He occasionally revisited his jazz roots, as on the outstanding album After Midnight (1956), which proved that Coles piano skills had not diminished. Police intervened and took custody of three men immediately, while three additional men were arrested in the aftermath of the attack. This article contains a list of albums by Nat King Cole and compilations of his recordings, together with a list of his chart singles. Feb. 28, 2023 2 PM PT. @ 2023 - Recording Academy. (This special compilation also was available as a 27 high-quality LP record set.). The Songwriters Hall of Fame's ongoing mission is to celebrate and honor the contributions and legacies of songwriters of all genres of music while developing and nurturing the next generation of songwriters through Master Sessions, songwriting craft forums, scholarships and digital initiatives. For a number of these recordings, the orchestral accompaniment was directed and arranged by the gifted Nelson Riddle and Gordon Jenkins during the early 60s. Legend has it that, one night, a drunk customer demanded that the group sing. Coles popularity allowed him to become the first African American to host a network variety program, The Nat King Cole Show, which debuted on NBC television in 1956. How do the traditional Christmas standards perform on the chart? The second version, released in November, established the song as a seasonal standard, and three days after recording it, Cole made an even more successful trio-only record of (I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons that shot to the No. Cole was hired as the pianist for a jazz quartet that would play at the Swanee Inn nearHollywood, as told by uDiscover Music. A wholly mainstream singer and entertainer, Cole was eventually offered his own TV show, which he very much wanted. The couple's lavish Harlem wedding took place only six days after Cole and Robinson's divorce was finalized. New World Encyclopedia writers and editors rewrote and completed the Wikipedia article Born . According toThe Guardian,cigarette smoking was not only "the epitome of cool and glamour," but it was also cheap and accessible. Had Cole continued to lead the trio, he would be generally acknowledged as one of the most important jazz pianists of the 20th century. Singer. Cole, who was greatly disappointed, made the difficult decision to pull the plug on the program. His final acting role would be in Cat Ballou, starring Jane Fonda and Lee Marvin, which was released after Cole's death in 1965. [12] A handful of Cole recordings have made appearances on the Holiday 100 and are noted below according to the holiday season in which they charted there. Handy and acted alongside Eartha Kitt and Cab Calloway, was the only film where he had a major starring role. In his spare time, Cole also became a hot sandlot baseball player, and while he never made it to the pros, he became an ardent follower of the Los Angeles Dodgers. "I lost my baby in December. When the drummer never showed up, the quartet became a trio. . I swing the band.) But it was his recordings of ballads that made him a household name, and among the most memorable of them is the version of Ray Nobles The Very Thought of You that he cut with Gordon Jenkins, another of Sinatras preferred arrangers, in 1958. When the young singer first achieved some modest success, he made several important changes, dropping the s from his last name, and adding the new middle nickname, King. When he first began attracting recognition, he was more keyboardist than singer, having developed a strong jazz style in his playing. For "Wild Is Love" Best Vocal Performance Album, Male. On November 5, 1956, The Nat King Cole Show debuted on NBC-TV. The attack began at the rear of the auditorium when three men ran down the aisles towards Cole and his band. They found their greatest success, however, when Cole began doubling as a solo singer. They were the big act on Columbia Records, who had them re-record the song with a string section - the first time the trio used strings on a record. 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. The success of these recordings led to Coles becoming a regular guest on the most widely viewed TV programs of the 50s, including Person to Person, This Is Your Life, Whats My Line? Found 396 items. Beginning in the late 1940s, Cole began recording and performing more pop-oriented material for mainstream audiences, often accompanied by a string orchestra. He first recorded with a full orchestra (the trio serving as rhythm section) in 1946 for The Christmas Song, a holiday standard and one of Coles biggest-selling recordings. 