Bart Cockrell | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Bart Anthony Cockrell |
| Also known as | Tony Cockrell Bart Dingle Tony Dingle |
| Born | June 18, 1955 Vernon, Connecticut |
| Died | January 6, 2023 (aged 67) Ashland, Massachusetts |
| Occupation(s) | Musician Talent Manager Clerk |
| Instruments | Trombone, Bass Guitar |
| Years active | 1972-1987 (clerk) 1988-1999 (musician) 2002-2010, 2015-2018 (talent manager) |
| Formerly of | Young Executives (1982-1985) The Dingles (1986) Cockrell Brothers (1988-1992) Handsome George & The Cockrells (1991-1999) |
Early Life
editBart Cockrell was born on June 18, 1955 in Vernon, Connecticut.
Career
editCockrell worked as a clerk until 1987. During that time, he would play local gigs in a quartet (which included his older brother George).
He didn’t get serious with his musical career until George begged him to join The Cockrells in 1990. The Cockrells quickly morphed into Handsome George & The Cockrells the following year.
He played in The Cockrells until 1999. Shortly after that, Cockrell got into talent managing which he did until his retirement.
Cockrell’s single with experimental group Young Executives entitled Man On Fire (New Neurosis) received renewed interest after it was discovered to be the source of a song in the unknown songs community given the placeholder name “New Neurosis/Padded Cell”. The song was released in 1983 with Young Executives and in 1989 as a solo single.
Cockrell rejoined Young Executives in 2022 and released a song titled “Big Dumb Hair”.
Personal Life
editCockrell came out as gay in 1982, but just 3 years later, married Lizzie Grace Chaflan (b. 1958) whom he is still presently married to. Together they have 3 children; Daughters Adrian “Addie” Grace, Carla Chrissy, and son Freddy Kyle.
Cockrell and his brother lived in Vernon, Connecticut until 2008 (briefly living in Brooklyn, New York in the early 90s). Bart moved back to Vernon in 2018 after living in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and his brother George moved back in 2019 after living in Gainesville, Florida.
Death
editCockrell died by suicide on January 6, 2023, at the age of 67 in Ashland, Massachusetts. He had gone to visit his children and was found dead in his hotel room.
Cockrell had been diagnosed with cancer in 2018 and gone into remission in 2019. The cancer returned in 2021 and had become terminal in December 2022. Cockrell had been suffering from cancer related pains in the months leading up to his death.