Nat King Cole

@Vocalist, Career and Facts ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Nat King Cole was an American musician, singer and jazz pianist Cancer Celebrities Alabama African American Singers Black Musicians Black Singers American Pianists Singers Pop Singers Jazz Singers Pisces Celebrities The first African-American performer to host a variety TV show, Nat King Cole remains to be one of the most memorable voices in the music history of America. He was a pianist, singer and head of the band, ‘King Cole Trio’. He first gained fame as a jazz pianist and was known for his trademark soft, and baritone voice. He enjoyed an immensely successful sole career and his singles went on to peak the music charts. A prodigious child, he began learning to play the piano at the age of four and got formal training in music since he was 12. At the age of 15, he dropped out of school to pursue a career in the music industry. During his lifetime he encountered many instances of racism, especially during his professional tours and in one instance he was even attacked by a white supremacist group. In spite of facing criticism for not doing enough for the Civil Rights Movement, Cole strongly maintained his stand that he was more of performer than an activist. He created controversy when he hosted the TV variety series, ‘The Nat King Cole Show’.

Personal Details

Birthday: March 17, 1919 Died on: February 15, 1965 Nationality: American Famous: Vocalist, African American Singers, Black Musicians, Black Singers, Pianists, Singers, Pop Singers, Jazz Singers City/State: Alabama Spouses: Maria Hawkins Ellington, Nadine Robinson Siblings: Eddie, Freddy, Ike Information Detail Birthday March 17, 1919 Died on February 15, 1965 Nationality American Famous Vocalist, African American Singers, Black Musicians, Black Singers, Pianists, Singers, Pop Singers, Jazz Singers City/State Alabama Spouses Maria Hawkins Ellington, Nadine Robinson Siblings Eddie, Freddy, Ike Known as Nathaniel Adams Coles Childrens Natalie Cole Universities Wendell Phillips High School Chicago IL Cause of death Cancer Birth Place Montgomery Gender Male Father Rev. Edward James Coles Sr. Mother Perlina Adams Coles Sun Sign Pisces Born in Montgomery Famous as Vocalist, Pianist Died at Age 45

Montgomery

Nat King Cole born at Unsplash Birth Place

His first marriage to Nadine Robinson ended in 1948. Just after six days after their divorce, he married Maria Hawkins Ellington. The couple had five children. Unsplash Personal Life

Around 1964, he was diagnosed with lung cancer. He died on February 15, 1965. Unsplash Personal Life

He was a freemason. Unsplash Personal Life

Nat King Cole was born as Nathaniel Adams Colesn on March 17, 1919 in Montgomery, Alabama, to Edward Coles and Perlina Coles. He had three brothers and a half-sister. Unsplash Childhood & Early Life

He began taking piano lessons from the time he was four years old. His mother was his first instructor and he was soon guided by a church choir director. Unsplash Childhood & Early Life

At the age of 12, he started taking formal music lessons. He was taught jazz, western classical music and gospel music. He would often sneak out of home to listen to artists at various clubs in Chicago. Unsplash Childhood & Early Life

At 15, he dropped out of school in order to pursue a career as a jazz pianist. For a brief period of time, he worked with his brother, Eddie, who helped him bag his first opportunity in recording in 1936. Unsplash Childhood & Early Life

He performed on the national tour of the musical revue, ‘Shuffle Along’, in which he played the piano. From 1937, he started working on what would later become the music group, ‘King Cole Trio’. Unsplash Career

As a member of ‘King Cole Trio’ he went on various tours. In 1943, the group tasted breakthrough success with ‘That Ain't Right’, which was also written by him. Unsplash Career

Later in 1943, the ‘King Cole Trio’ gained mainstream success with the song, ‘Straighten Up and Fly Right’. Written by him, the song was inspired by one of his father’s sermons. Unsplash Career

‘King Cole Trio’ continued to enjoy success and top the music charts with many pop singles and holiday classics. 'The Christmas Song' and '(I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons' were popular hits. Unsplash Career

During the 1950s, he went on to pursue a career as a solo artist and soon became a successful one. He earned many hits like 'Unforgettable', 'Too Young’, 'Mona Lisa' and 'Nature Boy'. Unsplash Career

The song ‘Straighten Up and Fly Right’ is one of the most popular songs of the group, ‘King Cole Trio’. It peaked at the number one position on the Harlem Hit Parade and the Most Played Jukebox Hillbilly Records. Unsplash Major Works

Information	Detail
Birthday	March 17, 1919
Died on	February 15, 1965
Nationality	American
Famous	Vocalist, African American Singers, Black Musicians, Black Singers, Pianists, Singers, Pop Singers, Jazz Singers
City/State	Alabama
Spouses	Maria Hawkins Ellington, Nadine Robinson
Siblings	Eddie, Freddy, Ike
Known as	Nathaniel Adams Coles
Childrens	Natalie Cole
Universities	Wendell Phillips High School Chicago IL
Cause of death	Cancer
Birth Place	Montgomery
Gender	Male
Father	Rev. Edward James Coles Sr.
Mother	Perlina Adams Coles
Sun Sign	Pisces
Born in	Montgomery
Famous as	Vocalist, Pianist
Died at Age	45

Nat King Cole

American

Mar 17, 1919

Biography

Personal Details

Montgomery