Dolo Coker

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Dolo Coker
Born	November 16, 1927
Died	April 13, 1983
Genre(s)	Jazz
Occupation(s)	pianist, composer
Instrument(s)	piano
Label(s)	Xanadu Records
Associated acts	Blue Mitchell, Art Pepper

Charles Mitchell “Dolo” Coker (November 16, 1927 – April 13, 1983 was an accomplished jazz pianist and composer. He spent his early years as an in-demand sideman, accompanying such artists as Ben Webster, Clifford Brown, Arnett Cobb, Howard McGhee, Kenny Dorham, Art Pepper, Blue Mitchell, Sonny Stitt, Gene Ammons, Lou Donaldson, Erskine Hawkins, Dexter Gordon, Philly Joe Jones, and Clyde McPhatter.

[edit] Biography

Charles Mitchell “Dolo” Coker was born in Hartford, CT on November 16, 1927, raised in both Philadelphia, PA and Florence, SC. The first musical instruments Coker played in childhood were the C-melody and alto saxophones, learning them at a school in Camden, SC. By the age of thirteen he was starting to play piano. Coker moved to Philadelphia, where he studied piano at the Landis School of Music and at Orenstein's Conservatory. Coker also played some shows on piano for Jimmy Heath while in Philadelphia.

Coker did not record his own album as a leader until 1976, when he recorded his debut “Dolo!” with Blue Mitchell, Harold Land, Leroy Vinnegar and Frank Butler. That following day he recorded California Hard for Xanadu Records, with Art Pepper replacing Harold Land on sax. Following “California Hard” were “Third Down” and “All Alone”. He continued to work as a sideman for other artists until he died of cancer at the age of fifty-five on April 13, 1983.