
Paddy Cole
King of the Swingers
Paddy Cole(Author)
Tom Gilmore(Co-Author)
O'Brien Press Ltd
Published on 2. November 2020
Book
Hardback
256 pages
978-1-78849-221-8 (ISBN)
Description
The colourful story of the 80-year-old saxophone player and singer affectionately know as The King of The Swingers. Paddy Cole has taken his style of Jazz, Dixieland and Swing band music all over the world - and back home too. Paddy Cole is the grand old man of Irish Showbiz who still is young at heart and has built a new radio career with his show on Dublin's Sunshine Radio every Sunday. His story is as heart-warming as it is hilarious!
Reviews / Votes
Fantastic ... will make a great stocking filler * Sunday World's Eddie Rowley and Marc Roberts on Galway Bay FM * Time is running out ... get it while you can * Sunday World, Fr Brian D'Arcy * The new book by Paddy Cole is a welcome addition to the list of memoirs from those who created a unique contribution to Ireland's musical history. Paddy has seen it all; from his days as a child prodigy playing in Castleblayney with his dad and Maurice Lynch, to the Capitol showband, the Big 8 and his own trad band, Paddy has starred in and survived every twist and turn in a notoriously fickle business ... All the great stories are here ... It's a superb read and a sure-fire hit for the Christmas stocking ... Get it while you can ... Paddy Cole's memoir is excellent * Sunday World, Fr Brian D'Arcy * As heart-warming as it is hilarious * Ireland's Own, Michael Lyster * Fascinating and brilliant stories * Virgin TV's 6 O'Clock Show * His book is a real page turner, full of delightful memories from the early showband years to more recent times, and sprinkled with Paddy's natural and infectious style of storytelling * Irish Farmers Journal * Most enjoyable * Dublin Gazette * The book is absolutely fantastic ... a wonderful book ... a great Christmas present * RTE Radio's Countrywide * It's brilliant * Newstalk's Pat Kenny Show * Excellent book * Ireland's Own *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Dublin
Ireland
Dimensions
Height: 226 mm
Width: 155 mm
Thickness: 25 mm
Weight
565 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-78849-221-8 (9781788492218)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

E-Book
11/2020
O'Brien Press Ltd
€9.99
Available for download
Persons
From his first performance in his native Castleblayney at age twelve, billed as 'Ireland's youngest saxophone player', Paddy Cole played on stages around the world for almost seventy years.
With The Capitol Showband, The Big 8 to The Paddy Cole Band, he played with Irish legends such as Brendan Bowyer, Dickie Rock, Joe Dolan and Twink, and was a regular at the Cork Jazz Festival. As well as music, he did valuable charity work at home and abroad.
His life was an amazing journey, from growing up in the borderlands of County Monaghan, to hanging out with Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley and Muhammad Ali, and stars of screen such as cowboy legend Roy Rogers. Paddy died in January 2025
Tom Gilmore is a journalist, author and broadcaster with The Tuam Herald and Galway Bay FM. He was recently honoured for his outstanding contribution to country music presented by Big Tom himself. Tom Gilmore has been writing about country music for over 30 years. Big Tom said of Tom Gilmore:
"Tom and myself go back a long long way. He is one of the nicest people in the business and it is great to see that he is being honoured here tonight. He has always been a gentleman since the first time I got to know him. I think this has come as a big surprise to him."
With The Capitol Showband, The Big 8 to The Paddy Cole Band, he played with Irish legends such as Brendan Bowyer, Dickie Rock, Joe Dolan and Twink, and was a regular at the Cork Jazz Festival. As well as music, he did valuable charity work at home and abroad.
His life was an amazing journey, from growing up in the borderlands of County Monaghan, to hanging out with Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley and Muhammad Ali, and stars of screen such as cowboy legend Roy Rogers. Paddy died in January 2025
Tom Gilmore is a journalist, author and broadcaster with The Tuam Herald and Galway Bay FM. He was recently honoured for his outstanding contribution to country music presented by Big Tom himself. Tom Gilmore has been writing about country music for over 30 years. Big Tom said of Tom Gilmore:
"Tom and myself go back a long long way. He is one of the nicest people in the business and it is great to see that he is being honoured here tonight. He has always been a gentleman since the first time I got to know him. I think this has come as a big surprise to him."