ATTICUS SHADRACK COLE
BIO
Born On October 22nd , 1969 in Pittsburgh, PA to William and Linda Cole, Atticus began studying music at the age of 6. His father, William Shadrack Cole, a musician and longtime college professor with a PHD in ethnomusicology, introduced Atticus to his colleague Ghanaian master drummer Abraham Adzinyah, the director of the Dartmouth College West African Drumming ensemble. Here he began studying traditional West African music in the oral tradition. Atticus received private instruction from Mr. Adzinyah and was also a member of the ensemble at the age of 7. For the next couple of years, Atticus would be working with ensemble extensively studying song , dance and drumming techniques.
Atticus continued his studies with master drummer Hafiz Shabazz, who took over for Abraham Adzinyah at Dartmouth College and renamed the group The World Percussion Ensemble. Mr. Shabazz became Atticus’ mentor and for over 15 years taught him West African, Afro-Cuban and Brazilian music. In addition to the World Percussion ensemble, Atticus also played drums and percussion in Mr. SHabazz’s original group Bala Bala Rhythm Band which was a blend of pop, afro-cuban and Brazilian music.
In conjunction with his studies with Mr. Adzinyah and Mr. Shabazz, Atticus began playing drums in the 5th grade. He enrolled in his Junior High School music program all 3 years(grades 6-8) and continued playing drums for all 4 years of high school in Hanover , N.H.. Atticus took advantage of all musical opportunities during his high school career, such as playing in the jazz and marching bands as well as the high school orchestra (which earned him an All-state selection in his senior year in 1987).
After graduating high school in 1987, Atticus earned a scholarship to the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA. At Berklee, He completely expanded his musical horizons. He began to play in a lot of different genres of music and worked with such various artist such as Roy Hargrove, Antonio hart, Layla Hathaway and Andre Ward.
Atticus was an original member of the 3 time Boston Music Award winning group FatBag(Stepsun/Interscope records) that also featured Adam Deitch(Lettuce/Break Science), Adam Shmirnoff (Lettuce)and Sam Kininger(Lettuce/Soulive/Sam kininger Band). This very line also formed a Hip-hop group called The Formula, an acclaimed band which has provided live music for such hip-hop artists Shuman, Akrobatik, Mr. Lif, Insight , Underworld Secret Service, Illin’ P, Vituoso, Stitzofreniks, Ripshop, KT, Beeze Eva Flowin’, Kabir, Sage Francis and Crush One just to name a few. The Formula has also supplied support for such artists as KRS-One, LL Cool J, Jamiroquai, Maceo Parker, The Meters, The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Henry Rollins, P-Funk Allstars, Fishbone Charlie Hunter, The Screaming Headless Torsos.
Atticus has also worked with such great musicians such as William Parker, Warren Smith, Joe Daley, Cooper Moore, Sam Furnace, Abdul Wadud, Olu Dara, Julius Hamphill, Gerald Veasley, Jayne Cortez, Bob Moses, Dave Holland, Jerry Gonzalez, Elan Trotman, Eric Krasno, Alan Evans and Neal Evans. Atticus also was the percussionist for the Grace Church of All Nations from 2000 to 2009.
Currently, Atticus lives in Boston MA, and has his own hiphop group called The Coalition which he formed with his longtime friend and music partner Mister Rourke and is also employed by the local music organization Murray Hill Talent(murrayhilltalent.com) . He,also,has been a member of The Untempered ensemble since the mid 90’s He also works with various artists such as The Sam Kininger Band , Club D’elf and Andre Ward. In March 2019, Atticus recorded percussion on the critically acclaimed Marvin Gaye tribute album “Dear Marvin” by Elan Trotman.