Oliver Coleman

Oliver Coleman (1914—November 6, 1965) was an American drummer and jazz and rhythm & blues musician. He was an influential musician in the Chicago music scene and also a leading percussion teacher. He played with many famed musicians of the time including Earl Hines, Erskine Tate, Horace Henderson, and Dinah Washington.

Oliver Coleman was born in 1914 in Beaumont, Texas.

In the late 1930s, Coleman was the drummer for the Earl Hines And His Orchestra. He could be heard on Hines' album 1936, 1938 & 1940 (Alamac Records – QSR 2418) on tracks "Limehouse Blues" and "St. Louis Blues" with Budd Johnson, and Leroy Harris Jr. (alto saxophone); Quinn Wilson (bass); Hurley Ramey (guitar); Willie Randall (tenor saxophone); George Hunt, John Streamline Ewing (trombone); Freddie Webster (trumpet); George Dixon (saxophone); and Ray Nance (trumpet, violin). He also played solo on Hines' versions of "Hines Rhythm", "Ridin' a Riff" (written by Earl Randall), "Solid Mama" (written by Jimmy Mundy), and "Goodnight, Sweet Dreams, Goodnight" (written by Teddy Powell).

In 1940, Coleman worked with bandleader Ray Nance before Nance began his career in the Duke Ellington band. Coleman could be heard on "Kitty On Toast" of Nance's album The Complete 1940-1949 Non-Ducal Violin Recordings: When We're Alone alongside Willie Randall (alto saxophone), Delbert Bright (clarinet, alto saxophone), Jesse Simpkins (double bass), Hurley Ramey (guitar), Elmer Williams(tenor saxophone), Edward Fant, Nat Atkins (trombone), and Emmett Berry(trumpet), with arrangement by Horace Henderson.

Coleman could be heard on "We're Off" by Marl Young and his Orchestra (Sunbeam Records, 1946) with Melvin Moore and Nick Cooper (trumpet); Johnny Avant (trombone); Nat Jones and Frank Derrick (alto saxophone); Moses Gant (tenor saxophone); Rail Wilson (bass); and Robert McFerrin (vocals).

Also in 1946, he recorded "Dorothy's Boogie Woogie" and "Yesterday" with pianist Dorothy Donegan and bassist Rail Wilson on Continental Records. The following year, he recorded with Donegan and Wilson again on "Tiger Rag" and "Limehouse Blues".

In 1949, Coleman worked with Ethel Duncan, Burress Courtney, and Al Benson with Willie Randall (alto saxophone), Buddy Hiles (baritone saxophone), Rail Wilson (bass), Barrington Perry (piano), Eddie Johnson (tenor saxophone), and Melvin Moore (trumpet) on Old Swing-Master Records.

In the 1950s, Coleman was a studio musician for several productions on Chess Records. In 1951 and 1952, he recorded on Eddie Johnson's studio sessions (Chess). In 1954, Coleman was heard on pianist Willie Mabon's "Would You Baby?" and "Late Again" (Chess) with Bill Anderson (bass); Harold Ashby and Hubert Robertson (tenor saxophone); and Paul King (trumpet). In 1971, after his death, Coleman was featured (tracks A1 to A8, Chess) on violinist Eddie South's album South Side Jazz (Chess Records) alongside Porter Kilbert (alto saxophone), Johnny Pate, Truck Parham (bass), Hurley Ramey (guitar), Earl Washington (piano), Lonnie Simmons, Leon Washington (tenor Saxophone), Fortunatus "Fip" Ricard, Sonny Cohn (trumpet), and Andrew Tibbs (vocals).

During his career, Coleman also worked with Erskine Tate, Horace Henderson, Little Miss Cornshucks ("Have You Ever Loved Somebody"), and Dinah Washington.

Coleman was also a highly respected percussion teacher in Chicago. He taught many musicians including drummers Hillard Brown and Charles Walton.

Coleman died in Chicago, Illinois, on November 6, 1965, at age 51.