Ed Cottle started playing piano professionally in high school in New Jersey. He has been active in the central Ohio music scene since arriving in Delaware to attend college in the early 'sixties. During his junior year, Ed joined the Columbus Federation of Musicians. He graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University with a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Theory and Composition and composition in 1968. From 1969-1975, he served in the military with the 338th Army Band. Ed has performed solo, and with many bands, on the road, and virtually everywhere in Central Ohio. His resume includes playing in orchestras for shows accompanying Bob Hope, Red Skelton, Steve Allen, Red Buttons, the Mills Brothers, the Stars of the Lawrence Welk Show, and others. He has worked with such local groups as Tom Battenberg's Free Rein, Chuz Alfred, Terrie Finnerty, Meg Murphy, New Remnants Dance Orchestra, and the Columbus Jazz Arts Group. On the road, he has played in the Rudy Scaffidi Orchestra for Admiral Cruise Lines, Marc III Trio in Iowa, Craig Irwin Trio in Michigan, Fr. Clarence Joseph Rivers band in New Orleans and Tampa, etc. As a soloist, he performs standards, show tunes, and ballads.