The great jazz Freddy Cole dies at 88

06/29/2020 Business, Sports, World


Jazz great Freddy Cole, the younger brother of Nat “King” Cole, who built his own reputation as a pianist and vocalist, died Saturday. He was 88 years old.

The cause was complications from cardiovascular disease, its manager, Suzi Reynolds, told The Washington Post.

Freddy Cole, an Atlanta resident, long acted in the shadow of his famous brother, a leading figure in jazz and popular music. But he earned his own applause, including Grammy nominations, over a decades-long career playing traditional jazz, swing, and blues. Most recently, he was nominated last year for Best Jazz Vocal Album for “My Mood Is You”.

“I love to play anywhere I can play,” Cole told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution in a 2014 interview.

Cole’s signature song – “I’m not my brother, it’s me” – delighted the audience. But she told AJC that she was proud of Nat, and that the brothers had a great relationship.

“My brother was a wonderful man,” he said. “He loved music. He loved people and would encourage anyone. “

Freddy Cole also had many fans.

“He always tells different stories with his songs,” friend and musician-songwriter Bill Charlap told AJC in 2014. “The lyrics mean something. That is a very special Cole dynasty.

"You don't know what I can play at," he told AJC. "It may come as a surprise to me."

Read and sign Freddy Cole's online guestbook