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. Get notified of exciting GRAMMY Award news and upcoming events! 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"). In addition, the absence of a drummer gave the trio a transparent sound that made it easier for Cole and Oscar Moore, an unsung pioneer of jazz guitar, to toss musical ideas back and forth, supported only by the swinging bass lines of Wesley Prince and, later, Johnny Miller. 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. According to AL.com, his comments sparked criticisms among civil rights leaders, who felt that Cole hadn't done enough in pushing for change, especially since he had always agreed to perform for segregated audiences. Five years after Coles death, Frank Sinatra announced his retirement from singing. 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. Nat King Cole The Christmas Song LP Red Colored 180g Vinyl. As a result, the King Cole Trio disbanded in 1951, and it was as a pop singer, not a jazz instrumentalist, that Cole was known thereafter and to this day. Record of the Year. He was survived by his wife, Maria, and five children; three biological and two adopted. His older brother, Eddie Coles, a bassist, soon joined Nat's band and they first recorded in 1936 under Eddie's name. The diagnosis would cut Cole's life very short, because he died not long after the discovery. However, he was with his wife during his illness and she stayed with him until his death. Yet despite this and other close encounters with the evils of racism, Cole remained outwardly unfazed and his white fans staunchly loyal. WhileThe Nat King Cole Show was a significant move toward racial integration in media, Cole and the showrunners were still aware of the racial divisions that existed in the country. Benny would give the eulogy at Cole's funeral service a few days later, per the Desert Sun, posted at theCalifornia Digital Newspaper Collection. As told by Marianne Ruuth in her bookNat King Cole,he grew up in Chicago deeply entrenched in religious music, with a gospel choir leader for a mother and a reverend for a father. He received music lessons from his mother and his family moved to Chicago when he was five, where his father Edward James Coles was a Baptist minister. Noted for his warm tone and flawless phrasing, Cole was regarded among the top male vocalists, although jazz critics tended to regret his near-abandonment of the piano. 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). To that end, she persuaded him to move to Hancock Park, a wealthy, all-white Los Angeles neighborhood whose residents refused to accept the family (anonymous vandals burned a racial slur into their front lawn). Cole retorted "Neither do I. Cole was born in Montgomery, Alabama. , Ed Sheeran announces release of acoustic album Subtract, 10 years in the making, Albums coming in 2023: Ed Sheeran, Miley Cyrus, Mimi Webb and more, Who is Mae Stephens - the 19-year-old behind viral hit If We Ever Broke Up, Official Trending Chart: Pink, Niall, Mae Stephens and more, Americana albums to look forward to in 2023, It's Gorillaz vs. Gracie Abrams for this week's Number 1 album. Throughout the 1950s, Cole continued to rack up hit after hit, including "Smile," "Pretend," "A Blossom Fell," "If I May." Lost your password? His daughter Natalie was also a popular singer who achieved her greatest chart success in 1991 with Unforgettable, an electronically created duet with her late father. Continuing to market himself as an instrumentalist, Cole and his newly formed combo, including guitar, bass and drums, along with his piano, finally won some success on the club circuit, at a time when larger band groups and singers were considerably more popular than trios and quartets. Instead, he was content to be nothing moreor lessthan a first-rate popular singer, and the reissue in 1991 of an 18-CD boxed set of the King Cole Trios recordings for Capitol triggered a revival of interest in his earlier work as a jazz pianist. Cole agreed, both because he was an ambitious man who hungered for wider popularity and because he felt that he had exhausted the creative and commercial possibilities of the trio, with which he had been working for nearly a decade. For over a year, the entertainer worked tirelessly on his show, even turning down a total of $500,000 in performances in order to focus on the program. Incredibly, Coles singing was as extraordinary as his playing. "I think it was too early," Kitt said, "to show ourselves off as intelligent people."[2]. 