Al Coleman

Albert L. Coleman

(August 18, 1927– Present)

Al Coleman was born and raised in Indianapolis and played in the Crispus Attucks band and orchestra under the direction of Mr. Russell Brown and Lavern Newson.  He attended MacArthur Music School on Indiana Avenue and Arthur Jordan Conservatory of Music at Butler University. 

Like his father, Alvia, Albert was an accomplished drummer. During his early career, he played with famed musicians Jimmy Coe, Duke Hampton, the Montgomery brothers, and Leroy Vinegar.

He joined with Henry D. Cain on piano and Will Scott on bass to form Al’s Three Souls.  Al’s Three Souls had a prolific presence in Indiana jazz and were together for almost 50 years.  They played from the east to west coasts as well as Zimbabwe, Africa and recorded under Note, Argo and Chest labels.  The trio performed at many venues in Indianapolis including the Cactus Club, Cotton Club, and A Place to Play.

Coleman also operated several businesses, including a vending machine company. He and Robert Smith formed a partnership in 1969 to open up Cole-Smith Manor, a local motel. Smith later sold his share of the partnership to Coleman, who operated it as a family business. Also, that year, Al purchased the British Lounge, a night club on Indiana Avenue. He renovated it and reopened it as Al’s British Lounge, the last of the great clubs to operate on the Avenue.  Al was inducted into the Indianapolis Jazz Foundation’s Hall of Fame in 2009 and was honored as an Indy Jazz Legend by The National Crispus Attucks Alumni Association on April 19, 2015.