Irving Cottler

American musician

Irving Cottler
Born	(1918-02-13)February 13, 1918 Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Died	August 8, 1989(1989-08-08) (aged 71) Templeton, California, U.S.
Genres	Big band
Occupation(s)	Musician
Instrument(s)	Drums and Vibraphone
Years active	1938–1989

Musical artist

Irving Cottler (February 13, 1918 – August 8, 1989), a Hollywood, Los Angeles–based musician, and was a first-call drummer/percussionist. Cottler's credits include "L-O-V-E", "Impossible", "Stardust", and "Unforgettable" recorded with Nat King Cole. Cottler also recorded and performed live with Frank Sinatra, Louis Armstrong, Bing Crosby, Walt Disney, Peggy Lee, Dinah Shore, Ella Fitzgerald, Neal Hefti, Nelson Riddle, Count Basie, and many others.

In the early 1950s, Cottler was the drummer for the NBC live broadcasts from Hollywood, and for The Dinah Shore Show. Frank Sinatra made an appearance on the show and loved Cottler's distinctive sound.^[1] Sinatra offered Cottler double what NBC was paying him. Beginning in 1955, Cottler went on to perform as the drummer and percussionist on dozens of hit songs for multiple artists, including “(Love Is) The Tender Trap”, “South of the Border”, ”Love Is Here to Stay", "I've Got You Under My Skin", and "Nice 'n' Easy" with Sinatra. In the early 1960s, Cottler was the drummer and percussionist on many Disney films, including Herbie, The Jungle Book, and Mary Poppins.

Cottler died of a heart attack in Templeton, California, at the age of 71.^[2]

Discography

With Count Basie

Basie's in the Bag (Brunswick, 1967)

With Hoagy Carmichael

Hoagy Sings Carmichael (Pacific Jazz, 1956)

With Sammy Davis Jr.

It's All Over but the Swingin' (Decca, 1957)

With Stan Kenton

Kenton / Wagner (Capitol, 1964)

With Barney Kessel

To Swing or Not to Swing (Contemporary, 1955)

With Skip Martin and His Orchestra

Perspectives in Percussion (Somerset, 1960)

With André Previn

Let's Get Away From It All (Decca, 1955)

With Carly Simon

Playing Possum (Elektra Records, 1975)

With Keely Smith

The Intimate Keely Smith (Reprise, 1964)

Bibliography

Cottler, Irv (2000). I've Got You Under My Skins. Alfred Music. ISBN 978-0739017074.

References

^ Borst, Tracy (April 1981). "Irv Cottler: Keeper of the Time". Modern Drummer. ISSN 0194-4533.
^ "Drummer Irv Cottler, 71; Called 'Best in the Business' by Sinatra". Los Angeles Times. August 10, 1989.