4th Annual GRAMMY Awards. The trio consisted of Nat on piano, Oscar Moore on guitar, and Wesley Prince on double bass. Album of the Year (Other Than Classical) For "The Nat "King" Cole Story" 1961 Nominee Grammy: Album of the Year. According to AllMusic, the two joined forces after Eddie returned from touring with Noble Sissle's band and formed their own swing sextet. Audio CD. 78.rpm (1948), NAT KING COLE THE CHRISTMAS SONG, LAGUNA MOOD 10 INCH 78 RPM VG, Nat King Cole 78 RPM Capitol 4754 The Christmas Song My Two Front Teeth, Nat King Cole 78 RPM Capitol 4754 The Christmas Song My Two Front Teeth 1954 10", The King Cole Trio The Christmas Song 78 RPM Well-Torme Capitol 311 Dust Cover. All were later tried and convicted for the assault. Soon, he graduated to playing other characters, such as his roles inIstanbulandChina Gate. The Weeknd? with Love. Only one person other than Cole's wife would get to visit Cole before he died, and that was comedian Jack Benny. The racist mob never showed up, resulting in the smaller-scale attack that transpired. 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. What he wanted (even if he never said so) was to become the first black popular singer to be accepted on even terms with his white contemporaries. By the 1950s, Nat King Cole had become a household name. Gone too soon at only 45 years old, Cole still managed to leave a lasting impact on music, culture, and history. Cole struggled against racism throughout his career and on April 10, 1956, at Birmingham, Alabama, he was attacked by three white men from a white-supremacist group during a concert and sustained minor injuries to his back. His birth date was on Saint Patrick's Day in 1919. 16.57. 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. And yet, many of his Its tune can also serve as a reminder that life goes on, even in . For "Ramblin' Rose" 1962 Nominee Grammy: Album of the Year. Of course, in the mid-20th century, smoking was irresistibly popular. He also performed as a pianist on sessions with Lester Young, Red Callender, and Lionel Hampton. He even left the hospital to see his children one last time in a brief car ride home with his wife. Responsibility for the accuracy of information provided in stories not written by or specifically prepared for the Academy and its Affiliates lies with the story's original source or writer. Reportedly, the all-white audience begged Cole to continue with the show, but he fervently refused and flew to Chicago after canceling his remaining three performances in the South. His father, Edward James Coles, was a Baptist minister, while his mother, Perlina Adams, was the soprano soloist and director of the choir in her husbands church. What some may not know, though, is that he recorded four versions of the song. His pop hits were collaborations with well-known arrangers and conductors of the day, including Nelson Riddle, Gordon Jenkins, and Ralph Carmichael. Sampled by Susan Boyle feat Nat King Cole [sampled] When I Grow Too Old to Dream. The LA Sentinel describes how Cole, who was known for his smooth, rich voice, would smoke as many as three packs a day. He was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer, cut his last records on December 3, and died 10 weeks later at the age of 45, by all accounts a disappointed man. Cole become an internationally popular recording star, making such enormous hits as Mona Lisa, Nature Boy, Too Young, Route 66, Non Dimenticar, Lazy, Crazy, Hazy Days of Summer, The Christmas Song and Ramblin Rose, among them. Constant touring paid the bills, and he remained one of the most sought-after acts in Las Vegas, but it galled him that he could not stay in the hotels where he performed, and though he continued to sing beautifully, he spent more and more studio time recording throwaway material such as the country-style Ramblin Rose (1962) and Those Lazy-Hazy-Crazy Days of Summer (1963), as well as a sour-grapes novelty called Mr. 49, no. Victor Young, Jeri Southern with Victor Young and His Orchestra. Revenues from Cole's record sales fueled much of Capitol Records' success during this period, and are believed to have played a significant role in financing the distinctive Capitol Records building on Hollywood and Vine, in Los Angeles. You also need to do it for the public.. 3, 1993., pp. As of the spring of 1950, Cole's recordings were being credited simply to "Nat King Cole." On July 8 of that year, his recording of the wistful movie theme "Mona Lisa," featuring a string chart arranged by Nelson Riddle, became Cole's third number one pop hit and gold record. The prejudices of the era in which Cole lived hindered his potential for even greater stardom. You will receive a link to create a new password via email. The next month, he underwent surgery to remove the lung, but it was too late. Perhaps her single most popular work to date, was her number one Elektra recording last year of Unforgettable, one of her fathers biggest-selling hits of all. 