By the 1950s, he worked almost exclusively as a singer, with such notable arrangers as Nelson Riddle and Billy May providing lush orchestral accompaniment. Corrections? Cole was only 17. The first cover of "The Christmas Song" was performed by pop tenor and bandleader Eddy Howard on Majestic. In a few short years, Cole dropped out of school at 15 years old to focus solely on pursuing a career in music. Cole appeared frequently on popular variety programs hosted by Perry Como, Milton Berle, Ed Sullivan, and others. An influence on jazz pianists such as Oscar Peterson, Cole was known for a compact, syncopated piano style with clean, spare, melodic phrases. He was also present at the Democratic National Convention in 1960 to throw his support behind President John F. Kennedy. Genealogy profile for Nat King Cole. His revolutionary lineup of piano, guitar and bass in the time of the big bands became a popular set up for a jazz trio. Coles singing career began inadvertently when a tipsy customer at a small Hollywood bistro insisted that he sing, Sweet Lorraine, which he did to an enthused response, not only from the drunk, but from the entire audience as well. His 1957 recording of "When I Fall In Love" reached number four in the United Kingdom charts in 1987. The trio consisted of Nat on piano, Oscar Moore on guitar, and Wesley Prince on double bass. Equally skilled as a jazz pianist and a middle-of-the-road pop crooner, Cole would still be remembered with affection today if he only had one of those musical identities. To speculate about what might have been is obviously fruitless, though it is possible that he might have taken up the piano again and become the elder statesman of jazz that he had it in him to be. February 15, 1957. Personal Life Cole married for the first time when he was only 17. Nat King Cole was in the final stages of lung cancer. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Nat-King-Cole, Turner Classic Movies - Biography of Nat King Cole, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame - Biography of Nat "King" Cole, Encyclopedia of Alabama - Biography of Nat "King" Cole, Nat King Cole - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). Credit is due under the terms of this license that can reference both the New World Encyclopedia contributors and the selfless volunteer contributors of the Wikimedia Foundation. Cole was considered a leading jazz pianist, appearing, for example, in the first Jazz at the Philharmonic concerts (credited on the Mercury Record labels as "Shorty Nadine," apparently derived from the name of his wife at the time). Jazz singer Nat King Cole was best known for songs like "The Christmas Song" and "Ramblin' Rose" (via Billboard). With his immense popularity, his first couple of roles in the 1940s were guest appearances that had him "largely playing some version of himself," as told by Biography. Throughout his career, Cole remained extremely close to his wife, Maria, and to their five children, Carol, Natalie, Kelly, and the twins, Timolin and Casey. His hit song "Ramblin' Rose" jump-started a slight decline that crept up at the end of the '50s. The show fell victim to the bigotry of the times, however, and was canceled after one season; few sponsors were willing to be associated with a Black entertainer. Nat King Cole's early career and trio. While this shift to pop music led some jazz critics and fans to accuse Cole of selling out, he never totally abandoned his jazz roots; as late as 1956, he recorded an all-jazz album, After Midnight. January 1957. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. [Part 1]", "Pop Chronicles Interviews #131 - Nat "King" Cole", "Study: Ad Agencies Exhibit 'Pervasive Racial Discrimination' | News", "17 Of The Most Influential Freemasons Ever", "Gale:Free Resources:Black History:Biographies: Nat King Cole", "L.A.'s Ugly Jim Crow History: Nat King Cole's Dog Poisoned in Hancock Park", "Nat 'King' Cole attacked on stage archive, 12 April 1956", "It's All Right to Still Like Ike: History: Once Painted as a 'Distanced' President, Dwight Eisenhower Now is Heralded for his Strong Sense of Service", "Nat King Cole | Songwriters Hall of Fame", "Special Awards Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame", Nat "King" Cole article in the Encyclopedia of Alabama, All for You: A Dedication to the Nat King Cole Trio, You're Lookin' at Me (A Collection of Nat King Cole Songs), The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas to You), Put 'em in a