Charles Mitchell "Dolo" Coker (November 16, 1927 – April 13, 1983) was a jazz pianist and composer who recorded four albums for Xanadu Records and performed extensively as a sideman for artists including Sonny Stitt, Gene Ammons, Lou Donaldson, Art Pepper, Philly Joe Jones, and Dexter Gordon.[ Allmusic]
Biography Charles Mitchell "Dolo" Coker was born in Hartford, Connecticut on November 16, 1927, raised in both Philadelphia and Florence, South Carolina. The first musical instruments Coker played in childhood were the C-melody and alto saxophones, learning them at a school in Camden, South Carolina. By the age of thirteen he was starting to play piano. Coker moved to Philadelphia, where he studied piano at the Landis School of Music and at Orenstein's Conservatory. Coker also played some shows on piano for Jimmy Heath while in Philadelphia.
He was also a member of the Frank Morgan Quartet (with Flip Greene on bass and Larance Marable on drums).
Coker did not record his own album as a leader until 1976, when he recorded his debut Dolo! with Blue Mitchell, Harold Land, Leroy Vinnegar and Frank Butler. That following day he recorded California Hard for Xanadu Records, with Art Pepper replacing Harold Land on sax. Following California Hard were Third Down and All Alone. He continued to work as a sideman for other artists until he died of cancer at the age of fifty-five on April 13, 1983.
Discography
As leader/co-leader Year recordedTitleLabelNotes1976Dolo!XanaduOne track trio, with Leroy Vinnegar (bass), Frank Butler (drums); most tracks quintet, with Blue Mitchell (trumpet, flugelhorn), Harold Land (tenor sax) added1976California HardXanaduQuintet, with Blue Mitchell (trumpet, flugelhorn), Art Pepper (alto sax, tenor sax), Leroy Vinnegar (bass guitar), Frank Butler (drums)1977Third DownXanaduMost tracks trio, with Leroy Vinnegar (bass guitar), Frank Butler (drums); two tracks quartet, with Harry Edison (trumpet) added1979All AloneXanaduSolo piano1980Xanadu in AfricaXanaduQuintet, co-led with Al Cohn and Billy Mitchell (tenor sax), Leroy Vinnegar (bass), Frank Butler (drums); in concert1980Night Flight to DakarXanaduQuintet, co-led with Al Cohn and Billy Mitchell (tenor sax), Leroy Vinnegar (bass), Frank Butler (drums); in concert
As sideman With Frank Butler The Stepper (Xanadu, 1977) Wheelin' and Dealin' (Xanadu, 1978) With Junior Cook Junior's Cookin' (Jazzland, 1961) With Sonny Criss Crisscraft (Muse, 1975) Out of Nowhere (Muse, 1976) With Harry Edison Edison's Lights (Pablo, 1976) Simply Sweets (Pablo, 1978) with Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis With Teddy Edwards Feelin's (Muse, 1974) With Dexter Gordon The Resurgence of Dexter Gordon (Jazzland, 1960) With Philly Joe Jones Showcase (Riverside, 1959) With Les McCann Les McCann Sings (Pacific Jazz, 1961) With Art Pepper Intensity (Contemporary, 1963) With Red Rodney Superbop (Muse, 1974) With Sonny Stitt 37 Minutes and 48 Seconds with Sonny Stitt (Roost, 1957) I Remember Bird (Catalyst, 1977)
References