Irv Cottler

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. 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.

Birth and Death Data: Born February 13, 1918 (Brooklyn), Died August 8, 1989 (Templeton)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1941 - 1967

Roles Represented in DAHR: drums

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BS-066133 10-in. 6/24/1941 Let me off uptown Bluebird Orchestra ; Larry Clinton ; Butch Stone Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo and vocal ensemble instrumentalist, drums  
Victor BS-066134 10-in. 6/24/1941 Tenement symphony Bluebird Orchestra ; Larry Clinton ; Peggy Mann ; Butch Stone Jazz/dance band, with female-male vocal duet instrumentalist, drums  
Victor BS-066135 10-in. 6/24/1941 I can't change my heart Bluebird Orchestra ; Larry Clinton ; Peggy Mann Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, drums  
Victor BS-066136 10-in. 6/24/1941 What's the good of moonlight (When you haven't got a girl to love) Bluebird Orchestra ; Larry Clinton ; Peggy Mann ; Butch Stone Jazz/dance band, with female-male vocal duet instrumentalist, drums  
Victor BS-067940 10-in. 9/30/1941 You'll never know Larry Clinton Orchestra ; Peggy Mann Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, drums  
Victor BS-067941 10-in. 9/30/1941 Your words and my music Larry Clinton Orchestra ; Peggy Mann Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, drums  
Victor BS-067942 10-in. 9/30/1941 Worried mind Larry Clinton Orchestra ; Butch Stone Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, drums  
Victor BS-067943 10-in. 9/30/1941 That solid old man (is here again) Larry Clinton Orchestra ; Butch Stone Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 119508 8/16/1967 Green onions Count Basie Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca L 5234 12/2/1949 Sitting by the window Jerry Gray Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca L 5235 12/2/1949 Just for old times Jerry Gray Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca L 5236 12/2/1949 By the waters of Minnetonka Jerry Gray Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca L 5237 12/2/1949 Crew cut Jerry Gray Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca L 5349 1/24/1950 Bamboo Jerry Gray Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca L 5350 1/24/1950 One! Two! Three! Jerry Gray Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca L 5351 1/24/1950 Stormy weather march Jerry Gray Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca L 5352 1/24/1950 Carioca Jerry Gray Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca L 5397 2/20/1950 Smoke gets in your eyes Jerry Gray Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca L 5398 2/20/1950 Night and day Jerry Gray Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca L 5399 2/20/1950 All the things you are Jerry Gray Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca L 5400 2/20/1950 Stardust Jerry Gray Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca L 5575 4/25/1950 Cry, cry, cry Mildred Bailey instrumentalist, drums  
Decca L 5576 4/25/1950 Blue prelude Mildred Bailey instrumentalist, drums  
Decca L 5939 12/6/1950 Music by the angels Jerry Gray Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca L 5940 12/6/1950 Would I love you Jerry Gray Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca L 5941 12/6/1950 Dear! Dear! Dear! Jerry Gray Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca L 5942 12/6/1950 Say it with your kisses Jerry Gray Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca L 6870 9/5/1952 South Rampart Street parade The Andrews Sisters ; Bing Crosby instrumentalist, drums  
Decca L 6871 9/5/1952 Cool water The Andrews Sisters ; Bing Crosby instrumentalist, drums  
Decca L 8188 2/21/1955 Get out of the car Georgie Auld Orchestra ; The Lancers instrumentalist, drums  
Decca L 8189 2/21/1955 Afraid Georgie Auld Orchestra ; The Lancers instrumentalist, drums  
Decca L 8190 2/21/1955 Close your eyes Georgie Auld Orchestra ; The Lancers instrumentalist, drums  
Decca L 8191 2/21/1955 Two hearts, two kisses Georgie Auld Orchestra ; The Lancers instrumentalist, drums  
Decca L 8192 2/21/1955 Jam up Georgie Auld Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca L 8193 2/21/1955 Rib tips Georgie Auld Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca L 8194 2/21/1955 Cherry pink and apple blossom white Georgie Auld Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca L 8195 2/21/1955 Plantation boogie Georgie Auld Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca L 8312 4/10/1955 Easy to love Georgie Auld instrumentalist, drums  
Decca L 8313 4/10/1955 I've got you under my skin Georgie Auld instrumentalist, drums  
Decca L 8314 4/10/1955 Stairway to the stars Georgie Auld instrumentalist, drums  
Decca L 8315 4/10/1955 Take care Georgie Auld instrumentalist, drums  
Decca L 8316 4/11/1955 Let's get away from it all Andre Previn instrumentalist, drums  
Decca L 8317 4/11/1955 It happened in Sun Valley Andre Previn instrumentalist, drums  
Decca L 8318 4/11/1955 How are things in Glocca Morra? Andre Previn instrumentalist, drums  
Decca L 8319 4/11/1955 On a slow boat to China Andre Previn instrumentalist, drums  
Decca L 8328 4/13/1955 San Francisco Andre Previn instrumentalist, drums  
Decca L 8329 4/13/1955 Flying down to Rio Andre Previn instrumentalist, drums  
Decca L 8330 4/12/1955 London in July Andre Previn instrumentalist, drums  
Decca L 8331 4/13/1955 An island in the west Indies Andre Previn instrumentalist, drums  
Decca L 8336 4/18/1955 Sidewalks of Cuba Andre Previn instrumentalist, drums  
Decca L 8337 4/18/1955 Honolulu Andre Previn instrumentalist, drums  
Decca L 8338 4/18/1955 Moonlight in Vermont Andre Previn instrumentalist, drums  
Decca L 8339 4/18/1955 Serenade to Sweden Andre Previn instrumentalist, drums  
Decca L 14619 8/16/1967 Hang on sloopy Count Basie Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca L 14620 8/16/1967 Green onions Count Basie Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca L 14621 8/16/1967 Knock on wood Count Basie Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca L 14622 8/15/1967 Bright lights, big city Count Basie Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca L 14623 8/15/1967 Mercy, mercy, mercy Count Basie Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca L 14624 8/15/1967 Don't let the sun catch you crying-1 Count Basie Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca L 14625 8/15/1967 Ain't too proud to beg Count Basie Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca L 14626 8/17/1967 Let the good times roll Count Basie Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca L 14627 8/17/1967 Reach out, I'll be there Count Basie Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca L 14628 8/17/1967 In the heat of the night Count Basie Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca L 14629 8/17/1967 Memphis, Tennessee Count Basie Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Cottler, Irv," accessed April 19, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/309979.

Cottler, Irv. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 19, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/309979.

"Cottler, Irv." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 19 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/309979

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