Contents
Nat King Cole
Singing Unforgettable, Mona Lisa and The Christmas Song.
The Christmas Song · Mona Lisa
- Born
- 17 March 1919
- Birthplace
- Montgomery, USA
- Died
- 15 February 1965
More people
Nat King Cole
Nat King Cole was an American jazz pianist and singer whose understated delivery became a defining sound of popular song. He first built his reputation at the piano before his voice brought a much larger audience.
Early life
Chicago childhood
Moved from Alabama to Chicago as a child; his father was a minister.
Keyboard training
Learned music from his mother and began performing while young.
Career
- 1930s
Jazz trio
Established the King Cole Trio in Los Angeles.
- 1940s
Capitol recordings
Became a major recording artist as his singing increasingly took centre stage.
- 1956–1957
Television host
Hosted a nationally broadcast variety programme on NBC.
- Late 1950s–1960s
International performer
Toured widely and recorded in several languages.
Selected work
The Christmas Song
His recording helped make the song a seasonal standard.
Mona Lisa
A gently phrased ballad that became a major hit.
Unforgettable
One of the recordings most closely associated with his voice.
Beyond work
Racial barriers
Faced segregation and racist attacks despite his popularity.
Family legacy
His daughter Natalie Cole also became a successful singer.
Sources & photo credit
Life and career ↗Institutional or specialist reference ↗Biography ↗Photo: General Artists Corporation (management). Public domain · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
