Career
Moving to Indianapolis in 1939, he started singing with Ernie Fields and Bardu Ali. Coleman joined the Jay McShann band in 1943 and later sang with Earl Hines, the Billy Eckstine Orchestra and King Kolax. He then went with McShann to California and recorded with Charlie Parker, Fats Navarro and Max Roach in 1948.
In 1954, he worked with Gene Ammons and recorded with Art Farmer and Gigi Gryce.
In 1956 he was. By 1960 he was recording as a leader and performed with Gerald Wilson. In 1962 he was with Don Byas in Paris and in the mid-60s with Billy Taylor and Frank Foster.
Family and personal life.
