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Freddy Cole

Lionel Frederick Cole was born on October 15, 1931, the youngest of Edward and Paulina Nancy Cole's five children.

Lionel Frederick Cole was born on October 15, 1931, the youngest of Edward and Paulina Nancy Cole's five children.

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Freddy Cole Biography

Lionel Frederick Cole was born on October 15, 1931, the youngest of Edward and Paulina Nancy Cole's five children. His three elder brothers, Eddie, Ike and Nat (twelve years, Freddy's senior) were all musicians. In the Chicago home of his youth, visitors included Duke Ellington, Count Basie, and Lionel Hampton. He also credits Billy Eckstine as a major influence.

After a possible career with the NFL was shelved due to a hand injury, Freddy Cole began playing and singing in Chicago clubs as a teenager. Although he was ready to hit the road at 18, his mother intervened and he continued his musical education at the Roosevelt Institute in Chicago. Freddy Cole moved to New York in 1951, where he studied at the Juilliard School of Music and found himself profoundly influenced by John Lewis, Oscar Peterson and Teddy Wilson. He got a master's degree at the New England Conservatory of Music and then spent several months on the road as a member of an Earl Bostic band that also included Johnny Coles and Benny Golson.

It was back in New York that Freddy Cole successfully laid the groundwork for a career that continues to flourish to this day. He developed a vast repertoire of songs in Manhattan bistros and concurrently began to supplement his live performances with television and radio commercial jingle work. A resident of Atlanta since 1972, he currently leads a trio made up of himself, guitarist Jerry Byrd, drummer Curtis Boyd and bassist Zachery Pride that regularly tours the US, Europe, the Far East and South America.

Freddy Cole has been a recording artist since 1952, when his first single, "The Joke's on Me", was released on an obscure Chicago based label. Freddy Cole recorded several albums for European and English companies during the '70s that helped him develop a loyal overseas following. He developed a stand up act, a better rapport with audiences, and learned to sing in other languages. "It made me much more of a performer".

Freddy Cole doesn't apologize for sounding like his brother, Nat "King" Cole. There are certain unmistakable similarities. He plays piano and sings and performs live with guitar and upright bass, just like Nat. Yet his voice is raspier, smokier, jazzier even. But he has emerged from the awesome shadow cast by his elder brother. In truth, his phrasing is far closer to that of Frank Sinatra or Billie Holiday than that of his brother and his timing swings a little more. His vocalsCsuave, elegant, formidable, and articulateCare among the most respected in jazz.

Cole's career continues to ascend as he's moved into the front ranks of America's homegrown art form with a style and musical sophistication all his own.

Freddy Cole Videos

  • Freddy Cole performs "I'm Not My Brother, I'm Me"

FAQs on booking Freddy Cole

  • How do I book Freddy Cole to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Freddy Cole for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Freddy Cole, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Freddy Cole or any other speaker of your choice.
  • What are the speaker fees for Freddy Cole

    Speaking fees for Freddy Cole, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Freddy Cole are for live events and for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Freddy Cole, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
  • What topics does Freddy Cole speak about?

    Freddy Cole is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Music.
  • Where does Freddy Cole travel from?

    Freddy Cole generally travels from an undisclosed location, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.
  • Who is Freddy Cole’s agent?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like Freddy Cole for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Freddy Cole for your next private or corporate function.
  • What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

    AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Freddy Cole or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
  • Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

    If you’re looking for the best, unbiased speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.

Freddy Cole is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics . The estimated speaking fee range to book Freddy Cole for your event is available upon request. Freddy Cole generally travels from and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Ian Mackaye, The Willis Clan, Stu Nudelman, Kongos and Duke Dumont. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Freddy Cole for an upcoming live or virtual event.

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