Paddy Cole, a renowned Irish musician known for his swing and jazz talent, passed away at the age of 84. Cole's life was dedicated to music, starting with his father's band at age 12. He performed with various showbands, including the Capitol Showband, Brendan Bowyer and the Big Eight Showband, and even spent time playing in Las Vegas, where he rubbed shoulders with celebrities like Elvis Presley and Muhammad Ali. Cole later formed his own band, The Paddy Cole Superstars, and played with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band in New Orleans, a highlight of his career. He also dedicated time to charitable causes and advocating for artists' rights.
It was not unusual for his Las Vegas dressing room to be visited by stars including the likes of Elvis Presley, Rock Hudson, Muhammad Ali and members of the Rat PackRetaining the passion that steers anyone on their career path is a challenge, but Paddy Cole ’s love for the music that defined his life was undimmed to the very end.
Family was always central to his life. He married Helen from Drumcolliher in 1965, and they lived in Castleblayney, where later they bought and ran a very successful pub and restaurant, Paddy Cole’s Place, where he frequently performed. Cole had the honour of playing with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band in New Orleans, with his performance rated by one of the band members as “not bad for a white guy”. Cole greatly appreciated this opportunity to play in what is considered to be the birthplace of jazz and headlining his own shows on Bourbon Street marked the pinnacle of his career in many ways.
While the world grappled with the pandemic in 2020, Cole published his autobiography, Paddy Cole: King of the Swingers. It chronicled a life lived to the full, defined by an irrepressible wit and passion for music and people, followed closely by an innately competitive love for golf. He was a member of Castle Golf Club in Dublin and Lahinch in Co Clare. On both courses, every €5 note would be played for as if it was his last.
President Michael D Higgins stated that “the loss of Paddy Cole is the loss of one of the founding icons of the great period of the Irish showbands.”
PADDY COLE MUSICIAN JAZZ SHOWBAND LAS VEGAS IRELAND CHARITY
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