Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 29, 2026

Carroll Coates

Carroll Coates was a British-American songwriter, composer and lyricist whose works were produced commercially from the 1950s to the 1990s. His songs have been recorded by Frank Sinatra, Carmen McRae, Tony Bennett, Shirley Horn, Mel Tormé, Nancy Wilson and others. His jazz ballad "You'll See" has been recorded by more than a dozen artists. Coates wrote at least nine songs for film, including Sunday in New York.

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Carroll Coates (23 September 1929 – 21 October 2023) was a British-American songwriter, composer and lyricist whose works were produced commercially from the 1950s to the 1990s. His songs have been recorded by Frank Sinatra, Carmen McRae, Tony Bennett, Shirley Horn, Mel Tormé, Nancy Wilson and others. His jazz ballad "You'll See" has been recorded by more than a dozen artists. Coates wrote at least nine songs for film, including Sunday in New York.

Biography

Carroll Coates was born in Uxbridge, England on 23 September 1929.1 In 1996, he reportedly lived in the San Francisco Bay Area.2

Following Sarah Vaughan's death in April 1990, Coates composed a song in tribute to her, called "Sarah". In a tribute concert for Sarah Vaughan on 25 June 1991, the Shirley Horn Trio performed "Sarah". Reviewing the concert, The New York Times reported:

Carroll Coates's affectionate tribute...praises Vaughan as one who "could do more with a melody than a hip whippoorwill." The final verse imagines Vaughan in heaven, in a quartet with Billie Holiday, Dinah Washington and Bessie Smith, where instead of squabbling over roles she says to Smith, "I'm new here, you lead."3

On 28 April 1996, Coates was honoured in a concert called "Songfest: A Songwriters Celebration", held in Larkspur, California. Before the event, the San Francisco Chronicle reported that "Coates will introduce the vocalists who will sing his songs, among them Rebecca Parris, Faith Winthrop, Shanna Carlson, Buddy Conner and Amy Dondy."2

Coates died at his home in Carmel, California, on 21 October 2023, at the age of 94.1

Works

Work for film

Year Film Song Notes
1956 Teenage Rebel "Cool It, Baby" Sung on soundtrack by Dick Lory, (Dick Glasser)
A Kiss Before Dying "A Kiss Before Dying"4 Lyricist
The Last Wagon "Theme From The Last Wagon"5 Lyricist
The Girl Can't Help It "Cool It, Baby"6 Lyricist Performed by Eddie Fontaine
1957 The Way to the Gold "The Drive-In Rock"7 Lyricist
"Strange Weather"8 Lyricist
No Down Payment "The Drive-In Rock" Lyricist
Kiss Them for Me "Kiss Them For Me"9 Lyricist
1959 Blue Denim "The Drive-In Rock" Lyricist
1960 Let's Make Love "Cool It, Baby" Lyricist
1963 Sunday in New York "Sunday in New York"10 Lyricist
1965 The Cavern "The Cavern"11 Composer/Lyricist
1990 Havana "London By Night"12 Composer/Lyricist

Audio recordings

Song Recording Artist Album
Afterglow Chanticleer Lost in the Stars13
Cleo Laine Blue & Sentimental14
Kendra Shank Afterglow15
"Better To Have Loved" Ida Zecco Better To Have Loved16
"Between An Old Love and a New Love" (Lyrics; Music by Hub Atwood)17 Johnny Holiday Holiday For Lovers18
"City Lights" Contemporary Jazz Orchestra Trench Heroes19
"Cool It, Baby" (Lyrics; Music by Lionel Newman)< The Treniers Cool It, Baby20
"Daughter, Dear!" Jim Porcella Life Is So Pecualiar21
"The Holiday Song" Ida Zecco A Song for Christmas22
"I Am A Man (He Is A Man)" (Lyrics; Music by Ronnie Selbey)23 Lizabeth Scott With Henri René And His Orchestra Lizabeth
"I Have A Feeling" Lynda Jamison You and the Night and the Music24
Ida Zecco Better To Have Loved16
"I Still Believe in You" Sarah Vaughan The Divine Sarah Vaughan25
"Kiss Them For Me" (Lyrics; Music by Lionel Newman)26 Joan Crawford The Best of Everything27
Lionel Newman and His Orchestra Kiss Them For Me (Soundtrack)
"Later for Love" Rebecca Parris & The Kenny Hadley Big Band A Beautiful Friendship28
"London By Night" Singer Pur Herztöne – Lovesongs
Charly Antolini Right On29
Tony Bennett The Good Things in Life30
Rebecca Parris Love Comes and Goes31
Ronnie Ross It's a Wonderful World32
Frank Sinatra Come Fly With Me
Various Artists The Golden Age of Light Music: Going Places33
John Williams Echoes of London


Cleo Laine Blue & Sentimental14
"Love Comes and Goes"

