About Me
Lionel Cole's life-long involvement with the music industry is characterized by innovation, passion, and diversity.Lionel began his personal music career as a child in Atlanta, and by the time he was in high school was co-hosting the award-winning syndicated ABC television show, TIME OUT, and working the summers as a head computer programmer for now U.S. Senator, Max Cleland. After performing in a brief world tour with the international cast of UP WITH PEOPLE, Lionel moved to Chicago.He subsequently pursued formal music training at Northwestern University and paid the bills by working as a cable television producer, playing piano in a variety of Chicago venues, and writing copy for an ad firm. Somehow, he and a group of friends found time to establish the quirky Bedrock Corporation which achieved both regional and national success with commercial spots including Kraft's "Cheezasaurus Rex".After moving to Los Angeles, Lionel broadened his involvement with the music world to include many new perspectives. He worked as a staff composer/music editor with award winnong producer, Steve Tyrell, on several television projects including NBC's CALIFORNIA DREAMS. Lionel moved on to film composing for the highly acclaimed ONCE UPON A TIME...WHEN WE WERE COLORED. His film work evolved into a partnership with veteran television actor/director, Tim Teid, that produced independent feature films and the television series, LINC'S on Showtime, all with Lionel as music supervisor and composer. Lionel remixed the million-seller single "Hard to Say I'm Sorry", by boy band Az Yet, and became director of music for the only full service Afro-American film studio in America, New MIllennium Studios in Virginia.Later Lionel and Malcolm Jamal Warner partnered to form the jazz/funk band, Miles Long. The Miles Long Album, THE MANY FACETS OF SUPERMAN featured En Vogues's Cindy Heron and soul icon, Teena Marie. Lionel enjoyed his many roles on this project as lead singer, pianist, and producer. In addition he did a turn as a featured vocalist in John Powell's score for THE BOURNE IDENTITY and had a blast playing piano with Ivan Neville and his ensemble.Most recently Lionel's creativity has been focused in work with singer Mariah Carey, including piano playing on her #1 single, "Never Too Far Hero" and co-writing the heartfelt hit "Through the Rain" from her multi-platinum album CHARMBRACELET. For the past several months Lionel has been keyboarding for Mariah's worldwide tour which has played to sold-out audiences of people drawn to music they can feel. Music that inspires.Born to a name synonymous with breaking down a variety of barriers, Lionel has carried on the family tradition and made inroads of his own. Uncle Nat obliterated the color line, cousin Natalie defines pop longevity, and Grammy-nominated father Freddy proves one is never too old to be an overnight success. Lionel has always figured it's the music that does the work. It's the music that changes hearts, open minds and makes us feel. Lionel Cole believes in music that moves the listener to feel. He does whatever is conceivable to that end. For him that's what music is about.This is what Lionel is about.