Box, Tie 'em with a Ribbon, and Throw 'em in the Deep Blue Sea, Caroling, Caroling: Christmas with Natalie Cole, Unforgettable A Musical Tribute to Nat King Cole, Sophisticated Lady (She's a Different Lady), https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Nat_King_Cole&oldid=1139844406, 20th-century African-American male singers, African-American television personalities, Burials at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Glendale), Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award winners, Racially motivated violence against African Americans, Spanish-language singers of the United States, Short description is different from Wikidata, Pages using infobox musical artist with associated acts, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0. eBay Money Back Guarantee. The classic "The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)" was popularized by Cole in the late 1940s. Oxford Music Online. As a result, he presented only singers, dancers, and instrumentalists, never comedians, and the shows lack of range, combined with the absence of national sponsorship, kept it from making money. In . And yet, many of his Cole attained his greatest commercial success, however, as a vocalist specializing in warm ballads and light swing. But while Coles studies were central to his artistic development, he became obsessed early on with jazz in general and the pianism of Earl Hines in particular. All rights reserved. 1936-1955. Then in 1956, he was assaulted on stage while singing the song "Little Girl" in Birmingham, Alabama, by three members of the North Alabama White Citizens' Council, who apparently were attempting to kidnap him. As Cole described, while they "didn't bend over backwards" to please white audiences, they certainly did not want to offend them (viaReel Rundown). In 1956, "The Nat King Cole Show" was the first of its kind for a known Black performer. Nat King Cole was born Nathaniel Adams Coles (he later dropped the "s" in his surname) in Montgomery, Alabama. This page was last edited on 11 November 2022, at 01:27. This song would be a great choice if your husband was a positive person who took an upbeat approach to life and rarely let things get him down. This vintage song carries the timeless message to keep your chin up when life looks bleak. Children: 5, including Natalie Cole. According to NPR, he sold over 50 million records and had hit after hit during his career, including more than 30 entries on the Billboard Hot 100 (via Billboard). The show ultimately failed due to its inability to attract national sponsors because the program was hosted by a black person. By the time he contracted lung cancer, he was estranged from his wife Maria while in a relationship with actress Gunilla Hutton, best known as Nurse Goodbody of Hee Haw fame. Benny would give the eulogy at Cole's funeral service a few days later, per the Desert Sun, posted at theCalifornia Digital Newspaper Collection. Nathaniel Adams Coles was born in Montgomery, Alabama on March 17, 1919. The cancellation would turn out to be the permanent end of his career. Volume 4 is also issued in a box set of three 45-rpm records. Jenkins arranged Love Is the Thing, #1 on the album charts in April 1957. They were also regular performers at clubs. 4th Annual GRAMMY Awards. (This special compilation also was available as a 27 high-quality LP record set.). In 1937, after finishing high school, he wrote his first song, Straighten up and Fly Right, which he eventually sold for $50. The first was in 1946 with the King Cole Trio. He died on February 15, 1965, at St. John's Hospital in Santa Monica, California and his funeral was held in Los Angeles. In 1956, Nat King Cole was a superstar, selling millions of records and touring all over the country. From 1942, when he and his Nat King Cole Trio became one of the first artists to sign with the fledgling Capitol Records, (a company in which the late Johnny By the summer of 1957, it was New York City's top-rated variety program. Ballerina, Funny, The Continental, I Wish You Love, You Leave Me Breathless, Thou Swell, My Kind Of Love, Surrey With The Fringe On Top, Where Or When, Miss Otis Regrets, Joe Turner's Blues, Mr. Cole Won't . Cole, a heavy smoker who would smoke as much as three packs of cigarettes a day, died of lung cancer while still at the height of his singing career. When the drummer never showed up, the quartet became a trio. According to Reel Rundown, Nat King Cole never planned to be the first Black man to