Earl Coleman

Earl Coleman August 12, 1925 – July 12, 1995) was a jazz singer.

Coleman was born in Port Huron, Michigan. When he was a child, he lived with his mother, grandmother, aunt, and step-grandfather.

After moving to Indianapolis in 1939, he sang with Ernie Fields and Bardu Ali. He joined the Jay McShann band in 1943 and later sang with Earl Hines, the Billy Eckstine Orchestra, and King Kolax. He then went with McShann to California and recorded with Charlie Parker, Fats Navarro, and Max Roach in 1948. In 1954, he worked with Gene Ammons and recorded with Art Farmer and Gigi Gryce. In 1956 he was with Sonny Rollins.

By 1960 he was recording as a leader and performed with Gerald Wilson. In 1962 he was with Don Byas in Paris and in the mid-60s with Billy Taylor and Frank Foster. By 1980–86 he was recording with organist Shirley Scott.

Coleman was married to actress Marilyn Coleman; they had two children together, a son, Kevin, and a daughter, Dana ; he also had a stepdaughter, Marci Allen-Koutsialis, from his wife's previous marriage to jazz percussionist George Allen. Marilyn died on June 25, 2013.

Discography

• Earl Coleman Returns (Prestige, 1956)
• Love Songs (Atlantic, 1967)
• A Song for You (Xanadu, 1977)
• Stardust (Stash, 1984)

With Etta Jones

• Sugar (Muse, 1989)