Paddy Cole

{{For|the American basketball player|Patrick Cole}}

{{Short description|Irish musician (1939–2025)}}

{{Use Hiberno-English|date=January 2025}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2025}}

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Paddy Cole

| image =

| caption =

| image_size =

| birth_name = Patrick Cole

| alias =

| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=y|1939|12|17}}

| birth_place = Castleblayney, County Monaghan, Ireland

| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=y|2025|01|22|1939|12|17}}

| death_place = Dublin, Ireland

| instrument = Saxophone, clarinet

| genre =

| occupation = {{hlist|Singer|musician}}

| years_active = 1955–2025

| spouse =

| label = Dolphin Records

| associated_acts = The Capitol Showband

| website =

}}

Patrick Cole (17 December 1939 – 22 January 2025) was an Irish singer, musician and band leader. He was chiefly associated with the era of showbands in Ireland.

In a career that spanned 70 years, Cole first appeared on stage at the age of 12. He joined the Capitol Showband in the early 1960s, before being recruited by the Big Eight Showband and appearing in Las Vegas. Cole returned to Ireland and formed the Paddy Cole Band, later renamed the Paddy Cole Superstars.{{cite web|url=https://www.irish-showbands.com/Bands/paddycole.htm|title=Paddy Cole Band / Superstars Feature (1974-1986)|publisher=Irish Showbands website|date=|accessdate=22 January 2025}}{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/king-of-the-swingers-and-showband-legend-paddy-cole-dies-aged-85/a1372773103.html|title='King of the Swingers' and showband legend Paddy Cole dies aged 85|publisher=Irish Independent|date=22 January 2025|accessdate=22 January 2025}}

Cole died from lung cancer on 22 January 2025, at the age of 85.{{cite web|url=https://www.rsvplive.ie/news/celebs/paddy-cole-never-thought-hed-34465026|title=Paddy Cole 'never thought' he'd see 85 as he receives hospice care for incurable cancer|publisher=SVP|date=12 January 2025|accessdate=22 January 2025}}{{cite web|url=https://www.rte.ie/entertainment/2025/0122/1492359-paddy-cole/|title=Sax player and singer Paddy Cole dies, aged 85|publisher=RTÉ News|date=22 January 2025|accessdate=22 January 2025}}