Raquel Bitton I wish you love Album, 1996

Cleo Laine Blue & Sentimental14
Rebecca Parris Love Comes and Goes31
"Love Is Letting Go" Jim Porcella Life Is So Peculiar21
"A Miracle" Frank Mantooth Jazz Orchestra A Miracle34
"More in Love" (Lyrics; Music by Peter Nero)35 Rosie Carlino What Matters Most36
"Music Is My Life" Jim Porcella Life Is So Peculiar21
Diane Schuur Music Is My Life37
"No One Ever Tells You" (with Hub Atwood) Shirley Bassey The Fabulous Shirley Bassey
John "Buddy" Conner Can't Hide Love!38
Rebecca Parris Love Comes and Goes31
Jim Porcella Life Is So Peculiar21
Ian Shaw and Cedar Walton In a New York Minute39
Frank Sinatra A Swingin' Affair!
The Nearness of You
"Now I Live With You" Jim Porcella Life Is So Peculiar21
"One for Monterey" Black Market Jazz Orchestra Art Attack40
Richie Cole Profile41
Dave Costa Impassioned42
De Paul University Jazz Ensemble Shade Street43
Rebecca Parris Love Comes and Goes31
Frank Mantooth Jazz Orchestra A Miracle44
"Park & Ride" Richie Cole Profile41
"Sarah" Richie Cole Profile41
Carmen McRae Sarah—Dedicated To You45
"So I Love You" Shirley Horn Close Enough For Love46
Rebecca Parris Love Comes and Goes31
"Soft Sands" (Lyrics; Music by Lou Stein)47 The Chordettes The Best of the Chordettes48
Oscar Peterson Soft Sands
"A Song For Christmas"49 Charles Brown Charles Brown's Cool Christmas Blues50
Laura Fygi The Very Best Time of Year51
Nancy LaMott Just in Time For Christmas52
Ida Zecco A Song For Christmas53
Cantabile – The London Quartet A Song For Christmas
"Sunday in New York" (Lyrics; Music by Peter Nero) Doc Anello Doin' It Our Way54
Ernestine Anderson Be Mine Tonight
Bobby Darrin Ultra Lounge: Wild, Cool & Swingin'
Keely Smith I'm in Love Again55
Mel Tormé Mel Tormé Sings Sunday in New York & Other Songs About New York
Stanley Turrentine In Memory Of
Libby York Sunday in New York56
"The Swing Song" Shanna Carlson Swing High, Swing Low57
Lucy Reed Basic Reeding58
"Too Much in Love To Care" (Lyrics; Music by James J. Kriegsmann)59 Carmen McRae The First of Carmen McRae – The Bethlehem Years60
"We Can Only Try" (Lyrics; Music by Peter Daniels) Lainie Kazan Body & Soul61
Diane Schuur Pure Schuur62
"Where Did the Summer Go?" Rebecca Parris Love Comes and Goes31
"You'll See" Misty Bade Touching You Touching Me63
Rosie Carlino What Matters Most
Kelly Houston "Songs of Love"
Beth Logan Time After Time
Greta Matassa I Wanna Be Loved64
Rebecca Parris Love Comes and Goes31
Jackie Ryan Doozy
Diane Schuur Love Songs
Carol Sloane Heart's Desire65
Paula West Temptation
Weslia Whitfield Beautiful Love
John B. Williams Gratitude
Nancy Wilson R.S.V.P.
Susan Winter Love Rolls On
"You're So Far Above Me" The Four Freshmen The Complete Capitol Four Freshmen Fifties Sessions66

Awards

Along with co-writers Peter Nero and Roland Everett, Coates was nominated for a Golden Globe Award in 1964 for composing the song "Sunday in New York" for the film of the same name.67

