Lionel Cole
Lionel Cole is a pianist, songwriter, composer, music editor, music supervisor[1] and public speaker.[2] He has served as a regularly touring member of Mariah Carey's live band. Cole also partnered with Malcolm-Jamal Warner, to create the jazz and funk band Miles Long. [3] The first album "The Many Facets of Superman" [4] featured En Vogue's Cindy Heron and soul icon Teena Marie.[5]
Cole co-wrote the billboard chart topping single "Through the Rain" with Mariah Carey which appeared on Carey's ninth studio album Charmbracelet. The song peaked at number 81 on the Billboard Hot 100 and it hit number 1 on the U.S. sales and dance charts. Previously, Cole remixed the million selling cover single Hard To Say I'm Sorry by boy band AZ Yet. In 2010, Cole toured with 80's star Rickie Lee Jones.[6] From a storied musical family, he is the son of Freddy Cole, a Grammy nominated jazz vocalist, the nephew of Nat King Cole, and the cousin of Natalie Cole.[7]
Cole's music work extends into film and television, he composed for the Tim Reid film Once Upon a Time...When We Were Colored [8] and the Showtime series Linc's [9]
Biography: Lionel was born in New York City and grew up in Atlanta Georgia. He moved to Chicago to study singing at at Northwestern University then moved to L.A.
After moving to Los Angeles, Lionel worked as a staff composer/music editor with award winning producer, Steve Tyrell, on several television projects including NBC's California Dreams and The Brady Bunch Movie.. Lionel moved on to film composing for the highly acclaimed ONCE UPON A TIME...WHEN WE WERE COLORED.
Later Lionel and Malcolm Jamal Warner (Theo from The Cosby Show) partnered to form the jazz/funk band, Miles Long. The Miles Long album, The Many Facets of Superman featured En Vogue's Cindy Herron and soul icon, Teena Marie. Lionel had many roles on this project as lead singer, pianist, and producer. In addition he did a turn as a featured vocalist in John Powell's score for The Bourne Identity, a two year stint as band leader on the television series Malcolm and Eddie and played piano with Ivan Neville and his ensemble.
He was featured as part of Robert Downey Jr.’s band on the Oprah show, the Tonight Show, Ellen, and Good Morning America.
Lionel’s work with singer MARIAH CAREY, included piano playing on her #1 single, "Never Too Far Hero" and co-writing three songs notably the heartfelt hit "Through the Rain" from her multi-platinum album Charmbracelet. One of Lionel’s proudest moments was arranging the Star Spangled Banner for Mariah and the Boston Pops at the 2002 Superbowl following 9/11. Lionel also was featured keyboarding and background singing for Mariah's worldwide tour which played to sold-out audiences. For the last few years Lionel's creativity has been focused in work with longtime writing partner Randy Jackson from the television series American Idol.
He worked on countless projects including the Grammy nominated Sam Moore (of Sam and Dave) album “Overnight Sensation” and the Grammy award winning remake “A Family Affair” with Van Hunt, John Legend, and Joss Stone. That work lead to collaboration on “Walk on By” with pop prodigy Joss Stone featured on “Randy Jacksons Music Club Volume 1." The team also worked on the films produced by Walmart family pictures. 2010 brought a world tour with 1980‘s icon Rickie Lee Jones as her singer and multi-instrumentalist. This also landed Lionel in Sydney, Australia
He currenlty resides in Australia and performs regularly as lead singer with his band "COLE SOUL AND EMOTION".
References
- ↑ Lionel Cole IMDB
- ↑ Lionel Cole visits Thomas Hassall Anglican College
- ↑ Malcolm-Jamal Warner Biography Contemporary Black Biography | 2003 | Kiser, Helene | COPYRIGHT 2005 Thomson Gale
- ↑ St. Lucia Jazz .org
- ↑ Billboard Magazine Article, July 15, 2000
- ↑ Zarris, Venus (2010-03-27). "Rickie Lee Jones @ Lincoln Hall—CONCERT REVIEW". Chicago Stage Review. Retrieved 2010-10-01.
- ↑ Jazz Standard at Blue Smoke
- ↑ Once Upon a Time...When We Were Colored IMDB
- ↑ Linc's IMDB