Cole, Nat King (1919?-1965), was an American singer and pianist. During the early 1940’s, Cole was considered one of the leading jazz pianists of his day. His trio, with guitar and bass, inspired Ahmad Jamal, Oscar Peterson, Art Tatum, and other pianists to form groups with the same instruments. Cole’s vocal recording of “Straighten Up and Fly Right” (1943) won him fame as a singer. He continued to perform as a jazz musician, but his image as a singer dominated the rest of his career. Cole’s many vocal hits include “It’s Only a Paper Moon” (1943), “Route 66” and “The Christmas Song” (both 1946), “Nature Boy” (1948), “Mona Lisa” (1950), “Too Young” and “Unforgettable” (both 1951), “Ramblin’ Rose” (1962), and “Those Lazy-Hazy-Crazy Days of Summer” (1963).
Cole was born on March 17, probably in 1919, in Montgomery, Alabama, and was raised in Chicago. His given and family name was Nathaniel Adams Coles. In 1946, his trio became one of the first black music groups to have its own radio show. In 1958, he portrayed composer W. C. Handy in the film St. Louis Blues. Cole died on Feb. 15, 1965. In 2000, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a performer who had an early influence on rock music. Cole’s daughter, Natalie Cole, also became a successful singer.
