Edwin LeMar “Buddy” Cole (December 15, 1916 – November 5, 1964), was a jazz pianist, organist, orchestra leader, and composer. He played behind a number of pop singers, including Rosemary Clooney and Bing Crosby.Cole was born in Irving, Illinois, on December 15, 1916. He started his musical career in the theater, playing between movies. He was recruited to be part of Gil Evans‘s band at the age of 19.In Hollywood in the second half of the 1930s Cole played in dance bands, including those led by Alvino Rey and Frankie Trumbauer. He married Yvonne King, member of the King Sisters, in 1940. From the 1940s, his main work was as a studio musician, utilising piano, electric organ, celeste, harpsichord and Novachord.

In his capacity as a studio musician, Cole worked with Henry Mancini, who used his Hammond organ sound for the sound track to the TV series “Mr. Lucky“. Cole also recorded several organ albums for Warner Brothers, Columbia, Alshire and Doric.

Cole performed on Bing Crosby‘s hits “In a Little Spanish Town” and “Ol’ Man River“, and on the albums Some Fine Old Chestnuts and New Tricks. Cole also played on Rosemary Clooney‘s radio program; some recordings from the show were released on the album Swing Around Rosie.

Cole played most of the piano parts in the 1951 film Young Man with a Horn, subbing for Hoagy Carmichael, who appeared on screen. Cole also wrote the music for the television game show Truth or Consequences. He died in Hollywood on November 5, 1964