About this artist
American jazz singer, pianist, composer, arranger, and artist.
Born: 8 September 1932 in New York City, New York, USA.
Died: 19 December 1996 in New York City, New York, USA (aged 64).
Cole grew up in Astoria, Queens, and after service in the US Army, he returned to New York to begin his career, starting working originally with a group called the Bobby Cole Band, composed of members of those musicians he knew from Astoria. Bobby worked for years with jazz drummer Tony Lupo.
He worked as a musical arranger for The Judy Garland Show hosted by Judy Garland, succeeding Mel Tormé, and conducted the orchestra for her 1967 "Palace" concerts and album, and was the conductor and musical director on her last tour.
He died of a heart attack near the Upper East Side trattoria "Campagnola", where he worked from 1992 for what would be a four-year tenure.