It is tragically ironic that a talented singer would partake in an activity that damages one's lungs and vocals. Shop with confidence. Nat King Cole - Artist Details. Although Nat would never be considered a rocker, the song can be seen as anticipating the first rock and roll records. The first of these was said to be by Dick Haymes on the Decca label, but his was released first - not recorded first. All GRAMMY Awards and Nominations for Nat "King" Cole. In addition to being an incomparable lyricist, Mercer was also a shrewd talent scout, and he sensed that Coles singing was capable of appealing to white listeners as well as black ones (the trio had previously recorded for Deccas Sepia Series of race records that were specifically marketed to urban blacks). They found their greatest success, however, when Cole began doubling as a solo singer. Album of the Year (Other Than Classical) For "The Nat "King" Cole Story" 1961 Nominee Grammy: Album of the Year. The six men arrested were all originally charged with "assault with intent to murder," but the charges were later changed to "conspiracy to commit a misdemeanor" for four of them. Released in 1958, St. Louis Blues, in which Cole played the legendary blues musician W.C. 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. As a teenager, Cole became caught up in a relationship with a woman ten years older than him, according toObserver. Some of the content on this site expresses viewpoints and opinions that are not those of the Recording Academy and its Affiliates. He occasionally revisited his jazz roots, as on the outstanding album After Midnight (1956), which proved that Coles piano skills had not diminished. Arguably, it's even rarer for one to become a "holiday standard," played by the masses year after year. 49, no. For "Ramblin' Rose" 1962 Nominee Grammy: Album of the Year. 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. The nimble, darting interplay heard on records such as This Side Up (1940) and What Is This Thing Called Love? Liner notes. His father was a preacher in the Baptist church. 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. . Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Nat King Cole - Swings Spirituals - Used Vinyl Record lp - E34A at the best online prices at eBay! Nat "King" Cole and His Trio. In a few short years, Cole dropped out of school at 15 years old to focus solely on pursuing a career in music. Get notified of exciting GRAMMY Award news and upcoming events! He passed away. He was survived by his wife, Maria, and five children; three biological and two adopted. As a toddler, he learned to play the piano (via Biography). As written by Marianne Ruuth, Cole saw himself as "an entertainer, not a politician." Who are you backing for this week's Official Number 1 single? They tried a couple of places, including Beverly Hills, but ultimately wanted somewhere away from the paparazzi and rowdy fans. Cole died in his sleep at St. John's Hospital in Santa Monica, California. First Look: Could PinkPantheress or The Weeknd challenge Miley for Number 1? Even when he sang bleak torch songs such as The End of a Love Affair (1962), Thanks to electronics, she dusted beautifully on the song with the great Nat King Cole himself. NAT KING COLE 78 RPM GRAMOPHONE RECORDS X 8. A Mis Amigos contains the Venezuelan hit "Ansiedad," whose lyrics Cole had learned while performing in Caracas in 1958. 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. On February 15, 1965, Cole died at the age of 45. Back to home page | The advertising executives of Madison Avenue refused to risk alienating their white audience base, who was likely to respond with prejudice to a show hosted by a Black American, even one as popular and admired as Nat King Cole. 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. PinkPantheress? 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. The song and the album of the same name won seven Grammy awards in 1992. Two years later, he resumed performing, reinvented himself as a stadium act, and returned to his place at the center of American popular culture. Nat King Cole was born Nathaniel Adams Coles (he later dropped the "s" in his surname) in Montgomery, Alabama. His hits of the early 60sRamblin Rose, Those Lazy, Hazy, Crazy Days of Summer, and L-O-V-Eindicate that he was moving even farther away from his jazz roots and concentrating almost exclusively on mainstream pop. His enjoyable personality landed him the iconic gig as the host of his very own nationally televised show, as told by NPR. Why should they attack me?" But music-industry insiders had already taken note of the King Cole Trio and its leader, and one of them, the songwriter Johnny Mercer, signed the group to a contract with Capitol, a new record label founded by Mercer himself that quickly became an industry powerhouse. In 1956, "The Nat King Cole Show" was the first of its kind for a known Black performer. Benny would give the eulogy at Cole's funeral service a few days later, per the Desert Sun, posted at theCalifornia Digital Newspaper Collection. All were later tried and convicted for the assault. 2nd Annual GRAMMY Awards. While Coles reputation went into a temporary eclipse as a result of his early deatha lifelong chain smoker, he died of lung cancer in 1965, three decades before Sinatra gave his last public performancehe was restored to prominence in 1991 when his daughter Natalie, herself a talented pop singer, released a single of Unforgettable in which his original performance of the song, recorded 40 years earlier, was electronically superimposed on her own to create a virtual duet. The record put Cole back in the limelight, and he has been there ever since. 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. For "Wild Is Love" Best Vocal Performance Album, Male. Incomparable Nat King Cole II. Nat King Cole Capitol Records LP Vinyl Records, Go Betweens LP Vinyl Records, statistics still stand up, even though his singing career came to an abrupt close in 1965, when he died of lung cancer. His birth date was on Saint Patrick's Day in 1919. Pelote, Vincent. Nat King Cole's early career and trio. For most of the '30s and '40s he was a third of this musical act. He was also present at the Democratic National Convention in 1960 to throw his support behind President John F. Kennedy. Sold for 23.50 USD on 11 Mar 2022 (4 bids) 1. Cole was awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1990, and in 1997 was inducted into the Down Beat Jazz Hall of Fame. Click here to send a letter to the editor. 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. 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. Nat King Cole The Christmas Song LP Red Colored 180g Vinyl. At the start of the '50s, Nat King Cole was a solo jazz performer (via Biography). 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. From the start, Nat King Cole's mother supported his musical ambitions. And yet, many of his 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. But no national sponsor would advertise on a show hosted by a black manit is no coincidence that Cole was attacked on stage in Birmingham in the same year that The Nat King Cole Show was launchedand the series was further limited by the fact that Cole, though he was a genial host, could not act, meaning that he was incapable of appearing in the comedy sketches that were staples of most other TV variety series of the period. The cancellation would turn out to be the permanent end of his career. Cole's first marriage, to Nadine Robinson, ended in 1948. Cole learned songs in languages other than English by rote. Cole was dedicated to seeing the pioneering show succeed, not for the money but to break down barriers and disprove racial prejudices. 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). . Might Cole have undergone a similar professional revival had he not died prematurely? Nat took the advice seriously and, around the age of 12, started to dive into the classics, "playing everything from Bach to Rachmaninoff," according to Ruuth. 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. There he formed the King Cole Trio (originally King Cole and His Swingsters), with guitarist Oscar Moore (later replaced by Irving Ashby) and bassist Wesley Prince (later replaced by Johnny Miller). Since many radio stations in the US adopt a format change to Christmas music each December, many holiday hits have an annual spike in popularity during the last few weeks of the year and are retired once the season is over. Be the first to find out about GRAMMY nominees, winners, important news, and events, How To Watch The 2023 GRAMMYs & Live Red Carpet, ARTIST/RECORD LABEL/MEDIA REGISTRATION (OEP). 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. Sampled by Susan Boyle feat Nat King Cole [sampled] When I Grow Too Old to Dream. 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. The song and the Album of the Recording Academy and its Affiliates he was also at! Show '' was the first of its kind for a known Black performer 's Official Number single! The Recording Academy and its Affiliates found their greatest success, however, when Cole began doubling as toddler. And convicted for the assault rarer for one to become a `` holiday,... 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