Brian Cole (musician)
Brian Leslie Cole (September 8, 1942 – August 2, 1972) was the bass guitarist, bass vocalist[1] and one of the founding members of the 1960s folk rock band the Association.[2]
Brian Cole | |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Brian Leslie Cole |
| Born | September 8, 1942 Tacoma, Washington, U.S. |
| Died | August 2, 1972 (aged 29) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instrument(s) | Bass guitar |
Early life
Brian Leslie Cole was born in Tacoma, Washington to Perry Anthony Cole and Violet Elanor Cole. By the early 1960s, he and his family were living in Portland, Oregon and was a father of two.[3] Cole attended Portland State University, before dropping out a year later. Prior to working as a musician, he had moved to Los Angeles, and was working as a lumberjack, before he began work as an actor and comedian.[4]
The Association
In 1966, Cole co-founded the folk rock band The Association, a band that had previously been a thirteen-piece ensemble called The Men. The Association signed to Valiant Records in 1966, and released their debut album And Then... Along Comes the Association, shortly after. The Association are best known for their songs “Cherish”, “Along Comes Mary”, “Windy” and “Never My Love”. The Association were an opening act at the Monterey Pop Festival. The group were known for their harmonies. Brian sang bass vocals in their songs.
Unlike the other members, Cole rarely sang lead, most notably singing lead on the song "Reputation", featured on the Association's 1967 album Insight Out. As a member of the Association, he has been nominated for a Grammy Award six times, three times each in the 9th and 10th Annual Grammy Awards, both of which were held in 1967 and 1968, respectively.[5]
In August 1969, a collection of Poems, penned by the seven members of the Association, were released as the book "Crank Your Spreaders".[6][7][8]
Personal Life and Death
He has three sons, Jordan, Chandler, and Brant. Jordan Cole is now a member of the Association, and has provided keyboards, guitar, vocals and drums since 1999.[9][10] Brant Cole is a drummer for the Los Angeles-based band Briana and the Fates.
Cole became a heavy drug user in his final years and died in Los Angeles of a heroin overdose at the age of 29, a few weeks before his 30th birthday.[11] Cole’s last release with the Association was their album, Waterbeds in Trinidad! which was released four months prior.
Cole, known for performing with a Gibson semi-hollow bass guitar on stage, had put the signature bass in his attic sometime in 1969, where it was left for nearly three decades after his death, when his son Jordan discovered the guitar, and had it restored in 1997.[3]
Discography
Albums
| Title | Year |
|---|---|
| And Then... Along Comes the Association | 1966 |
| Renaissance | 1966 |
| Insight Out | 1967 |
| Birthday | 1968 |
| The Association | 1969 |
| Stop Your Motor | 1971 |
| Waterbeds in Trinidad! | 1972 |
Singles
| Year | Titles | US | USCashbox | AUS | UK | Certification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1965 | "Babe I'm Gonna Leave You"
b/w "Baby, Can't You Hear Me Call Your Name" |
— | — | — | — | |
| "One Too Many Mornings"
b/w "Forty Times" |
— | — | — | — | ||
| 1966 | "Along Comes Mary"
b/w "Your Own Love" |
7 | 9 | — | 52 | |
| "Cherish"
b/w "Don't Blame It on Me" (titled "Don't Blame the Rain" on non-U.S. 45s) |
1 | 1 | 33 | — | US: Gold | |
| "Pandora's Golden Heebie Jeebies"
b/w "Standing Still" (from And Then...Along Comes the Association) |
35 | 26 | — | — | ||
| 1967 | "No Fair at All" /
"Looking Glass" |
51
113 |
53 | — | — | |
| "Windy"
b/w "Sometime" |
1 | 1 | 34 | 53 | US: Platinum | |
| "Never My Love" /
"Requiem for the Masses" |
2
100 |
1 | — | — | US: Platinum | |
| 1968 | "Everything That Touches You"
b/w "We Love Us" (from Insight Out) |
10 | 11 | — | — | |
| "Time for Livin'"
b/w "Birthday Morning" |
39 | 22 | — | 23 | ||
| "Six Man Band"
b/w "Like Always" (from Birthday) |
47 | 29 | — | — | ||
| 1969 | "The Time It Is Today"
b/w "Enter the Young" (from And Then...Along Comes the Association) |
— | — | — | — | |
| "Goodbye, Columbus"
b/w "The Time It Is Today" (from Birthday) |
80 | 78 | — | — | ||
| "Under Branches"
b/w "Hear in Here" (from Birthday) |
117 | — | — | — | ||
| 1970 | "Yes, I Will"
b/w "I Am Up for Europe" |
120 | — | — | ||
| "Dubuque Blues"
b/w "Are You Ready" |
— | 84 | — | — | ||
| "Just About the Same"
b/w "Look at Me, Look at You" (from The Association) |
106 | 91 | — | — | ||
| "Along the Way"
b/w "Traveler's Guide" |
— | — | — | — | ||
| 1971 | "P.F. Sloan"
b/w "Traveler's Guide" |
— | — | — | — | |
| "Bring Yourself Home"
b/w "It's Gotta Be Real" |
— | — | — | — | ||
| "That's Racin'"
b/w "Makes Me Cry" (alternate title for "Funny Kind of Song") |
— | — | — | — | ||
| 1972 | "Darlin' Be Home Soon"
b/w "Indian Wells Woman" |
104 | 90 | — | — | |
| "Come the Fall"
b/w "Kicking the Gong Around" |
— | — | — | — |
Nominations
As a member of the Association, he has been nominated for a Grammy Award six times, three times each in the 9th and 10th Annual Grammy Awards:
9th Annual Grammy Awards (1967)
| Category | Song | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Best Contemporary Group Performance | Cherish | [5] |
| Best Contemporary Recording | Cherish | |
| Best Performance By A Vocal Group | Cherish |
10th Annual Grammy Awards (1968)
| Category | Song/Album | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Best Contemporary Group Performance | Windy | [5] |
| Best Contemporary Album | Insight Out | |
| Best Performance By A Vocal Group | Never My Love |
References
- Searles, Malcolm C. (2018). The Association 'cherish' : the story of America's first folk-rock band. Kibworth Beauchamp. p. 286. ISBN 978-1-78901-361-0. OCLC 1052448729.
- Simmonds, Jeremy (2003). The Encyclopedia of Dead Rock Stars: Heroin, Handguns, and Ham Sandwiches. Chicago Review Press. p. 56. ISBN 978-1-55652-754-8.
- "Restored Bass Guitar From '60s Pop Group Is Memento Of Dad | The Spokesman-Review". www.spokesman.com. Retrieved April 21, 2023.
- Macamba0 (March 6, 2017). "Brian Cole 8/1972". Rock and Roll Paradise. Retrieved August 28, 2022.
- "Brian Cole - Grammy". www.grammy.com. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
- group), Association (Musical (1966). Crank Your Spreaders. Price, Stern, Sloan Pub.
- "The Association - Crank Your Spreaders". 45worlds. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
- "THE ASSOCIATION : CRANK YOUR SPREADERS. RARE PHOTO-ILLUSTRATED BAND PUBLICATION. Los Angeles: Price/Stern/Sloan and Beechwood Music Corporation, 1969. by The Association (band): Very Good. Paperback (1969) | Once Read Books". www.abebooks.com. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
- Eder, Bruce. "Brian Cole Biography". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved November 7, 2012.
- "On Stage". www.theassociationwebsite.com. Retrieved April 21, 2023.
- Bronson, Fred (2003). The Billboard Book of Number One Hits. Random House. p. 226. ISBN 978-0-8230-7677-2.