William “Cozy” Cole
October 17, 1909 – January 29, 1981
Cozy Cole was a jazz drummer whose career spanned from the 1930s to the 1970s. After his first job backing Wilber Sweatman in 1928, Cole joined up with the great Jelly Roll Morton. He subsequently played with the likes of Benny Carter and Cab Calloway. In 1938, Cole played on Benny Goodman’s “Topsy Part 2,” his lengthy solo being one of the few in history to land in the Top 5 of the pop charts. It peaked at #2 that year. Rock drummers like Cozy Powell are said to be heavily influenced by Cole. Cozy Cole died of cancer on January 29, 1981.