| Mike Cotton | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Michael Edward Cotton |
| Born | 12 August 1939 Tottenham, North London |
| Origin | Hackney, London |
| Genres | Jazz |
| Instruments | Trumpet, flugelhorn, harmonica, vocalist |
| Labels | Columbia Records |
| Associated acts | Dave Rowberry, The Kinks |
Michael Edward 'Mike' Cotton (born 12 August 1939 ) is an English jazz and R&B trumpeter, flugelhornist, harmonicist, vocalist and bandleader born in Tottenham, North London.[1] He is best-known for leading his band under the names The Mike Cotton Jazzmen and The Mike Cotton Sound,[1]
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Mike Cotton formed The Mike Cotton Jazzmen in the early 1950s during the 'Trad Jazz' boom.[1] From 1962 he changed the groups name to The Mike Cotton Sound, and their musical direction to a more pop-based style,[1] achieving a UK chart hit single "Swing That Hammer" that year.[1] They appeared in a performance in the 1962 film, The Wild and the Willing.
Member Dave Rowberry left the band in 1965 to join The Animals,[2] and among those who auditioned to take his place were Elton John and Joe Cocker;. Ultimately the position went to Eric Delaney. In 1966 Cotton changed the band's style again to a more soul-based sound and brought in a second vocalist.[1] The band backed a number of artists in live and studio work at various times during the 1960s, including Sugar Pie DeSanto, Gene Pitney, Stevie Wonder, Doris Troy, The Four Tops and Solomon Burke.
When their bass player, Jim Rodford, joined his cousin Rod Argent in his new band Argent[1] in 1969, Cotton changed the band's name to the more modern-sounding Satisfaction, and recorded one album under that name in 1970 before splitting up.[1] He retained the brass section, and this line-up, working again under the name Mike Cotton Sound, joined The Kinks,[1] firstly on their 1971 album Muswell Hillbillies, and then appearing with them both in the studio and in concert until the mid-1970s; after which Cotton returned to playing jazz.
With Andy Cooper