William Randolph "Cozy" Cole (October 17, 1909 – January 29, 1981) was an American jazz drummer who played with famous musicians such as Cab Calloway and Louis Armstrong. He also led his own musical groups.
Life and career
William Randolph Cole was born in East Orange, New Jersey, United States. His first music job was with Wilbur Sweatman in 1928. In 1930, he played with Jelly Roll Morton’s Red Hot Peppers and recorded a drum solo on the song “Load of Cole.” From 1931 to 1933, he worked with Blanche Calloway. From 1933 to 1934, he played with Benny Carter. From 1935 to 1936, he was with Willie Bryant. From 1936 to 1938, he performed with Stuff Smith’s small group. From 1938 to 1942, he was part of Cab Calloway’s band. In 1942, he joined CBS Radio music director Raymond Scott’s orchestra, which was the first integrated orchestra in network radio. After that, he played with Louis Armstrong’s All Stars.
Cole performed with Louis Armstrong and his All Stars at the ninth Cavalcade of Jazz concert at Wrigley Field in Los Angeles on June 7, 1953. The concert was organized by Leon Hefflin, Sr. Other performers that day included Roy Brown and his Orchestra, Don Tosti and His Mexican Jazzmen, Earl Bostic, Nat “King” Cole, and Shorty Rogers and his Orchestra.
Cole had hits with the songs “Topsy I” and “Topsy II.” “Topsy II” reached No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 1 on the R&B chart. It sold over one million copies and received a gold disc. The song also reached No. 29 on the UK Singles Chart in 1958. It included a long drum solo and was one of the few drum solo recordings to appear on Billboard’s charts. The song was released by Love Records, a small record label in Brooklyn, New York. Cole’s song “Turvy II” reached No. 36 in 1959.
In 1959, Cozy performed at the Peacock Alley in St. Louis with his wife, Lee Parker, who was an entertainer. She studied dancing under Katherine Durham.
Cole appeared in music-related films, including a short role in Don’t Knock the Rock. During the 1960s and 1970s, he continued to perform with musicians such as Jonah Jones, Stuff Smith, and Cab Calloway. He often played drum duets with Gene Krupa 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. Many modern rock drummers, including Cozy Powell, were influenced by Cole. Powell took his nickname “Cozy” from Cole. In 1981, Cole died of cancer in Columbus, Ohio.
Cole was the teacher of Philly Joe Jones.
Discography
1944: Chronological (Classics, ?)
1944–1945: Chronological (Classics, ?)
1944: Concerto for Cozy (Savoy, 1975)
1944–1945: Hot and Cozy (Continental, 1962) – collaboration with Hot Lips Page and Timmy Rosenkratz
1958: Earl’s Backroom and Cozy’s Caravan (Felsted, 1958) – collaboration with Earl Hines
1961: A Cozy Conception of Carmen (Charlie Parker, 1962)
The Drummer Man with the Big Beat (King, 1959)
Cozy Cole Hits! (Love, 1959)
It’s a Cozy World (Coral, 1964)
It’s a Rocking Thing! (Columbia, 1966)
Lionel Hampton Presents: Cozy Cole and Marty Napoleon (Who’s Who in Jazz, 1977)
Nice All Stars (Black and Blue, 1978)
Red Allen, Al Jazzbo Collins: Jazz at the Metropole Cafe (Bethlehem, 1955)
Red Allen: Ride, Red, Ride in Hi-Fi (RCA Victor, 1957)
Red Allen: At Newport (Verve, 1957)
Louis Armstrong: Satchmo On Stage (Decca, 1957)
Cab Calloway: Hi De Ho Man (Columbia, 1974)
Johnny Guarnieri, Tony Mottola, Bob Haggart: An Hour of Modern Piano Rhythms (Royale, 1959)
Lionel Hampton: Who’s Who in Jazz Presents: Lionel Hampton (Philips, 1977)
Cass Harrison: Wrappin’ It Up (MGM, 1957)
Earl Hines & Jonah Jones & Buddy Tate: Back On the Street (Chiaroscuro, 1972)
Jonah Jones: Trumpet On Tour (Baronet, 1962)
Wingy Manone: Wingy Manone Vol. 1 (RCA, 1969)
Jimmy McPartland, Zutty Singleton, Miff Mole, Wild Bill Davison: Dixieland at Carnegie Hall Forum (Circle, 1958)
Jelly Roll Morton: Mr. Jelly Lord (RCA Victor, 1967)
Sammy Price: Barrelhouse and Blues (Jazztone, 1955)
Rex Stewart: Rex Stewart and the Ellingtonians (Riverside, 1960)