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Year of birth: 1910

City of birth: Paris, France

Albert Coleman spent most of his career firmly planted in the spotlight and as conductor of the Atlanta Pops Orchestra, was an extraordinary music presence in Georgia for almost 60 years. When he died in November 2007, John Head, the current conductor and musical director of the Pops Orchestra told the Atlanta Journal Constitution, “He’s probably done more to promote classical music in the city of Atlanta than anybody else, as far as longevity goes. I don’t know how many hundreds of free concerts he gave, and he exposed an incredible number of people to good orchestral music that they otherwise would have been unable to hear.

Albert Coleman was born Alfred Emil Emmanuel Crosnier on Aug. 2, 1910 in Paris. France. The son of a French musician and a beautiful Italian bareback horse rider and tightrope walker, he was taught the violin at age five and toured circuses with his parents. The Crosniers were living in Russia during the time of the Bolshevik Revolution, and Coleman and his family escaped by riding on the top of a train from Siberia to China. He grew up in Shangai, where he was tutored by the conductor of the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra. Later, he studied at the Paris Conservatory and performed throughout the Orient as a young musician.

As music conductor for the A.B. Marcus Show, a Ziegfeld-type touring company, he came to Atlanta in 1939 to perform at the Roxy Theatre. He returned in 1944 when he accepted a position as musical director at WSB radio. In 1945, he organized he established a community orchestra that eventually bore the name the Atlanta Pops Orchestra. On Jan. 28, 1948, Coleman became an American citizen and changed his name to Albert Coleman.

Coleman led the Atlanta Pops Orchestra for 55 years, where he played to packed houses at the Fox Theatre, the Roxy Theatre and Stone Mountain Park. Coleman and his Atlanta Pops opened Chastain Park Amphitheatre in 1952 and the Atlanta Constitution later described the event as the “greatest throng in Atlanta concert history.” Over the years, he conducted for such stars as Frank Sinatra, Bob Hope, Steve Allen, Danny Kaye and Chet Atkins.

Cosmopolitan and charismatic, Coleman had a commanding presence. He is remembered for his tireless dedication to introducing and sharing classical music with the masses and inspiring generations of up-and-coming musical talents.

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