NATE KING COLE
Nathaniel Adams Coles, better known as Nat "King" Cole, was born in Montgomery, Alabama, 1919. His father, Edward, became a pastor in Chicago when Nat was four years old. Nat and his father, along with his mother, Perlina, and his older brother, Edward Jr, and two sisters, Eddie Mae Evelyn moved north to Chicago - where his two younger brothers, Issac and Lionel were born.
Perlina was choir director at her husband’s church, introduced the children to music at an early age; all four of her sons went on to become professional musicians. By the age of 12, Nat Cole was taking professional lessons. At Wendelle Phillips High School, Cole became infatuated with Jazz music; as Chicago’s African American south side was the center of the city’s Jazz music.
By age 16, Cole was a pianist for his brother Edward’s quintet, Solid Swingers. Cole dropped out of school before earning his diploma, and in 1936 he performed on the Decca company’s Sepia Series (records aimed at black audience’s). In 1937, Nat and Edward joined Shuffle Along. After six weeks in Chicago, Shuffle Along went on tour. It was during this tour Nat Cole married dancer Nadine Robinson. The tour abruptly ended in Long Beach, but Cole and Robinson decided to stay on the West Coast. Cole began working at the Century Club- a favorite hang out for Los Angeles jazz players. In 1936, Nat was asked to put together a group to play at the Sewanee Inn. He recruited guitarist Oscar Moore, bassist Wesley Prince, and drummer Lee Young. Young failed to appear on the opening night, but the trio went on and played. Sewanee Inn owner Bob Lewis nicknamed Nat Coles "King" Cole. This performance was the birth of the King Cole Trio.
By 1946, Nat began to move towards a solo career, which was regard as artistic sellout to many jazz musicians. Many have attributed Cole’s movement to mainstream music to Maria Ellington, a young singer who Cole met in 1946. Many people close to Cole thought that the intelligent Ellington was calculating, controlling, and snobbish. Other claim that Nat enjoyed many kinds of music and felt that he was too confined in Jazz. After divorcing Robinson, Nat Cole married Maria Ellington in 1948. The couple had three daughters, and adopted a son and daughter.
Nat’s first major hit after stepping away from Jazz was "Nature Boy" and was a major hit in 1948. Nat wrote meaningful songs that made his vocal limits seem meaningless. In 1956, Cole was given his own television show, "The Nat King Cole Show" on NBC. The show left the air after year despite good ratings. Cole’s African heritage was seemed as a waste of money to sponsor as it would only draw black audiences. Rock and Roll, the revitalized career of Frank Sinatra, and competition from younger black "crooners" caused Nat "King" Coles popularity to fade, so he began acting. In 1964, Coles was diagnosed with a case of advanced lung cancer, as he was a heavy smoker, and on February 15, 1965, Nat "King" Cole passed away.
In 1991, Coles legacy saw a resurgence when his daughter Natalie blended her voice with his top charter "Unforgettable". Also, recordings of the Nat King Cole Trio were released in 1991, giving new insight to the career and legacy of Nat "King" Cole.
Perlina was choir director at her husband’s church, introduced the children to music at an early age; all four of her sons went on to become professional musicians. By the age of 12, Nat Cole was taking professional lessons. At Wendelle Phillips High School, Cole became infatuated with Jazz music; as Chicago’s African American south side was the center of the city’s Jazz music.
By age 16, Cole was a pianist for his brother Edward’s quintet, Solid Swingers. Cole dropped out of school before earning his diploma, and in 1936 he performed on the Decca company’s Sepia Series (records aimed at black audience’s). In 1937, Nat and Edward joined Shuffle Along. After six weeks in Chicago, Shuffle Along went on tour. It was during this tour Nat Cole married dancer Nadine Robinson. The tour abruptly ended in Long Beach, but Cole and Robinson decided to stay on the West Coast. Cole began working at the Century Club- a favorite hang out for Los Angeles jazz players. In 1936, Nat was asked to put together a group to play at the Sewanee Inn. He recruited guitarist Oscar Moore, bassist Wesley Prince, and drummer Lee Young. Young failed to appear on the opening night, but the trio went on and played. Sewanee Inn owner Bob Lewis nicknamed Nat Coles "King" Cole. This performance was the birth of the King Cole Trio.
By 1946, Nat began to move towards a solo career, which was regard as artistic sellout to many jazz musicians. Many have attributed Cole’s movement to mainstream music to Maria Ellington, a young singer who Cole met in 1946. Many people close to Cole thought that the intelligent Ellington was calculating, controlling, and snobbish. Other claim that Nat enjoyed many kinds of music and felt that he was too confined in Jazz. After divorcing Robinson, Nat Cole married Maria Ellington in 1948. The couple had three daughters, and adopted a son and daughter.
Nat’s first major hit after stepping away from Jazz was "Nature Boy" and was a major hit in 1948. Nat wrote meaningful songs that made his vocal limits seem meaningless. In 1956, Cole was given his own television show, "The Nat King Cole Show" on NBC. The show left the air after year despite good ratings. Cole’s African heritage was seemed as a waste of money to sponsor as it would only draw black audiences. Rock and Roll, the revitalized career of Frank Sinatra, and competition from younger black "crooners" caused Nat "King" Coles popularity to fade, so he began acting. In 1964, Coles was diagnosed with a case of advanced lung cancer, as he was a heavy smoker, and on February 15, 1965, Nat "King" Cole passed away.
In 1991, Coles legacy saw a resurgence when his daughter Natalie blended her voice with his top charter "Unforgettable". Also, recordings of the Nat King Cole Trio were released in 1991, giving new insight to the career and legacy of Nat "King" Cole.
1 comment:
Some clips would have really sweetened this up.
Great info, however.
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