Irv Cottler

Irving Cottler (February 13, 1918 – August 8, 1989) was an American musician, and an early member of The Wrecking Crew. His 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. He was best known as the drummer for Sinatra, with whom he worked for over 30 years beginning in 1955.

Birth and Death Data: Born February 13, 1918 (Brooklyn (borough of New York City, New York, United States)), Died August 8, 1989 (Templeton (census-designated place in California) )

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 (Results 1-25 of 64 records)

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  
(Results 1-25 of 64 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Cottler, Irv," accessed December 25, 2025, http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/309979.

Cottler, Irv. (2025). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved December 25, 2025, from http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/309979.

"Cottler, Irv." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2025. Web. 25 December 2025.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

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

External Sources

Wikipedia: Irv Cottler

Discogs: Irv Cottler

Allmusic: Irv Cottler

IMDb: Irv Cottler

Linked Open Data Sources

LCNAR: Cottler, Irv - https://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n91098002

Wikidata: Irv Cottler - https://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q16012221

VIAF: https://viaf.org/viaf/36099039

MusicBrainz: Irv Cottler - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/d0a17cde-662b-4335-a4b1-0a6b568a0744

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