ATLANTA — Jazz great Freddy Cole, the younger brother of Nat “King” Cole who built his own reputation as a pianist and vocalist, died Saturday, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. He was 88.
The cause was complications from a cardiovascular ailment, his manager, Suzi Reynolds, told The Washington Post.
Freddy Cole, an Atlanta resident, long performed in the shadow of his famous brother – a towering figure in jazz and popular music. But he earned plaudits of his own – including Grammy nominations – during a decades-long career playing traditional jazz, swing and the blues. Most recently, he was nominated last year for best jazz vocal album for “My Mood Is You.”
“I love to play anywhere I can play,” Cole told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution in a 2014 interview.
Cole’s signature song – “I’m Not My Brother, I’m Me” – delighted audiences. But he told the AJC he was proud of Nat, and the brothers had a great relationship.
This story was written by David Wickert for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
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