DEC 19, 1996 my friend Bobby Cole died. He was a hard drinker and a hard smoker, and he worked nightclubs filled with the same. Back then there were no laws about "taking it outside" if you wanted to light up, so he took in plenty of second hand smoke, too. He had heart problems and one evening, perhaps rendered into a less painless state by alcohol, he was seen steadying himself by holding onto a pole, and slowly sinking to the sidewalk. He died on his way to the hospital.
In his last years he was vibrant, gregarious, and only slightly mellowed from the hell-raiser he had been when Sinatra was his pal and Judy Garland his squeeze. That he dated a much younger woman, and had young friends, was testimony to the fact that he was still thinking young, himself. A set might include "A-Train" and "After You've Gone" but also "Whiter Shade of Pale" or Leonard Cohen's "Closing Time."
There's a new album by Freddy Cole, brother of Nat "King" Cole, not Bobby. Freddy's new CD includes a cover of the smoke-dream ballad, "You Could Hear a Pin Drop." Here it is, 11 years after Bobby died, 40 since Bobby wrote and recorded it. Below, you also get Bobby's original version. Take a few minutes, and maybe raise a glass while you listen...
YOU COULD HEAR A PIN DROP FREDDY COLE
YOU COULD HEAR A PIN DROP BOBBY COLE
I'm interested in Bobby's early life. I understand he wasn't born "Coles" but shortened it from a longer Italian surname. Could it have been Sarnicola? If you know for sure his birth name please drop a note to shopandawe at verizon.net
ReplyDeleteBobbys last name was Sanicole
ReplyDeleteTo the person who maintains this website or to anyone else: Can you help me make contact with Bobby Cole's heirs? I know he had a daughter named Stefanie. Royalties have accrued to Bobby's credit and are payable to his heirs, if I can find them. Understand that this is not a marketing ploy. These royalties do exist. I may be reached at 732-223-8460 or at Lozea@premiermuzik.com
ReplyDeleteYes Bobby had a daughter and a Grandchild..I always had heard his last name was Senicola never from Bobby directly but from guys who supposedly knew..All gone now too.. you would probably be hard pressed to find any of Bobbys friends from 30 or 40 yrs ago around I am one, but most of the crowd I went with in those days are all gone as well.We no longer frequent "the scene" here in NY because ,well, there isn't one!! not for us anyway.There will never be another Bobby, not as far as I'm concerned..
ReplyDeleteTo Bernie L., hope Bobby's daughter sees this blog entry and contacts you. She chose to behave in a way that led quite a few of Bobby's friends to cross her out of their address books.
ReplyDeleteBobby's last name wasn't Sarnicola or Sanicole, it was Sarnicole. (Italian for St. Nicholas). Bobby had a brother, Frank Sarnicole who died back in 1980.
Ill Folks, do you know how Frank Sarnicole died? (He was my piano teacher for six years when I was a little boy.)
ReplyDeleteHi David, I'm a little hazy on what happened to Frank. I sort of remember Bobby mentioning that Frank's death was one of the tragedies that he had in his memory, something about a fall that was either suicide or an accident. Frank was born in May of 1936 and died in April 1980.
ReplyDeleteThank you very much for telling me. In a weird sort of way, I almost feel relieved that he died fast rather than suffering from either cancer or some horrible degenerative disease at that young age.
ReplyDelete