JAM Magazine: December/January 1999 Issue: Folly Jazz News

by Doug Tatum

On Friday, December 11, the Folly Jazz Series will present The Freddy Cole Quartet. Until fairly recently, Freddy Cole was one of the best kept secrets in jazz, despite having a well known last name and coming from a very musical family. Freddy's oldest brother, Nat "King" Cole, was certainly the most famous member of the family. And just like Nat, Freddy sings and plays the piano. Although there are certain unmistakable similarities (there is definitely a family sound), Freddy's voice has been described as smokier, jazzier even, than his brother's.

In any case, Freddy certainly doesn't apologize for sounding so much like Nat. "I'm Not My Brother, I'm Me" is the title of one of Freddy's songs, and it pretty much sums up his response to the dilemma he's faced ever since he began performing professionally. "I'm not my brother, I'm just me... My brother made a whole lotta money, and I sing the blues/But I'm not tryin' to fill nobody's shoes."

Freddy Cole was born on October 15, 1931, the youngest of Edward and Paulina Nancy Cole's five children. His three older brothers, Eddie, Ike and Nat (12 years his senior) were all musicians. "I started playing piano at five or six," Freddy remembers. "I just looked up and started playing. It was a musical gift, a blessing I guess... Music was all around me, even though there was an age difference between my brother and me, there was something special in our household... Nat used to come home to watch me play football."

The older brother had some measure of success while the younger one was still in school. And in the Chicago home of Freddy's youth, visitors included Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Lionel Hampton and Billy Eckstine. Freddy credits Eckstine as a major influence. "He was a fantastic entertainer," Freddy recalls. "I learned so much from just watching and being around him."

Freddy didn't become serious about music until much later, however. He was planning to be a pro athlete. "I was heavy into sports... all-state football, baseball, you name it. Unfortunately, I got hurt playing football, and I couldn't go on." There were several scholarship offers, Freddy says, and he was also scouted to play baseball. "The Dodgers wanted to sign me, but my Dad wouldn't let me."

When the injury ended his hopes of getting a sports scholarship, Freddy began studying music seriously as well as playing and singing in Chicago clubs. Although he was ready to hit the road at 18, his mother intervened, so he continued his musical education at the Roosevelt Institute in Chicago. Freddy moved to New York in 1951 where he studied music at the Julliard School of Music. There, he was profoundly influenced by John Lewis, Oscar Peterson and Teddy Wilson. He got a Master's degree at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston and then spent several months on the road as a member of the Earl Bostic band that included Johnny Coles and Benny Golson. During this period he also worked with Shirley Bassey, Al Hibbler and Kenny Burrell.

It was back in New York that Freddy successfully laid the groundwork for a career that flourishes today, becoming a fixture in New York's elegant East Side Club Cafe Society. He developed a vast repertoire of songs and concurrently began to supplement his live performances with radio and television jingle work. (That's Freddy's voice on the Hilton Hotel's "You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To" campaign.)

A resident of Atlanta, Georgia since 1972, Freddy regularly tours the US., Europe, the Far East and South America. It has been suggested that he might have had more success had he not been Nat's younger brother, but Freddy disagrees. "I've not been hindered," he says. "Had there not been Nat Cole, there might not be Freddy Cole. In my way of looking at it, it's just lack of exposure. And timing plays an important part in everyone's life, too. Right now, I feel that my time has come. I've worked hard over the years to get to this point in life."

With his fifth CD released on the Fantasy label, Love Makes the Changes, Freddy's career continues to ascend. His vocals -- suave, elegant, articulate and polished -- are now among the most respected in jazz, and he's moved to the front ranks of America's home grown art form with a style and a musical sophistication that are uniquely his own. After many years, Freddy Cole has emerged from the awesome shadow cast by his older brother to receive the attention he so richly deserves.

A 7:00 p.m. "Jazz Talk" with Freddy Cole and host Dick Wright will precede the concert, which begins at 8:00. More information about this and other Folly Jazz concerts is available by calling the Folly Theater at (816) 474-4444 during regular business hours. (Reminder: Members of the Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors are entitled to special discounts to all Folly Jazz concerts.)

Doug Tatum is the Executive Director of the Folly Theater.

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© Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors 1996-2001. All rights reserved.