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. Please enter your email address. Spouse (s) Nat King Cole. Nat King Cole - Where Did Everybody Go - Used Vinyl Record lp - E34A. His family later moved north to Chicago, where he grew up. For most of the '30s and '40s he was a third of this musical act. According to police, a plan had been developed four days earlier for a group of 150 white men to attack Cole. He formed his first jazz group, the Royal Dukes, five years later. Although Nat would never be considered a rocker, the song can be seen as anticipating the first rock and roll records. The Tragic Death Of Nat King Cole Explained. According to Performing Songwriter, it was the first time that a holiday classic was introduced by a Black American, and it "opened the door for Lou Rawls, Ray Charles and many others to record their own takes on yuletide classics.". Shop with confidence. Cole hit a lull in her career in the early 1980s due to her struggle with drug addiction, subsequently parting ways with Capitol Records. Although her father, Nat King Cole, passed away when she was just a teenager, Natalie Cole has still been able to perform duets with her father via . Song Year: 1954. The first was in 1946 with the King Cole Trio. View cart for details. 11 offers from $53.29. Inspired by the playing of Hines, Cole began his performing career in the mid-1930s while he was still a teenager, and adopted the name "Nat Cole." Volumes 1-4 released as separate booklets in 10" format. For "Wild Is Love" A fourth member of the group who had participated in the plot was later arrested in connection with the act. After 14 frustrating months, Cole called it quits, crisply telling a newspaper columnist that Madison Avenue is afraid of the dark.. Cole performed a posthumous "virtual" duet with his daughter, recording star Natalie Cole, for the title track of the 1991 Grammy Awardwinning album Unforgettable . A decade earlier, Cole's mother died, also of cancer. In 1960, Nat's long-time collaborator Nelson Riddle left Capitol Records for Frank Sinatra's newly formed Reprise Records label. Settling in California, the Coles had five children and made their home in Hancock Park in greater Los Angeles. To this day, singer-instrumentalists such as Diana Krall and John Pizzarelli continue to model their groups on the King Cole Trios stylish, tightly routined records, and Coles own brilliant playing left its mark on any number of younger pianists, among them Ahmad Jamal, Oscar Peterson, George Shearing, and Bill Evans, who called him probably the most underrated jazz pianist in the history of jazz.. Cole was only 17. Booklet Volumes 3 and 4 contain 3 shellac records. Missing, however, is the element of contrast that Cole supplied when he started singing with the trio. Instead, his style was quiet, understated, and arrestingly direct, as if he were sitting across from you, telling a story about a mutual friend. At a time when Jim Crow was the law of the land and the Civil Rights Movement was growing stronger, Nat King Cole played a complicated role. It's rare for songs to withstand the test of time and become classics. At the same time, though, he was highly influenced by his brother Eddie, who was six years older and a big fan of the popular jazz music that their father criticized. Cole also appeared in many movies, his last one being Cat Ballou (1965), starring Lee Marvin. Despite the efforts of NBC, The Nat King Cole Show ultimately failed due to a lack of national sponsorship. Nat King Cole (March 17, 1919 February 15, 1965), born Nathaniel Adams Coles, was a popular American jazz singer-songwriter and pianist. Nat soon married a dancer, Megan Robinson, and moved to Los Angeles where he formed the Nat King Cole Trio. Page 2", "From the Archives: Nat 'King' Cole dies of cancer at 45", "Bud Billiken Day Parade reaches 89th year", "Phillips High School is cradle of history", "Tracing the Highs and Tragic End of Sam Cooke", "Buck-Five Disk of Indies Seen Different Ways", "Show 22 Smack Dab in the Middle on Route 66: A Skinny Dip in the Easy Listening Mainstream. Have one to sell? Nat "King" Cole: Soundies & Telescriptions. He barely had visitors, as they were apparently barred from his hospital room. 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 . 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