Edwin LeMar Cole known as Buddy Cole was a jazz pianist, orchestra leader, and Theatre Organist. He played behind a number of pop singers, including Rosemary Clooney, Jill Corey, and The Four Lads, who recorded for Columbia Records.

Buddy Cole was born in Irving, Illinois, and started his musical career in the theater playing between movies. He moved to Hollywood and played with a couple of bands, most notably the Alvino Ray big band, before becoming a studio musician. He played piano for Bing Crosby for a number of years and also toured with Rosemary Clooney. Albums with his combo were recorded on piano and Hammond organ.

Although primarily known as a pianist, he had an abiding love for the organ, both Hammond and theatre pipe. In his capacity as a studio musician, he worked extensively with Henry Mancini, who used his distinctive Hammond organ sound for the sound track to the TV series “Mr. Lucky.” He also recorded several albums for Warner Brothers records on piano, Hammond organ and theatre pipe organ.

The theatre organ heard on these albums was the 17-rank Wurlitzer organ from the United Artists theatre plus nine ranks from a one-time radio studio Robert Morton theatre organ which he had installed in the garage of a former residence in North Hollywood and on which he recorded three albums for the Columbia and Capitol labels. The combined ranks were installed in a specially built studio next to his home.

Sound clips featuring Buddy Cole demonstrating the sounds of the organ can be heard By clicking here.

PIPES, PEDALS & FIDELITY / HITS OF THE GOLDEN AGE OF THE DANCE BAND  (with the 1940 All Stars: 16 hand picked players under the control of Monty Kelly, with Buddy at the organ)  This was his last commercial release. However, 16 years after his death DORIC RECORDS released BUDDY COLE REMEMBERED which comprised of 12 previously un-released solo pipe organ tracks. – Alan Ashton.

Two albums – “Modern Pipe Organ” and “Autumn Nocturne” were recorded for Warner Brothers, as well as two albums done in conjunction with arranger Monty Kelly, one of which contained an arrangement of Richard Rodgers Slaughter on Tenth Avenue, and the other of which contained transcriptions of big band arrangements with spaces for the organ. These two albums – for the Alshire label – were his last recordings.

A very unique interpretation of the Plantation Boogie made popular by Lenny Dee by Buddy Cole at the Hammond Organ with a chorus like the Andrew Sisters.

Sadly, Buddy suffered a series of heart attacks during the early sixties culminating in a fatal one in 1964.

Buddy Cole – (December 15, 1916 – November 5, 1964).

My thanks to Alan Ashton for kindly providing additional photography.