Gracie Cole facts for kids

Gracie Cole (born September 8, 1924 – died December 28, 2006) was a famous British trumpet player and bandleader. She was the main trumpet soloist in Ivy Benson's all-girl band during the 1940s. Later, in the 1950s, Gracie started her very own all-female band.

Early Life and Musical Start

Gracie Cole was born on September 8, 1924. Her hometown was Rowlands Gill in County Durham, England. When Gracie was two, her father, Albert, moved to Yorkshire. He was a miner looking for work.

Albert played the cornet in colliery (coal mine) bands. He taught Gracie to play the cornet when she was 12 years old. Gracie played with local brass bands as a teenager. She even played with the Firbeck Colliery Band alongside her father. In 1939, at age 15, she was on BBC Radio for the first time. She performed on a show called Children's Hour.

Becoming a Top Trumpeter

From 1940, Gracie Cole was a guest soloist in concerts. She played with the famous Besses o' th' Barn brass band. She also performed with other groups, like the Grimethorpe Colliery Band. In 1942, she made history. Gracie became the first woman to compete for the Alexander Owen memorial scholarship. She won by a huge 21-point lead, which was amazing!

Joining Dance Bands

Later in 1942, Gracie started playing the trumpet in dance bands. First, she joined Gloria Gaye's All Girls Band. They toured theaters and played for forces entertainment shows. These shows were put on by the Entertainments National Service Association (ENSA). ENSA helped entertain soldiers during wartime.

Next, Gracie joined Rudy Starlita's All-American band. They entertained American G.I.s (soldiers). In November 1945, she joined Ivy Benson's band. Gracie was the lead trumpet player and soloist. She toured with them for five years. They performed at big variety theatres in Britain. They also toured Europe and the Middle East with ENSA.

The band was also on television and radio. They had their own radio show called Ladies Night. On Christmas Day 1945, Gracie was the main soloist. This was on a live radio broadcast from Hamburg, right after the King's speech.

Leading Her Own Band

In 1951, Gracie married Bill Geldard, who was a trombonist. She then joined Bill's band, the George Evans Band. This band had only been male before. After 18 months, Gracie and Bill left. They joined the Squadronaires, a very popular big band at the time. Gracie was the only woman in this band too.

However, Gracie felt uncomfortable because of how some men treated her. So, she decided to leave and start her own band. She led her all-female band from 1952 to 1956. Her band played jazz and pop music. They also performed on radio with guest singers, including Cleo Laine. In 1958, Gracie led an all-male band at Mecca Ballrooms.

From the 1960s, Gracie focused on raising her two daughters. She still played music on her own sometimes. She also helped encourage local brass bands. In 1990, she was given the special honor of being a freeman of the City of London.

Later Life

Gracie Cole developed Alzheimer's disease in the late 1990s. She passed away on December 28, 2006, in Westcott, Surrey. She was 82 years old.