Colin Bailey (drummer)
Colin James Bailey (born July 9, 1934) is British-born American jazz drummer.
Biography
Born in Swindon, England, Bailey learned to play drums as a child, studying formally from age seven. He lived in Australia from 1958 into the early 1960s, and played with Bryce Rohde and the Australian Jazz Quartet during this time. When the AJQ toured the U.S., Bailey was hired by Vince Guaraldi, with whom Bailey played (alongside Jimmy Witherspoon and Ben Webster) until 1963, and returned to work with for the Charlie Brown specials in 1965. Settling in California, Bailey worked with Clare Fischer (1962–64), Victor Feldman (1964), Winifred Atwell, Joe Pass (1963–64), and Miles Davis (1963). He toured worldwide with Benny Goodman in 1964-65, played on a television program with Terry Gibbs, and toured with George Shearing in 1966-67. He also spent time with Chet Baker, Ray Brown, João Gilberto, and Blossom Dearie (1975).
In 1970, Bailey became an American citizen. He spent six years as Ed Shaughnessy's backup in The Tonight Show Band, and starred in Fernwood Tonight in a drumming role in 1977-78. After moving to Texas in 1979, he became a faculty member at North Texas State University from 1981-84. His later work includes time with Richie Cole, Jimmy Rowles, Red Mitchell, Stefan Scaggiari, Joe Pass again, Ron Affif, John Pisano, and Weslia Whitfield.