Jazz drummer William Randolph Cole, best known as Cozy Cole, was born on January 17th, 1909 in East Orange, New Jersey, and was the only drummer who scored a # 1 Cashbox magazine hit with the record "Topsy Part 2". "Topsy" peaked at number three on Billboard Hot 100, and at number one on the R&B chart.
The recording contained a lengthy drum solo, and was one of the few drum solo recordings that ever made the Billboard Hot 100 (1958) chart. The single was issued on the tiny Brooklyn-based Love Records label.
His first music job was with Wilbur Sweatman in 1928. In 1930 he played for Jelly Roll Morton's Red Hot Peppers, recording an early drum solo on "Load of Cole". He spent 1931–33 with Blanche Calloway, 1933-34 with Benny Carter, 1935-36 with Willie Bryant, 1936-38 with Stuff Smith's small combo, and 1938-42 with Cab Calloway. In 1942, he was hired by CBS Radio music director Raymond Scott as part of network radio's first mixed-race orchestra. After that he played with Louis Armstrong All Stars. Cole appeared in music-related films, including a brief cameo in Don't knock the Rock.
Throughout the 1960s and 1970s he continued to perform in a variety of settings. Cole and Gene Krupa often played duets at the Metropole in New York City during the 1950s and 60s.
Cole passed away in 1981, in Columbus, Ohio.
Topsy Part II
Fonte - Wikipédia
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