Jazz for Dabblers is a roundup of some of the fun and/or oddball little stories behind the great music of jazz. In this instalment, a short story about Nat "King" Cole's baby brother, Freddy.
All families have dynamics. It's part of being a family.
It would be a challenge to be in the same business as your brother, especially if your brother was an international icon. Freddy Cole knows first-hand. His brother was Nat King Cole.
Like his big brother Nat, Freddy is a jazz pianist and singer. But Freddy's career has been a walk, while Nat's career was a sprint. Freddy studied piano at Juilliard School of music and then went to work playing in jazz bands to build his chops.
Eventually, Freddy would record albums and tour under his own name but he was still in the shadow of his brother. Freddy bubbled to the surface one day at a time and one fan at a time. In 2006, he was the subject of a documentary about his life called The Cole Nobody Knows.
Now you know Freddy Cole but, here's a song to make sure of it.
Related:
Kevin Coelho takes his Hammond B3 driver's test
Listen to Freddy Cole's groovy take on Borther, where are you?