Nat King Cole (1919–1965)
Jazz pianist, velvety-voiced singer, TV pioneer, and timeless legend.
Born Nathaniel Adams Coles on March 17, 1919, in Montgomery, Alabama. Raised in Chicago, he learned piano from his mother and became a jazz prodigy. In the late 1930s–1940s, he led the innovative Nat King Cole Trio — piano, guitar, bass (no drums) — with hits like "Straighten Up and Fly Right" (1943) and "(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66" (1946).
Shifted to singing in the mid-1940s; his smooth baritone made him a crossover superstar and helped build Capitol Records. Famous tracks:
- The Christmas Song (1946) – holiday classic
- Unforgettable (1951)
- Mona Lisa (1950) – Academy Award winner
- When I Fall in Love, L-O-V-E (1964), Smile, Nature Boy, Ramblin' Rose
First African American to host a national TV variety series — The Nat King Cole Show (1956–1957). Despite stellar guests, racism from sponsors ended it after one season. A heavy smoker, he passed from lung cancer in 1965 at age 45. His music endures; daughter Natalie’s 1991 "Unforgettable" duet won Grammys.