References

References

  1. "Carroll Coates". Dignity Memorial. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  2. "Songwriters to Honor Carroll Coates". San Francisco Chronicle. 26 April 1996. p. D-11. Retrieved 31 May 2010.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  3. Stephen Holden (27 June 1991). "Jazz Festival; Some Friends Pay Tribute to Sarah Vaughan". The New York Times. Retrieved 23 May 2010.
  4. "A Kiss before dying. w Carroll Coates, m Lionel Newman – song, music". Advameg, Inc. Retrieved 16 May 2010.
  5. "The Last Wagon; theme from (the film) The Last Wagon. Lyric: Carroll Coates, music: Lionel Newman". Advameg, Inc. Retrieved 16 May 2010.
  6. "Cool it, baby. From the production, Teenage rebel. Lyric: Carroll Coates, music: Lionel Newman". Advameg, Inc. Retrieved 16 May 2010.
  7. "The Drive-in rock. From Way to the gold. w Carroll Coates, m Lionel Newman". Advameg, Inc. Retrieved 16 May 2010.
  8. "Strange weather. From Way to the gold. w Carroll Coates, m Lionel Newman". Advameg, Inc. Retrieved 16 May 2010.
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  11. "About Carroll Coates". Fancast.com. Retrieved 16 May 2010.
  12. "London by night". Advameg, Inc. Retrieved 16 May 2010.
  13. "Lost in the Stars / Chanticleer". ArkivMusic.com. Retrieved 28 August 2010.
  14. "Blue & Sentimental". Answers.com. Retrieved 28 August 2010.
  15. Albin, Steve (25 March 2009). "Index of Issues With Performances by Kendra Shank". jazzdiscography.com. Retrieved 28 August 2010.
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  18. "Johnny Holiday: Holiday for Lovers". VSOP Jazz Catalog. Retrieved 15 May 2010.
  19. "Trench Heroes / Monday in the City". AllAboutJazz.com. November 2002. Retrieved 15 May 2010. [The Contemporary Jazz Orchestra] perform[s] Carroll Coates' 'City Lights' . . . .
  20. "Cool It, Baby / The Treniers". Allmusic.com. Retrieved 30 October 2010.
  21. "Life Is So Peculiar". Answers.com. Retrieved 3 July 2010.
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  27. "THE BEST OF EVERYTHING – SCREEN ARCHIVES ENTERTAINMENT". www.screenarchives.com. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
  28. "A Beautiful Friendship". Answers.com. Retrieved 31 May 2010.
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  30. "Verve Records Catalog: Folk/Blues 5000 series". JAZZDISCO.org. Retrieved 19 May 2010.
  31. "Love Comes and Goes". Answers.com. Retrieved 31 May 2010.
  32. "Ronnie Ross Home Page Discography 1960–1969". RonnieRoss1.Tripod.com (work erroneously credited to "Eric" Coates). Archived from the original on 17 July 2011. Retrieved 15 May 2010.
  33. "Golden Age of Light Music – Going Places". ArkivMusic.com. Retrieved 3 July 2010.
  34. "A Miracle". FrankMantooth.com. Retrieved 15 May 2010.
  35. "Rosie Carlino, The New Lover Girl of Jazz". JazzReview.com. Retrieved 15 May 2010.
  36. "More in love. From Sunday in New York". United States Copyright Office. Archived from the original on 7 July 2008. Retrieved 15 May 2010.
  37. "Music Is My Life". Answers.com. Retrieved 3 July 2010.
  38. "John "Buddy" Connor / Can't Hide Love". ArtistDirect.com. Retrieved 31 May 2010.
  39. "In A New York Minute". Allmusic.com. Retrieved 28 August 2010.
  40. "Art Attack (CD) / Black Market Jazz orchestra". Insound.com. Retrieved 31 May 2010.
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  43. "Shade Street". AllAboutJazz.com. June 1999. Retrieved 31 May 2010.
  44. "A Miracle". FrankMantooth.com. Retrieved 31 May 2010.
  45. "Sarah – Dedicated To You". CarmenMcRae.com. Retrieved 23 May 2010.
  46. Michael Fitzgerald (7 February 2010). "Shirley Horn Discography". JazzDiscography.com. Retrieved 15 May 2010.
  47. "Catalogue/Soft sands [music] / lyric by Carroll Coates; music by Lou Stein". The National Library of Australia. Retrieved 22 May 2010.
  48. "The Best of the Chordettes". Answers.com. Retrieved 22 May 2010.
  49. "Santa Cruz Public Libraries Sheet Music Catalog / Sheet Music Full Record / Song For Christmas". Santa Cruz Public Libraries. Archived from the original on 18 July 2011. Retrieved 22 May 2010.
  50. "Charles Brown / Charles Brown's Cool Christmas Album". Last.fm. Retrieved 22 May 2010.
  51. "The Very Best Time of Year". Answers.com. Retrieved 3 July 2010.
  52. "Just in Time For Christmas / An Album Review". NancyLaMottFanClub.com. Archived from the original on 14 July 2011. Retrieved 22 May 2010.
  53. "Ida Zecco, A Song For Christmas". IdaZecco.com. Retrieved 22 May 2010.
  54. "Doc Anello / Doin' It Our Way". Answers.com. Retrieved 3 July 2010.
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  60. "Carmen McRae LPs". Carmenmcraediscography.com/. Archived from the original on 6 March 2010. Retrieved 22 May 2010.
  61. "Lainie Kazan Body & Soul". Starpulse.com. Retrieved 22 May 2010.
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  63. "Touching You Touching Me". cdbaby.com. Archived from the original on 8 February 2009. Retrieved 7 November 2010.
  64. "I Wanna Be Loved". Artistdirect.com. Retrieved 30 October 2010.
  65. "Index of CDs Recorded By Carol Sloane". carolsloane.com. Archived from the original on 4 December 2008. Retrieved 7 November 2010.
  66. "The Complete Capitol Four Freshmen Fifties Sessions". Answers.com. Retrieved 22 May 2010.
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External links