Nat King Cole

Born Nathaniel Adams Coles in 1917, at four he moved to Chicago when his father was called to the True Light Baptist Church. Even at that age he could sing "Yes, We Have No Bananas" as he accompanied himself on the piano. His first public performance as a pianist was at four in Chicago's Regal Theater. His mother, who was his first music teacher, wanted him to become a classical pianist.

Although as early as 12 he played the organ and sang in his father's church, his interests were with jazz - an interest and type of music that displeased his parents because of Jazz's connection with nightclubs and the sporting life. However, three of Nat's brothers - Eddie, Fred and Isaac - were already jazz musicians, and Nat first played piano in Eddie Coles's jazz band, the Rogues of Rhythm.

In 1936 he moved to Los Angeles where he formed a group that later became the King Cole Trio. In 1943, he recorded his first national hit record, "Straighten Up and Fly Right," which was based on one of his father's sermons and on a traditional black folktale.

Success followed with "It's Only a Paper Moon" in 1945, "The Christmas Song" in 1947, "Nature Boy" in 1948, "Mona Lisa" in 1949 and "Too Young" in 1951.

Cole was the first black jazz musician to have his own weekly radio show (1948-49).

In early 1956, Cole returned to Alabama, where his integrated group played to a segregated audience in the municipal auditorium in Birmingham. Four members of the White Citizens Council attacked him on the stage. Although hurt, Cole returned to the stage and completed his performance for the audience of 4,000. Cole, who had frequently visited in Montgomery, vowed never to return to the South, and he did not.

Later that year he became the first black to have a weekly show on network television (1956-57), but the show was canceled because it could not find a national sponsor. Although Nat 'King' Cole moved away from jazz, and is best known as a melodious, smooth singer of such popular songs as "Pretend," "Route 66," "Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire" and "Rambling Rose," his stronger claim to a place in musical history is as a jazz pianist. He is also known as an actor in "St. Louis Blues" (1958) and "Cat Ballou" (1964). Cole died in 1965.

Ohh HELL yeah

It doesn't say it but he was one amazing piano player in the trio years. It the "Blues" documentary that Scorcese did he had actual video footage and most people have no idea what an inspirational talent this man was.

Smoothness personifed.

FunkMistress said:

and such a handsome man

this is all my father played when i was little, so i could not avoid hearing nat in the house...nat is who turned me own to bossa nova w/ his rendition of the "girl from ipanema...and his version of "stardust" just breaks your heart it's so good.


but....

though i'm still somewhat haunted by the chappelle sketch of nat doing a "booty" video a la 2 live crew where he's singing a ballad then starts pouring champagne all over this woman's chest...
[Edited 2/8/05 15:30pm]