Nicholas Cole

Nicholas Cole fuses jazz with deep-rooted affection for gospel and R&B through his soulful keyboard work. Drawing from Kirk Whalum, Jonathan Butler, and Brian Culbertson, the musician surfaced during the 2010s and secured his first number one on the Smooth Jazz Songs chart via “Snap,” the standout track from his 2012 release Endless Possibilities. A follow-up chart-topper arrived in 2019 when “Soulmate,” recorded with guitarist Chieli Minucci, reached the summit of the same Billboard tally.

Born in Goldsboro, North Carolina, Cole grew up immersed in music and began playing piano and organ during church services at age four. Private lessons with local pianist Jimmy Aycock sharpened his skills, while crossover jazz figures such as Brian Culbertson, Peter White, and Brian Simpson, alongside gospel voices including Fred Hammond, Kirk Franklin, and Yolanda Adams, shaped his artistic direction. His first collection, A Journey of One, appeared in 2010. After signing with Trippin 'N' Rhythm Records, he delivered the sophomore set Endless Possibilities, which contained the chart-topping “Snap.” Night Sessions, his third album, surfaced in 2015 and featured the number-five smooth jazz entry “The Kickback.” The Weekend, issued in 2019 as his fourth project, paired him once more with Chieli Minucci on the number-one single “Soulmate.”