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Nat "King" Cole, 1919-1965
Few twentieth-century entertainers rivaled the popularity of singer and pianist Nat "King" Cole. With a performing style rooted firmly in jazz, Cole first gained notice as an innovative pianist when he joined Oscar Moore (guitar) and Wesley Prince (double bass) in 1937 to form what quickly became known as the King Cole Trio. After the ensemble recorded several discs for Decca Records' "Sepia Series," Cole teamed up independently with saxophonist Lester Young and bassist Red Calendar to record a memorable jazz LP in 1942. Signed by Capitol Records the following year, Cole and his trio (now with Johnny Miller on double bass) scored a succession of hits, ranging from "Straighten Up and Fly Right" (1943) to "The Christmas Song" (1946), all featuring Cole's lustrous baritone on vocals. When a solo career beckoned, he responded. In 1950, backed by a full orchestra, Cole recorded "Mona Lisa" -- the first in a long line of chart-topping releases. |