Mike Cotton (musician)

Mike Cotton
Birth name	Michael Edward Cotton
Born	12 August 1939 (1939-08-12) (age 72) Tottenham, North London
Origin	Hackney, London
Genres	Jazz
Instruments	Trumpet, flugelhorn, harmonica, vocalist
Labels	Columbia Records
Associated acts	Dave Rowberry, The Kinks

Michael Edward 'Mike' Cotton (born 12 August 1939 (1939-08-12) (age 72)) is an English jazz and R&B trumpeter, flugelhornist, harmonicist, vocalist and bandleader born in Tottenham, North London.^[1] He is best-known for leading his band under the names The Mike Cotton Jazzmen and The Mike Cotton Sound,^[1]

Career

Mike Cotton formed The Mike Cotton Jazzmen in the early 1950s during the 'Trad Jazz' boom.^[1] From 1962 he changed the groups name to The Mike Cotton Sound, and their musical direction to a more pop-based style,^[1] achieving a UK chart hit single "Swing That Hammer" that year.^[1] They appeared in a performance in the 1962 film, The Wild and the Willing.^{[citation needed]}

Member Dave Rowberry left the band in 1965 to join The Animals,^[2] and among those who auditioned to take his place were Elton John and Joe Cocker;^{[citation needed]}. Ultimately the position went to Eric Delaney. In 1966 Cotton changed the band's style again to a more soul-based sound and brought in a second vocalist.^[1] The band backed a number of artists in live and studio work at various times during the 1960s, including Sugar Pie DeSanto, Gene Pitney, Stevie Wonder, Doris Troy, The Four Tops and Solomon Burke.^{[citation needed]}

When their bass player, Jim Rodford, joined his cousin Rod Argent in his new band Argent^[1] in 1969, Cotton changed the band's name to the more modern-sounding Satisfaction, and recorded one album under that name in 1970 before splitting up.^[1] He retained the brass section, and this line-up, working again under the name Mike Cotton Sound, joined The Kinks,^[1] firstly on their 1971 album Muswell Hillbillies, and then appearing with them both in the studio and in concert until the mid-1970s; after which Cotton returned to playing jazz.^{[citation needed]}

Select discography

Albums

• The Mike Cotton Sound (Columbia)

With Andy Cooper

• Andy Cooper's Euro Top 8 (TIM AG)

Singles

• "Swing That Hammer" (1963) - UK #36^[3]

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i} Larkin C 'Virgin Encyclopedia of Sixties Music' (Muze UK Ltd, 1997) ISBN 0-7535-0149-X p128
2. ^ Tobler, John (1992). NME Rock 'N' Roll Years (1st ed.). London: Reed International Books Ltd. p. 146. CN 5585. 
3. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. pp. 123. ISBN 1-904994-10-5. 

Persondata
Name	Cotton, Mike
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Date of birth	12 August 1939
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