Norman Paul Cotton (February 26, 1943 – July 31, 2021) was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter. He was a member of the band Poco and the writer of their international hit song "Heart of the Night". Before that, he was co-guitarist for the Illinois Speed Press.
Cotton was born in Fort Rucker, Alabama,[1] on February 26, 1943.[2] He started learning the guitar when he was 13 years old, and became involved in his first band a year later. He relocated to Illinois by age 16 and joined the Mus-Twangs, which later became the Illinois Speed Press. He played for the group throughout the next decade until 1970, when it dissolved due to the divergent musical interests of him and Kal David.[1]
CareerEdit
Cotton joined Poco in 1970, replacing Jim Messina.[1][2] Most of Cotton's music career was as songwriter, lead guitarist and lead singer for the group. He said in a September 2000 interview with Sound Waves magazine, "I'm just drawn to the South. Hey, I spent 25 winters in Chicago."[3] Cotton's best known song with Poco is "Heart of the Night", which was a major hit from the band's Legend album, released in 1978; the song is an evocation of the night life of the city of New Orleans.[3]
Cotton's experiences in New Orleans had been the basis for a previous composition, "Down in the Quarter", featured on the 1975 Poco album Head Over Heels, and Cotton has described a track from the 1982 Poco album Ghost Town, "Break of Hearts", as being a follow-up to "Heart of the Night.[4] In 1978, Cotton and Rusty Young, "got a little rehearsal hall, put together a band, and played 'Heart of the Night'" for ABC Records executives.[5] Both tracks were credited to Poco.[6][7] He also penned such Poco classics as "Barbados",[8] "Indian Summer", "Ride The Country", and "Bad Weather".[9] He briefly left the band in 1987, before returning in 1991.[10]
Later lifeEdit
Cotton moved to Key West, Florida, in 2005, shortly after Hurricane Wilma struck the area. He met his future wife there, and went fishing, sailing and sunning when not working on his music. He was actively involved in the Key West community performing at various benefit shows in the area.[4] Cotton left Poco in early 2010 and went on to release several solo albums. He was inducted into the Colorado Music Hall of Fame, together with his fellow Poco bandmates.[10]
Cotton died at his summer home near Eugene, Oregon on July 31, 2021, at the age of 78.[11][12]
^ ab"Poco – Members, Albums, & Facts". Encyclopedia Britannica. Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc. July 19, 2018. Retrieved August 3, 2021.
^ ab"Paul Cotton by Mark T. Gould". Swaves.com. Retrieved July 11, 2013.
^ abMontgomery, Bucky (December 1, 2016). "Music Scene – The Legendary Paul Cotton". Florida Weekly. Retrieved August 1, 2021.
^"Poco". The Daily Gazette. No. July 18, 2002. p. 46.
^"Break of Hearts: Poco – Song Info". AllMusic. Retrieved August 3, 2021.
^"Heart of the Night: Poco – Song Info". AllMusic. Retrieved August 3, 2021.
^"Barbados: Poco – Song Info". AllMusic. Retrieved August 3, 2021.
^"Poco – Songs". AllMusic. Retrieved August 3, 2021.
^ abFriedlander, Matt (August 2, 2021). "Longtime Poco singer/guitarist Paul Cotton dead at age 78". WCMY. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
^Friedlander, Matt. "Longtime Poco singer/guitarist Paul Cotton dead at age 78". 1430wcmy.com. Retrieved August 3, 2021.
^Friskics-Warren, Bill (August 6, 2021). "Paul Cotton, Mainstay of the Country-Rock Band Poco, Dies at 78". The New York Times. Retrieved August 6, 2021.
