Irving Milfred Mole, known professionally as Miff Mole, was born on March 11, 1898, in Roosevelt, Long Island, New York, and passed away on April 29, 1961, in New York City. He was an influential American jazz trombonist and band leader, credited with creating the first distinctive and influential solo jazz trombone style. Mole began his musical journey playing the violin and piano, later switching to trombone at the age of 15.

He started his professional career with Gus Sharp's Orchestra and played with the Original Memphis Five. Throughout the 1920s, Mole became a significant figure in the New York jazz scene, collaborating with artists such as Ross Gorman, Roger Wolfe Kahn, and Ray Miller. He was part of several bands led by cornetist Red Nichols, including The Red Heads and Red Nichols and His Five Pennies, which featured prominent musicians like Jimmy Dorsey, Eddie Lang, and Vic Berton.

Miff Mole and His Little Molers, co-led with Red Nichols, was a notable band during the late 1920s. They frequently recorded and backed popular singer Sophie Tucker on several recordings. Mole's career also included work as a studio musician and performances with major figures like Paul Whiteman and Benny Goodman. In the mid-1940s, he returned to small-group jazz, playing with Eddie Condon and recording under the name Miff Mole and his Nicksieland Band. Despite his declining health in the 1950s, Mole's contributions to jazz, particularly his innovative trombone style, left a lasting impact on the genre.