host his own television program, but when he was offered the gig, he knew its significance. She began recording again after a stint in rehab in. 16.57. Jazz singer Nat King Cole was best known for songs like "The Christmas Song" and "Ramblin' Rose" (via Billboard).He became a popular crooner in the 1950s, and made history when he became the first Black man to host a regular TV variety show. Soon, he graduated to playing other characters, such as his roles inIstanbulandChina Gate. Cole frequently consulted with President Kennedy (and later President Johnson) on the issue of civil rights. According toThe Guardian,cigarette smoking was not only "the epitome of cool and glamour," but it was also cheap and accessible. Nat King Cole At The Sands (1966) - Antonio Morelli - Capitol Records SMAS-2434 Recorded live 1/14/1960 at the Sands Hotel in Las Vegas. Perlina also gave young Nat piano lessons, and although nothing specific is known about his course of study, it is obvious from the exceptional technical finish of his jazz playing that he received thorough training in the fundamentals of classical piano. Booklet Volumes 1 and 2 contain 4 shellac records. The prejudices of the era in which Cole lived hindered his potential for even greater stardom. 1st Annual GRAMMY Awards. In June 1946, the King Cole Trio cut the first record of Mel Torm's "The Christmas Song" (known for its first line, "Chestnuts roasting on an open fire"). Despite the efforts of NBC, The Nat King Cole Show ultimately failed due to a lack of national sponsorship. In August 1948, the couple moved into their new home. But fame doesn't negate racist sentiments and violence. Naxos of America / OKeh Records AllMusic Quiz. Song Year: 1954. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Cole was born in Montgomery, Alabama. Omissions? Born into Bostons black bourgeoisie, she was similarly determined to put an upper-middle-class veneer on her new husband, who in 1946 still spoke and sang with a noticeable touch of the Southern accent he had acquired from his parents. New Releases. Riddle arranged several of Cole's 1950s albums, including his first 10-inch long-play album, his 1953 Nat King Cole Sings For Two In Love. His otherwise smooth-textured voice had a faintly gravelly quality heightened by his chain smoking, and he sang with tuning-fork intonation and lapidary enunciation, though his drawn-out pronunciation of certain vowels, the long i of I and my in particular, was so idiosyncratic that Sammy Davis Jr. exaggerated it to witty effect in his uncanny impersonation of Cole (which can be viewed on YouTube). Nathaniel Adams Coles (he changed his last name to . What some may not know, though, is that he recorded four versions of the song. Shared with: Lee Gillette (Producer) For the album "The Nat King Cole Story". They found their greatest success, however, when Cole began doubling as a solo singer. Sold for 23.50 USD on 11 Mar 2022 (4 bids) 1. In December 1964, he was diagnosed with lung cancer when they discovered a tumor in his left lung, as reported by the Orlando Sentinel. Full-time combos of any sort were uncommon in the swing era, and the King Cole Trio would have stood out for that reason alone. Sponsored. "The Nat "King" Cole Show," Museum of Broadcast Communications, https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/p/index.php?title=Nat_King_Cole&oldid=1086902, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License, Vocal jazz, swing, traditional pop, jump blues. During World War II, Wesley Prince left the group and Cole replaced him with Johnny Miller. "Cole, Nat 'King'." Cole first came to prominence as a leading jazz pianist, then switched his emphasis to singing, becoming one of the most popular and best-known vocalists of all time. Nat King Cole Capitol Records LP Vinyl Records, Go Betweens LP Vinyl Records, He was survived by his wife, Maria, and five children; three biological and two adopted. He churned out song after song, including classics like "Unforgettable" and "Mona Lisa." Their real estate agent knew about this racist rule and circumvented it by hiring a light-skinned Black woman to buy the place for the Coles with a $6,000 down payment. Despite the fact that Nat King Cole is revered today as a vocal legend, he never intentionally pursued a singing career. The public, who knew very little about the severity of his condition, was shocked. Complete After Midnight Sessions 4 Bonus Tracks / 24Bit Digitally. Nat "King" Cole and His Trio. . All GRAMMY Awards and Nominations for Nat "King" Cole. Nat King Cole. Chalk? In 1956, Nat King Cole became star and host of his own network television variety show on NBC-TV on which such guests as Ella Fitzgerald, Tony Bennett and Mel Torme were spotlighted. Nat King Cole - Where Did Everybody Go - Used Vinyl Record lp - E34A. As a toddler, he learned to play the piano (via Biography). I think I've finally got this cancer licked.". Something went wrong. . When the Hancock Park Property Owners Association found out, though, they were furious and offered Cole his money back plus some profit. