Grady and Hazel Cole papers

Collection

Identifier: M050

Staff Only

Scope and Content of the Papers

The printed portion of these papers is made up of nineteen folders containing papers relating to the lives and careers of Grady and Hazel Cole. The first folder contains a one-page undated excerpt from an autobiographical statement by Grady Cole. The remainder consists of correspondence, contracts, invoices, and news clippings, as well as single copies of sheet music, song lyrics, and songbooks written by the Coles and other country musicians. All these materials are photocopies of the originals provided by the Coles' son, Jack.

Two cassette tapes and twenty-four images form the non-print portion of these papers. The tapes feature Grady, Hazel, and Jack Cole and their music; the images include handbills, sheet music covers, and miscellaneous items, as well as pictures of the Coles alone or with other country musicians. The images are copies of the originals.

Dates

circa 1935-1976

Creator

Cole, Grady (Henry W. Grady) (Person)

Restrictions on Access

Collection is open for research use.

Terms Governing Use and Reproduction

Georgia State University is the owner of the physical collection and makes reproductions available for research, subject to the copyright law of the United States and item condition. Georgia State University may or may not own the rights to materials in the collection. It is the researcher's responsibility to verify copyright ownership and obtain permission from the copyright holder before publication, reproduction, or display of the materials beyond what is reasonable under copyright law. Researchers may quote selections from the collection under the fair use provision of copyright law.

Biography of Grady and Hazel Cole

Henry W. Grady Cole was born August 26, 1909, in La Fayette, Georgia. A self-taught guitarist and vocalist, Cole primarily performed with his wife, Hazel, in a duet capacity and later as part of a trio when the Coles' son, Jackie, joined his parents as a performer. Before working on Atlanta's WGST and eventually, on WNOX in Knoxville, Tennessee, Grady Cole had written numerous songs and published many popular music songbooks. While on WGST, the Coles proved enormously popular, garnering more fan mail than any other group on the station at the time. Besides performing as a duet act, Grady and Hazel Cole worked with other acts, including the Blue Ridge Mountain Boys, Lost John Miller and the Allied Kentuckians, and other solo performers such as Riley Puckett and Gid Tanner. Grady Cole died on August 31, 1981.

Extent

0.42 Linear Feet (in 20 folders)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract:

Henry W. Grady Cole (1909-1981) was a guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter, who primarily performed with his wife, Hazel. Later their son, Jackie, joined his parents as a performer. The Coles became popular on Atlanta's WGST and later performed on WNOX in Knoxville, Tennessee. The Cole papers include an autobiographical statement by Grady Cole, correspondence, contracts, invoices, news clippings, sheet music and lyrics written by the Coles and others, and 24 images of handbills, sheet music covers, and pictures of the Coles and other musicians.

Acquisition Information

Donated by Jack Cole, October 22, 1985 (M1985-18).

Related Archival Materials

The Popular Music and Culture Collection includes numerous photographs that have been digitized and are available online in Georgia State University Library Digital Collections.

Separated Materials:

During processing various materials were separated to other Popular Music and Culture Music Collections. Please contact Special Collections for access.