"The First Lady of Song"
Linda
has sung professionally since she was 3 years old. Her family group,
"The Singing Coles" are a part of Illinois music history. They began
with religious songs, then added popular music to their
programs.
The
Cole family made their mark in the U.S. music scene. Linda branched
out into rhythm and blues. She was known in the famous Detroit
MoTown appearing with such groups as The Spinners, Count Basie, and many
others.
Linda is acknowledged as having
the "smoothest voice" in the business. She is currently appearing in
jazz spots, night clubs and restaurants throughout the Southeastern
U.S. She continues to mentor the young and
choirs.
Most important, Linda was
there when the great songs were written. She can talk about
the authors first hand, and has the original scores, many written just for
her.
Style
Linda Cole isn’t a song stylist but an
interpreter who brings a conversational intimacy to the most familiar
standards. And she relates to her trio musician to musician, not singer
to singer.
Evelyn McGee Stone, a jazz singer a generation
older, said Cole reminds her of the late Carmen McRae and is the best
singer she has heard since moving to Florida.
"She has the feel of what I grew up with,
singing with the great artists in the late ‘30s and early ‘40s," McGee
Stone said. "I just think she’s delightful. I know that she’s going to
go far."
On stage, Cole is always keenly aware of what’s
going on around her, rhythmically and harmonically. A self-confessed
"frustrated bass player," she sometimes mimes a bass line with one hand
while holding her microphone in the other. She likes to sidle up behind
her bassist when he solos, soaking up the warm tones as they emanate
from the back of the instrument.
Central Florida is fortunate to have such
a wonderful and talented performer!
Home Page
