Mike Cotton

Michael Edward 'Mike' Cotton (born 12 August 1939 (1939-08-12) (age 72)) is an English jazz and R&B trumpeter, flugelhornist, harmonicist, vocalist and bandleader born in Tottenham, North London. He is best-known for leading his band under the names The Mike Cotton Jazzmen and The Mike Cotton Sound, Mike Cotton formed The Mike Cotton Jazzmen in the early 1950s during the 'Trad Jazz' boom. From 1962 he changed the groups name to The Mike Cotton Sound, and their musical direction to a more pop-based style, achieving a UK chart hit single "Swing That Hammer" that year. They appeared in a performance in the 1962 film, The Wild and the Willing. Member Dave Rowberry left the band in 1965 to join The Animals, and among those who auditioned to...