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00000177-2120-db48-a97f-fb222fe30000 South Carolina Public Radio brings you coverage of Spoleto Festival USA in Charleston, SC, May 27 through June 12, with reports throughout the day on the artists, events, and organizers of both Spoleto and Piccolo Spoleto.Listen to Performance Today and Sonatas and Soundscapes each week day for previews of upcoming performances and guest interviews.Spoleto Coverage Archive

Freddy Cole: One of the Best Jazz Singers Alive

The Freddy Cole Quartet to perform at Spoleto Festival USA's Wells Fargo Jazz Series.
Courtesy of the artist

Freddy Cole

  Younger brother of the late Nat King Cole, Freddy Cole has been hailed as one of the best male jazz singers of his generation. He performs with his quartet at Spoleto Festival USA.

Pianist and vocalist Freddy Cole is one of the great lyrical storytellers of our time. The New York Times has praised his impeccable sense of swing and said that “he is, overall, the most maturely expressive male jazz singer of his generation, if not the best alive.” Cole was born in Chicago, the youngest in a family of musicians, including his brother Nat King Cole. He was influenced by pianists such as Teddy Wilson and John Lewis and developed his sound as a vocalist with guidance from his friend and mentor Billy Eckstine. Cole performs and tours regularly, leading a quartet with guitarist Randy Napoleon, bassist Elias Bailey, and drummer Quentin Baxter. The Freddy Cole Quartet performs Wednesday June 8 through Saturday June 11 at 5 and 7 pm at the Simons Center Recital Hall at the College of Charleston.

The Freddy Cole Quartet at Spoleto