	Search our site:		by Doug Tatum On Friday, December 11, the Folly Jazz Series will present The Freddy Cole Quartet. Until fairly recently, Freddy Cole was one of the best kept secrets in jazz, despite having a well known last name and coming from a very musical family. Freddy's oldest brother, Nat "King" Cole, was certainly the most famous member of the family. And just like Nat, Freddy sings and plays the piano. Although there are certain unmistakable similarities (there is definitely a family sound), Freddy's voice has been described as smokier, jazzier even, than his brother's. In any case, Freddy certainly doesn't apologize for sounding so much like Nat. "I'm Not My Brother, I'm Me" is the title of one of Freddy's songs, and it pretty much sums up his response to the dilemma he's faced ever since he began performing professionally. "I'm not my brother, I'm just me... My brother made a whole lotta money, and I sing the blues/But I'm not tryin' to fill nobody's shoes." Freddy Cole was born on October 15, 1931, the youngest of Edward and Paulina Nancy Cole's five children. His three older brothers, Eddie, Ike and Nat (12 years his senior) were all musicians. "I started playing piano at five or six," Freddy remembers. "I just looked up and started playing. It was a musical gift, a blessing I guess... Music was all around me, even though there was an age difference between my brother and me, there was something special in our household... Nat used to come home to watch me play football." The older brother had some measure of success while the younger one was still in school. And in the Chicago home of Freddy's youth, visitors included Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Lionel Hampton and Billy Eckstine. Freddy credits Eckstine as a major influence. "He was a fantastic entertainer," Freddy recalls. "I learned so much from just watching and being around him." Freddy didn't become serious about music until much later, however. He was planning to be a pro athlete. "I was heavy into sports... all-state football, baseball, you name it. Unfortunately, I got hurt playing football, and I couldn't go on." There were several scholarship offers, Freddy says, and he was also scouted to play baseball. "The Dodgers wanted to sign me, but my Dad wouldn't let me." When the injury ended his hopes of getting a sports scholarship, Freddy began studying music seriously as well as playing and singing in Chicago clubs. Although he was ready to hit the road at 18, his mother intervened, so he continued his musical education at the Roosevelt Institute in Chicago. Freddy moved to New York in 1951 where he studied music at the Julliard School of Music. There, he was profoundly influenced by John Lewis, Oscar Peterson and Teddy Wilson. He got a Master's degree at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston and then spent several months on the road as a member of the Earl Bostic band that included Johnny Coles and Benny Golson. During this period he also worked with Shirley Bassey, Al Hibbler and Kenny Burrell. It was back in New York that Freddy successfully laid the groundwork for a career that flourishes today, becoming a fixture in New York's elegant East Side Club Cafe Society. He developed a vast repertoire of songs and concurrently began to supplement his live performances with radio and television jingle work. (That's Freddy's voice on the Hilton Hotel's "You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To" campaign.) A resident of Atlanta, Georgia since 1972, Freddy regularly tours the US., Europe, the Far East and South America. It has been suggested that he might have had more success had he not been Nat's younger brother, but Freddy disagrees. "I've not been hindered," he says. "Had there not been Nat Cole, there might not be Freddy Cole. In my way of looking at it, it's just lack of exposure. And timing plays an important part in everyone's life, too. Right now, I feel that my time has come. I've worked hard over the years to get to this point in life." With his fifth CD released on the Fantasy label, Love Makes the Changes, Freddy's career continues to ascend. His vocals -- suave, elegant, articulate and polished -- are now among the most respected in jazz, and he's moved to the front ranks of America's home grown art form with a style and a musical sophistication that are uniquely his own. After many years, Freddy Cole has emerged from the awesome shadow cast by his older brother to receive the attention he so richly deserves. A 7:00 p.m. "Jazz Talk" with Freddy Cole and host Dick Wright will precede the concert, which begins at 8:00. More information about this and other Folly Jazz concerts is available by calling the Folly Theater at (816) 474-4444 during regular business hours. (Reminder: Members of the Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors are entitled to special discounts to all Folly Jazz concerts.) Doug Tatum is the Executive Director of the Folly Theater. RETURN TO DECEMBER/JANUARY 1999 MAIN INDEX ------------------------------------------------------------------------ © Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors 1996-2001. All rights reserved.