Nat “King” Cole: The Timeless Voice Who Changed Music Forever

Nat “King” Cole’s soulful reach impacted the hearts of listeners to a degree that very few musical artists have ever managed to achieve. Nat “King” Cole’s smiling face and supple delivery are so iconic that it might be very difficult to not recognize his voice upon the first listen. Nat’s songs—“Unforgettable” and “Mona Lisa” are two of his most famous hit numbers, aside from “The Christmas Song”—seem to echo through the corridors of coffee houses and radio stations across the world, reminding listeners of the time when talent and passion came together. The talented pianist, bandleader, and television entrepreneur Nat “King” Cole even brought a degree of assimilation to black entertainers during a divided America that bifurcated people strictly on the turn of a skin color nip.

Nevertheless, the story of Cole is one of perseverance, humility, and quiet revolution, not of his musical accomplishments. He came from a low-income family in the state of Alabama and symbolized one of the first African Americans to achieve widespread success because of his talent and diligence. He broke cultural boundaries and built a legend because of his dedication to his craft, his reach with people of all cultures, and his dignity that enabled him to withstand the pressures of racism. Nat “King” Cole remains a symbol of the power of human persistence and genius even after the passing of many years since his death.

Quick Bio

Nat “King” Cole: Who Was He?

Nat “King” Cole was a singer, pianist, and entertainment personality whose influence extended beyond the genre of jazz. Nathaniel Adams Coles, also known as Nat “King” Cole, was born on the March 17, 1919. He is also well-documented for his beautiful phrasing and soulful voice and brought the element of warmth and passion to every song that he performed. He began his career as a jazz pianist and later turned into a pop sensation across the world and released millions of records, peaking at the pinnacle of the artist list of Capitol Records.

He is a cultural icon who broke several boundaries other than the ones that compose a skilled performance artist. He not only crossed the race and genre definitions but also broke the performance barrier since, in 1956, when segregation was common within the USA, Nat King Cole launched the first nationally shown television program that was hosted by a black American artist, The Nat King Cole Show. As a performance artist, Nat “King” Cole is much more than a singer. He symbolizes all that is refined and silent yet powerful.

Early Life

The influences that impacted Nat’s earlier life are his family, religion, and music. Nat is the son of a church organist and a Baptist minister. He grew up and spent his early life in Montgomery, Alabama. The Coles moved to Chicago when Nat could walk, and this introduced Nat to the jazz and blues world of Chicago, of which Nat could not get enough later on. At the age of twelve, Nat already performed piano solo acts at his father’s church congregation, astounding everyone with his rhythm and harmony.

Thanks to the influence of Piano Rollers such as Earl Hines, Nat practiced diligently while other kids hung out on the street corners. He soon organized his first bands with his brother Eddie because of his natural talent and passion. He later enrolled at Wendell Phillips High School, but he left school before graduation to pursue a career in music. This not only required a tremendous amount of courage and passion but also laid the foundation for a very illustrious career that transformed the talented young kid into a legend amongst all-time greats.

Nat “King” Cole’s Career

Late in the 1930s, Cole began his career with the formation of the King Cole Trio, a revolutionary jazz group featuring a trio of bass, guitar, and piano, minus the drummer, a very unusual combination. The trio gained widespread popularity within the Los Angeles jazz community because of the undeniably evident chemistry that existed amongst the trio. Taking inspiration from a sermon his father gave, the trio recorded the hit song “Straighten Up and Fly Right” in the year 1943. Over half a million records of the song were sold, and Cole soared into national popularity.

Nat’s velvet voice gradually emerged into the spotlight with his escalating popularity. He recorded classic songs such as Mona Lisa, Too Young, and When I Fall in Love after successfully transitioning from a jazz pianist to a dedicated singer during the late 1940s and early 1950s. He was well-liked everywhere because of his special knack for interspersing jazz rhythms into popular melodies. He broke grounds for African Americans when he anchored The Nat King Cole Show television program for NBC in 1956. Though his television program lasted for a short time since it lacked sponsorship within the segregated business environment, appearing on television meant a paradigm shift in the history of entertainment.

What Happened To Nat “King” Cole?

Nat “King” Cole led a very fulfilled life with his loving family and also overcame his share of difficulties that his fans never got to see. He married Nadine Robinson, his first wife, in the year 1937 but the two later divorced. He greatly fell in love with singer Maria Hawkins Ellington in the year 1948. The two formed a very devoted family with five beautiful kids, one of whom is Natalie Cole, the Grammy winner singer. He greatly enjoyed the company of his beloved family even when his schedule seemed very busy.

He lived a remarkable life that came to a heartbreaking end. Cole, a fervent smoker for the longest time in his life, received his lung cancer diagnosis towards the end of 1964. He underwent surgery and chemotherapy, but the illness progressed quickly, and he died on February 15th, 1965, at the early age of 45. The news of his death shocked the world of music, and people all over the world started paying tribute to the young musical genius who left behind a legacy that reminded the world that Cole did, in fact, have a very unforgettable voice.

Nat “King” Cole’s Physical Appearance

Nat “King” Cole was a robust yet kind person. He possessed a slender yet graceful physique and stood at a height of six feet. He also possessed a smooth voice that seemed to go well with his refined appearance, and his smiling face and dark brown eyes endeared him to people. He always dressed impeccably for his public shows and events, and often wore ties and fitted suits that matched his refined look.

The charm of the man was subtly understated yet potent. Cole’s poise and confidence shone whether he performed on national television or a local jazz club. He was one of the few entertainers who possessed the dignity to appear both majestic and accessible at the same time. The very look of the man conveyed the impression that he possessed the dignity of a true gentleman of his time and a true artist.

Net Worth

Nat ‘King’ Cole was one of the most lucrative entertainers during the peak of his career. The estimate of his wealth at the time of his death in the year 1965 was $3.5 million, and that is considered a riches during that period. Today, that wealth would be valued at $27 million after adjusting for the effects of inflation. The sources of Nat ‘King’ Cole’s wealth consisted of his album sales, stage shows, radio shows, and his groundbreaking television show. He also had property in the form of his lavish Los Angeles home, reflecting his well-earned success.

Nevertheless, his estate continued to bring profits through various sources such as the release of his songs even after his death. Natalie Cole, his daughter, ensured that his legacy lived through the reuse of his famous songs, such as the song “Unforgettable” of 1991, which was a virtual duet. Nat “King” Cole’s songs continue to bring profits and inspire future artists even after his death through his talent and the fact that his “class never goes out of style.”

Legacy

The legacy of Nat “King” Cole is that of inspiration, courage, and artistic excellence. He acted as a bridge between communities and generations, apart from being a singer. This singer’s smooth voice single-handedly changed the face of American music and continues to influence the industry even today with his jazz and soul sound that mixed pop and jazz. More important, however, is the fact that Nat “King” Cole broke racial boundaries within the entertainment industry with his talent and poise. His influence extends well after his death. He has been praised and idolized as a source of inspiration for such artists as Michael Bublé and Ray Charles.

The award of membership into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, and the placement of a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame are all accolades that have been bestowed upon him retrospectively. Yet his songs are continually played during wedding celebrations and other special nights when people are reminded of the power of a man and his songs that could make any person feel remembered and loved. Nat “King” Cole is and will always be more than a legend.