biography

Nat King Cole, born in 1919, was a vocalist, jazz pianist, songwriter, and actor from Montgomery, Alabama. Although Cole first entered the jazz scene as a pianist, he gained the most popularity from his performances as a vocalist. By the 1950’s, Cole had hit the charts and was praised as a pop vocalist at the time. Many grand musicians such as Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong worked with Nat King Cole. You’ll likely recognize his gentle, gorgeous baritone voice on his most famous recordings, “Nature Boy” or “The Christmas Song”. Being one of the greatest African-American singers of the 20th century, selling over 50 million records is a trailblazing achievement, and most certainly, a deserved one. In 1965, Cole passed away at only 45 years old due to lung cancer.