Groove"—Part 1 b/w Part 2 | ||||
| "Big Noise From Winnetka"—Part 1 b/w Part 2 | 121 | It's A Cozy World | |||
| 1963 | "Cozy and Bossa" b/w "Big Boss" | Non-album tracks | |||
| "Indian Love Call"—Part 1 b/w Part 2 | It's A Cozy World | ||||
| "Rockin' Drummer" b/w "Sing Sing Sing (With A Swing)" | |||||
| 1964 | "Topsy"—Part 1 b/w Part 2 Re-recordings | ||||
| "North Beach" b/w "A Cozy Beat" | |||||
| 1966 | "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On" b/w "Watch It" | It's A Rocking Thing! | |||
