About Me
Born 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 Ph.D. 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 years, Atticus would be working with the 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 such things as 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 is 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 fifth grade. He enrolled in his Junior High School program all three years (grades 6-8) and continued playing during all four years he spent at Hanover High School in Hanover New Hampshire. Atticus took advantage of all the 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 of 1987).
After graduating high school, Atticus earned a scholarship to Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA. At Berklee, he expanded his musical horizons. He began to play in a lot of different genres of music and worked with such varied artists as Roy Hargrove, Antonio Hart, Layla Hathaway and Andre Ward and others.
Atticus was an original member of the three time Boston Music Award winning group FatBag (Stepson/Interscope records) that also featured Adam Deitch (John Scofeild), Adam Shmirnoff (Lettuce) and Sam Kininger (Soulive/Sam kininger band). This very line-up also formed a HipHop group called The Formula, an acclaimed band(voted best unsigned band-Boston Tab ’98) which has provided live music for such artists and Emcee’s as Shuman, Akrobatik. Mr. Lif, Insight, Underworld Secret Service, Illin’p’, Virtuoso, Skitzofreniks, Rip Shop, K.T., Breeze Evaflowin, Kabir, Sage Francis, Mic Styles, and Crush one.
Atticus is also a member of the Untempered Ensemble led by Bill Cole, featuring William Parker, Warren Smith, Cooper Moore, Joe Daley and Sam Furnace. Atticus has worked with such musicians as Julius Hamphill, Gerald Veasley, Jerry Gonzalez, Abdul Wadud, Jayne Cortez,Olu Dara, Dave Holland, Bob Moses, Alanis Obomsawin, Hamiet Bluiett, Fred Wesley, The Grace Singers(Gospel).
He’s also played supporting shows for such artists as De La Soul, LL Cool J, KRSONE, Jamiroquai, Maceo Parker, The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, The Executioners, Grand Master Flash, WAR, Soulive, Lettuce, Club D’elf and Charlie Hunter.
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