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Irving Cottler

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Irving Cottler
Born(1918-02-13)February 13, 1918
Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
DiedAugust 8, 1989(1989-08-08) (aged 71)
Templeton, California, U.S.
GenresBig band
OccupationMusician
Instrument(s)Drums and vibraphone
Years active1938–1989

Irving Cottler (February 13, 1918 – August 8, 1989) was an American musician, and an early member of The Wrecking Crew. His credits include "L-O-V-E", "Impossible", "Stardust", and "Unforgettable", recorded with Nat King Cole. Cottler also recorded and performed live with Frank Sinatra, Louis Armstrong, Bing Crosby, Walt Disney, Peggy Lee, Dinah Shore, Ella Fitzgerald, Neal Hefti, Nelson Riddle, Count Basie, and many others. He was best known as the drummer for Sinatra, with whom he worked for over 30 years beginning in 1955.

Career

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Cottler, born in Brooklyn in 1918, was a self-taught percussionist who began providing rhythm for the bands performing in the Catskills in New York when he was only 14. At an early age he began working with such big-band leaders as Red Norvo, Van Alexander, Larry Clinton, Alvino Ray, Claude Thornhill, Les Brown and Tommy Dorsey.

In the early 1950s, Cottler was the drummer for the NBC live broadcasts from Hollywood, and for The Dinah Shore Show. Frank Sinatra made an appearance on the show and loved Cottler's distinctive sound.[1] Sinatra offered Cottler double what NBC was paying him.

Cottler's first recording session with Sinatra was in October 1955 on "Love Is Here To Stay", and he played on many of the remaining Songs For Swingin' Lovers tracks, alternating with Alvin Stoller. From 1956 on, he was Sinatra's preferred drummer and played on a world tour with Sinatra in 1962, as well as on his many TV recordings.[1]

Cottler went on to perform as the drummer and percussionist on dozens of hit songs for multiple artists, including "(Love Is) The Tender Trap", "South of the Border", "I've Got You Under My Skin", and "Nice 'n' Easy" with Sinatra. In the early 1960s, Cottler was the drummer and percussionist on many Disney films, including Herbie, The Jungle Book, and Mary Poppins.

Death

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Cottler died of a heart attack in Templeton, California, at the age of 71.[2]

Discography

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With Count Basie

With Pat Boone

  • Pat Boone Sings Guess Who? (London, 1963)

With Hoagy Carmichael

With Ray Charles

With Rosemary Clooney

  • Love (Reprise, 1963)

With Nat King Cole

With Sammy Davis Jr.

With Billy Eckstine

With Stan Kenton

With Barney Kessel

With Skip Martin and His Orchestra

With Dean Martin

With André Previn

  • Let's Get Away From It All (Decca, 1955)

With Carly Simon

With Frank Sinatra

With Keely Smith

Bibliography

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  • Cottler, Irv (2000). I've Got You Under My Skins. Alfred Music. ISBN 978-0739017074.

References

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  1. ^ a b Borst, Tracy (April 1981). "Irv Cottler: Keeper of the Time". Modern Drummer. ISSN 0194-4533.
  2. ^ "Drummer Irv Cottler, 71; Called 'Best in the Business' by Sinatra". Los Angeles Times. August 10, 1989.
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