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. Thanks to electronics, she dusted beautifully on the song with the great Nat King Cole himself. On March 28, 1948 (Easter Sunday), just six days after his divorce became final, Cole married singer Maria Hawkins Ellingtonno relation to Duke Ellington although she had sung with Ellington's band. Still later, in high school, he organized a 14-piece band with himself as leader and pianist. Two years later, he resumed performing, reinvented himself as a stadium act, and returned to his place at the center of American popular culture. While Cole certainly had a more understated public role in the Civil Rights Movement, he was apparently quite outspoken in private among his high-profile friends, including Presidents Kennedy and Johnson. In the 1960s, he became the first nationally known black artist to host a television show, but it was canceled after one year because a national sponsor could not be found. Who are you backing for this week's Official Number 1 single? He could not act well enough to launch a secondary film career like that of Sinatra or appear in a Broadway musical, his other thwarted ambition, and the fast-growing popularity of rock n roll was making him sound old-fashioned by comparison with Elvis Presley and the other teen-oriented acts who had come to dominate Americas airwaves. After signing with Capitol Records in 1942, Cole and his trio recorded "Straighten Up and Fly Right," "Sweet Lorraine" and "Embraceable You." All became major hits, the first of an uninterrupted series of smash recordings to follow for the next 20 years. A wholly mainstream singer and entertainer, Cole was eventually offered his own TV show, which he very much wanted. An African-American jazz pianist, pop vocalist, and balladeer, Cole's popularity is even more incredible considering the time period in which he thrived. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. Initially begun as a 15-minute show on Monday night, the show was expanded to a half hour in July 1957. Suddenly, while he was right in the middle of a song, a group of white men who were associated with an "offshoot of the KKK" ran toward the stage and assaulted him. 11 offers from $53.29. Cole mastered this style as a teenager, adding to it an idiomatic feel for the blues that Hines lacked, along with a forward-looking harmonic vocabulary that prefigured bebop, the avant-garde jazz style of the 40s. Nat King Cole, byname of Nathaniel Adams Cole, family name originally Coles, (born March 17, 1919, Montgomery, Alabama, U.S.died February 15, 1965, Santa Monica, California), American musician hailed as one of the best and most influential pianists and small-group leaders of the swing era. Without a large sponsor, NBC was unable to keep the show scheduled during prime time and had to move it to a less coveted time slot. Sold for 32.24 USD on 22 Mar 2022 (4 bids) 78 rpm. His father died just two weeks before he did. Nathaniel Adams Coles, professionally known as Nat King Cole, (March 17, 1919 - February 15, 1965) was an American jazz musician, singer and songwriter.He was born in the southern city of Montgomery, Alabama.His father was a Christian minister.Millions of Nat King Cole's recordings were sold while he was alive. Royal Command Performance for Queen Elizabeth II. Instead, his style was quiet, understated, and arrestingly direct, as if he were sitting across from you, telling a story about a mutual friend. . His enjoyable personality landed him the iconic gig as the host of his very own nationally televised show, as told by NPR. Unfortunately, from the beginning,The Nat King Cole Show always struggled with one thing: sponsors. In December of 1964, Cole had a health crisis that forced him to cancel a show (via Los Angeles Times). Initially begun as a toddler, he graduated to playing other characters, such as his roles Gate. 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