Jazz Impresario Doug Cole Passes Away at 87

Doug Cole, who established Canada's longest running jazz club, passed away last week at 87, days before he was to receive Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal at a ceremony in Toronto.

Cole opened George's Spaghetti House, at Dundas and Sherbourne, in 1956. Later renamed George's Jazz Room, the club was a breeding ground for Canadian jazz musicians. Moe Koffman, Phil Nimmons and Rob McConnell were just a few of the amazing musicians that played George's.

When George's opened in the 50s jazz was not all that popular in the city and Cole would host private concerts in the mostly empty room, however Cole's dedication to, and love of, the music soon caught on helping create the entire Toronto jazz community.

George's was so popular that Cole was able to open additional jazz clubs, Bourbon Street and Basin Street, on the first and second floors of a Queen St. W building. These new clubs were able to attract international talent to Toronto including Bill Evans and Stan Getz.

While Cole sold the clubs in the mid-80s to spend more time abroad, his mark on Canada's jazz community was massive, and many Canadian jazz musicians would not have had the career that they did if not for him.

In addition to the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal that he would have received this week, Cole was also made a member of the Order of Canada in 2009.

Cole's family hopes to stage a celebration of his life and work at the Rex Hotel in the near future.