^ abcde"Paul Cotton – Album Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved August 3, 2021.
paul, cotton, zealand, high, commissioner, tonga, diplomat, norman, february, 1943, july, 2021, american, guitarist, singer, songwriter, member, band, poco, writer, their, international, song, heart, night, before, that, guitarist, illinois, speed, press, cott. For New Zealand s High Commissioner to Tonga see Paul Cotton diplomat Norman Paul Cotton February 26 1943 July 31 2021 was an American guitarist and singer songwriter He was a member of the band Poco and the writer of their international hit song Heart of the Night Before that he was co guitarist for the Illinois Speed Press Paul CottonCotton performing in June 2007Background informationBirth nameNorman Paul CottonBorn 1943 02 26 February 26 1943Fort Rucker Alabama USDiedJuly 31 2021 2021 07 31 aged 78 near Eugene Oregon USGenresRock country rock country popOccupation s MusicianInstrument s Guitar vocalsYears active1968 2021LabelsColumbia Epic Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Later life 4 Solo discography 5 References 6 External linksEarly life EditCotton was born in Fort Rucker Alabama 1 on February 26 1943 2 He started learning the guitar when he was 13 years old and became involved in his first band a year later He relocated to Illinois by age 16 and joined the Mus Twangs which later became the Illinois Speed Press He played for the group throughout the next decade until 1970 when it dissolved due to the divergent musical interests of him and Kal David 1 Career EditCotton joined Poco in 1970 replacing Jim Messina 1 2 Most of Cotton s music career was as songwriter lead guitarist and lead singer for the group He said in a September 2000 interview with Sound Waves magazine I m just drawn to the South Hey I spent 25 winters in Chicago 3 Cotton s best known song with Poco is Heart of the Night which was a major hit from the band s Legend album released in 1978 the song is an evocation of the night life of the city of New Orleans 3 Cotton s experiences in New Orleans had been the basis for a previous composition Down in the Quarter featured on the 1975 Poco album Head Over Heels and Cotton has described a track from the 1982 Poco album Ghost Town Break of Hearts as being a follow up to Heart of the Night 4 In 1978 Cotton and Rusty Young got a little rehearsal hall put together a band and played Heart of the Night for ABC Records executives 5 Both tracks were credited to Poco 6 7 He also penned such Poco classics as Barbados 8 Indian Summer Ride The Country and Bad Weather 9 He briefly left the band in 1987 before returning in 1991 10 Later life EditCotton moved to Key West Florida in 2005 shortly after Hurricane Wilma struck the area He met his future wife there and went fishing sailing and sunning when not working on his music He was actively involved in the Key West community performing at various benefit shows in the area 4 Cotton left Poco in early 2010 and went on to release several solo albums He was inducted into the Colorado Music Hall of Fame together with his fellow Poco bandmates 10 Cotton died at his summer home near Eugene Oregon on July 31 2021 at the age of 78 11 12 Solo discography Edit1990 Changing Horses Curb 13 2001 Firebird 13 2004 When the Coast Is Clear 13 2007 Sunset Kidd 13 2014 100 Paul Cotton 13 References Edit a b c Eder Bruce Paul Cotton Biography amp History AllMusic Retrieved August 3 2021 a b Poco Members Albums amp Facts Encyclopedia Britannica Encyclopedia Britannica Inc July 19 2018 Retrieved August 3 2021 a b Paul Cotton by Mark T Gould Swaves com Retrieved July 11 2013 a b Montgomery Bucky December 1 2016 Music Scene The Legendary Paul Cotton Florida Weekly Retrieved August 1 2021 Poco The Daily Gazette No July 18 2002 p 46 Break of Hearts Poco Song Info AllMusic Retrieved August 3 2021 Heart of the Night Poco Song Info AllMusic Retrieved August 3 2021 Barbados Poco Song Info AllMusic Retrieved August 3 2021 Poco Songs AllMusic Retrieved August 3 2021 a b Friedlander Matt August 2 2021 Longtime Poco singer guitarist Paul Cotton dead at age 78 WCMY Retrieved August 2 2021 Friedlander Matt Longtime Poco singer guitarist Paul Cotton dead at age 78 1430wcmy com Retrieved August 3 2021 Friskics Warren Bill August 6 2021 Paul Cotton Mainstay of the Country Rock Band Poco Dies at 78 The New York Times Retrieved August 6 2021 a b c d e Paul Cotton Album Discography AllMusic Retrieved August 3 2021 External links EditPaul Cotton Website Paul Cotton discography at Discogs Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Paul Cotton amp oldid 1101576890, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
