Muppet known for singing duets with “Sesame Street” guests

Courtesy photo

George Cole performs original music and Christmas classics at Sutter Creek Theatre this Saturday.

‘Christmas Rocks’ in Amador County

News release

SUTTER CREEK — Internationally acclaimed guitarist/vocalist George Cole and his all-star band are bringing their Christmas Rocks extravaganza to Sutter Creek Theatre Dec. 17.

Cole, the charismatic Bay Area Music Award winner, a triple threat as bandleader, guitarist/ vocalist and composer, will deliver an outstanding evening of entertainment and holiday cheer. Cole and his band perform hits from his Top 20 album “Riverside Drive,” rockin’ favorites of Christmases past and great American songbook classics.

The audience will hear Cole, guitars/vocal; Tony Malfatti, sax; David Rokeach, drums; Greg Sankovich, piano; Kurt Ribak, bass.

Cole spent his early days as an educator teaching and mentoring his students Billie Joe Armstrong and Mike Dirnt of Green Day for 10 years. As a sideman, he earned his bonafides singing duets with jazz legend Keely Smith and playing guitar in The David Grisman Quintet while garnering multi album deals with Interscope, Acoustic Disc and Atlantic Records along the way.

“George Cole was more than a guitar teacher to me. He was a mentor that talked about great music, great songs, good taste and everything in between. I feel grateful and lucky that he showed me how to express myself with a guitar,” Armstrong shared.

“Think of the evergreen songs of George Gershwin, Cole Porter and Irving Berlin heated to a Django Reinhardt swing and you’ve got the infectious gist of the music of George Cole.”

— The Detroit News