The 20th century produced a number of jazz musicians, but perhaps none as dynamic as the great American jazz drummer, Cozy Cole. William Randolph “Cozy” Cole was born on October 17, 1909 in East Orange, New Jersey. But his music took him beyond the Garden State.
In 1926, Cole and his family moved to New York City, where the presence of influential musicians like Duke Ellington and Sonny Greer was more conspicuous. It was here that Cole began to develop his infatuation with music, particularly jazz. Within two years, he was already performing with Wilbur Sweatman, a prominent clarinetist and bandleader; then in 1930, Cole’s very first recordings were produced by Jelly Roll Morton, who was considered jazz’s first important composer.
Cole spent years working with the jazz groups Blanche Calloway & Her Joy Boys and the Benny Carter Orchestra before advancing his career in the swing scene, which was becoming increasingly popular during that time. He began making significant albums with artists like Willie Bryant, Teddy Wilson, Billie Holiday, Midge Williams, Mildred Bailey, and Putney Dandridge.
Jazz Bands
After working professionally for over a decade, Cole began playing with the Cab Calloway Orchestra, one of the most prominent American jazz bands at the time. They often played the Cotton Club in Harlem, New York, but once the club closed, Calloway took his group on the road and the band toured the United States.
Cole spent the mid-to-late-1940s playing with all-star jazz musicians, including Benny Goodman, Ella Fitzgerald, and Louis Armstrong. He continued to play with Armstrong into the early 1950s; meanwhile, in 1954, Cole opened up a school for drummers with Gene Krupa. The school helped aspiring drummers achieve their dreams, and continued until Krupa’s death in 1973; after that, the school was shut down.
In 1957, Cole toured Europe with Jack Teagarden and Earl Hines, and his enormous career continued to grow. Throughout the next twenty years, Cole played with wildly famous musicians and toured the world; he even performed at a major jazz festival in France in 1974. A few years later, in 1978, he received an honorary degree from Capital University in Columbus, Ohio; in fact, he lectured here until his death on January 31, 1981.
Cozy Cole spent nearly half a century assisting jazz and swing during their enormous growth in popularity. His vibrant and unparalleled drumming skills made him the favorite of popular vocalists; at the same time, his love for music played a major role in his life, especially as a lecturer. He was, and continues to be, a huge figure in the history of jazz.
Hero (Top) Feature Image: © Ralph F Seghers / Wikimedia Commons
Additional Image Courtesy: Drummer World
