A Profile on Richie Cole
It all started when a saxophone player named George Washington Jones left an Alto Saxophone at The Harlem Club, a Jazz club on Brunswick Avenue in Trenton, New Jersey. Richie Cole’s father owned the club, along with Hubby’s Inn, a Las Vegas showroom, in Ewing Township.
“I grew up with this instrument [Jone’s alto saxophone] in the box and I was fascinated about how it worked,” said Cole. Cole began playing the alto saxophone at age 10 in his hometown of Trenton.
“Being as I had an alto sax, I chose to play it all during my childhood,” said Cole.
Throughout his time at Alfred Reed Elementary School and his four years at Ewing High School, Cole was in the band, marching band and orchestras. Looking back at his experience with the his school’s music department, Cole could not be happier.
“The music program and my music teachers at the time were the best,” said Cole. “They were very dedicated and supportive.”
Cole’s talent won him a full scholarship from Down Beat Magazine to the Berkeley School of Music in Boston for two and a half years. Shortly after in 1969, Cole joined the Buddy Rich Band—which he claims, up to that point, was the best experience of his life. After stints with Lionel Hampton Big Band and the Doc Severinsen Big Band, Cole formed his own quintet and toured worldwide. He put in a great effort to popularize bebop, a type of jazz originating in the 1940s and characterized by complex harmony and rhythms, and his own “Alto Madness” style in the 70’s and early 80’s.
“Having grown up with the Big Band sound in my mind, I decided to form my own Big Band,” said Cole. “Having studied composing and arranging over the years, I came up with the concept to get the same sounds of 12 horns with only 4.”
Cole’s list of accomplishments is quite extensive. He performed and recorded with artists such as Eddie Jefferson, the Manhattan Transfer, Bobby Enriquez, and Freddie Hubbard—to name a few. He performed at the Village Vanguard, at Carnegie Hall four times, and even put on a performance for the Queen of England. In addition, Cole has recorded over 50 albums and CDs including his top hit album “Hollywood Madness.” Not to mention, he even finds time to share his love of music with younger generations and is actively recording, touring and presenting university master classes.
“I have so many great memories in my career and life that it is impossible to name one,” said Cole. “I have been very fortunate to have gotten to know and in many cases to have performed and recorded with my childhood heroes.”
Cole also developed the Alto Madness Orchestra in the early 90s and its popularity is continuing to grow today. According to Cole, the idea of the Orchestra is the concept and sound of an eighteen-piece big band using seven instruments, four of which are horns.
One can imagine that with such a vast amount of accomplishments, choosing one that stands out the most can be difficult.
“It is difficult to tell you my one greatest accomplishment,” said Cole. “I have performed at Carnegie Hall four times, traveled around the world for 40 years, worked with my heroes, written over 5,000 compositions and recorded over 50 records for my own and countless other artists.”
Cole was appointed to the Board of the National Jazz Service Organization and the Board for the National Endowment for the Arts where he served as chairman for a year, and is also a charter member of the International Association of Jazz Educators. In 2005, he received the State of California Congressional Certificate of Lifetime Achievement in Jazz on behalf of the Temecula Jazz Society.
With such an extensive list of accomplishments, his list of people to thank for his success is endless—Buddy Rich, Eddie Jefferson, the Manhattan Transfer, Anita O’Day, Bobby Enriquez, Nancy Wilson, Lionel Hampton, Doc Severenson, Johnny Carson, Sonny Stitt, Mr. Lauffer and Mr. Snyder from Ewing High School.
“I could keep going on and on,” said Cole. “And of course all my dedicated fans and friends over the years.”
Cole’s worldwide success and recognition can be attributed to his determination, passion, and creativity. His musical legacy continues to live on every day.
“My inspiration of my music comes from my inspiration of my life—what I’ve seen, what I’ve done and what I’ve dreamed of,” said Cole.
