Nat King Cole was not only a celebrated singer but also a talented jazz pianist and actor.
He received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1990, recognizing his lasting impact on music.
Cole was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, cementing his legacy in the entertainment industry.
Biography
Early Life
Nathaniel Adams Coles, known as Nat King Cole, was born on March 17, 1919, in Montgomery, Alabama. He was the son of a Baptist minister and grew up in a musical family, learning to play the organ from his mother, Perlina. At the age of four, he performed publicly for the first time, showcasing his early talent. The family moved to Chicago, where Cole honed his skills in jazz, gospel, and classical music, eventually dropping out of high school at 15 to pursue a music career.
Career
Cole's professional journey began in the late 1930s when he formed a sextet with his brother Eddie, recording for Decca Records. His big break came when Bing Crosby discovered the Nat King Cole Trio, leading to a contract with Capitol Records. Cole's smooth voice and piano skills captivated audiences, and hits like "Straighten Up and Fly Right" and "The Christmas Song" solidified his place in music history. Over his career, he recorded more than 150 singles, selling over 50 million copies and earning numerous accolades, including a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Personal Life
Nat King Cole's personal life was marked by two marriages. He first married Nadine Robinson in 1937, but they divorced in 1948. Shortly after, he married singer Maria Hawkins, with whom he had five children. Cole was also an avid baseball fan and a Freemason, joining the Scottish Rite in 1944. His family life and career were intertwined, as his wife supported him throughout his rise to fame.
Legacy
Cole's influence on music remains profound, with his recordings continuing to receive airplay decades after his passing in 1965. He was posthumously honored with a United States postage stamp and remains a celebrated figure in jazz and pop music, recognized for his unique contributions to the genre.
Collected from open sources (4) · facts link to sources · AI-processed
Discography
L-O-V-E1964
- 1.L-O-V-E2:30
- 2.The Girl From Ipanema2:54
- 3.Three Little Words2:13
- 4.There's Love3:06
- 5.My Kind of Girl3:06
- 6.Thanks to You3:20
- 7.Your Love2:12
- 8.More2:06
- 9.Coquette2:54
- 10.How I'd Love to Love You2:17
- 11.Swiss Retreat2:12
Sings the Blues1963
- 1.Hesitating Blues2:05
- 2.Harlem Blues1:52
- 3.Chantez Les Bas2:35
- 4.Friendless Blues3:15
- 5.Stay2:37
- 6.Joe Turner Blues2:40
- 7.Beale Street Blues2:57
- 8.Careless Love2:50
- 9.Morning Star2:12
- 10.Memphis Blues3:05
- 11.Yellow Dog Blues3:15
- 12.St. Louis Blues2:26
Those Lazy-Hazy-Crazy Days of Summer1963
- 1.Those Lazy-Hazy-Crazy Days of Summer2:22
- 2.Get Out and Get Under the Moon2:08
- 3.There Is a Tavern in the Town1:35
- 4.On a Bicycle Built for Two1:45
- 5.That Sunday, That Summer3:09
- 6.On the Sidewalks of New York2:17
- 7.Our Old Home Team1:40
- 8.After the Ball Is Over2:02
- 9.You Tell Me Your Dream2:17
- 10.That's What They Meant (By the Good Old Summertime)2:34
- 11.Don't Forget1:59
- 12.In the Good Old Summertime2:14
- 13.Those Lazy-Hazy-Crazy Days of Summer1:21
Where Did Everyone Go?1963
- 1.Where Did Everyone Go?4:34
- 2.Say It Isn’t So3:04
- 3.If Love Ain’t There3:08
- 4.(Ah the Apple Trees) When the World Was Young3:59
- 5.Am I Blue?2:58
- 6.Someone to Tell It To3:14
- 7.The End of a Love Affair3:08
- 8.I Keep Goin’ Back to Joe’s2:37
- 9.Laughing on the Outside (Crying on the Inside)2:45
- 10.No, I Don’t Want Her3:02
- 11.Spring Is Here2:32
- 12.That’s All There Is2:40
Ramblin’ Rose1962
- 1.Ramblin’ Rose2:46
- 2.Wolverton Mountain3:03
- 3.Twilight on the Trail2:51
- 4.I Don’t Want It That Way1:57
- 5.He’ll Have to Go2:25
- 6.When You’re Smiling2:42
- 7.Goodnight, Irene, Goodnight3:08
- 8.Your Cheatin’ Heart2:25
- 9.One Has My Name the Other Has My Heart2:18
- 10.Skip to My Lou2:00
- 11.The Good Times2:44
- 12.Sing Another Song (and We’ll All Go Home)2:19
Dear Lonely Hearts1962
- 1.Dear Lonely Hearts3:06
- 2.Miss You2:28
- 3.Why Should I Cry Over You?2:22
- 4.Near You2:14
- 5.Yearning (Just for You)2:25
- 6.My First and Only Lover2:22
- 7.All Over the World2:22
- 8.Oh, How I Miss You Tonight2:20
- 9.Lonesome and Sorry2:19
- 10.All by Myself2:12
- 11.Who’s Next in Line?2:15
- 12.It’s a Lonesome Old Town1:59
The Touch of Your Lips1962
- 1.The Touch of Your Lips3:52
- 2.I Remember You3:10
- 3.Illusion2:53
- 4.You’re Mine, You!3:20
- 5.Funny3:01
- 6.Poinciana3:55
- 7.Sunday, Monday, or Always2:18
- 8.Not So Long Ago4:06
- 9.A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square4:33
- 10.Only Forever3:15
- 11.My Need for You3:21
- 12.Lights Out2:23
More Cole Español1962
- 1.La feria de las flores1:49
- 2.Tres palabras (Without You)2:07
- 3.Las chiapanecas (While There's Music There's Romance)2:34
- 4.Adiós Mariquita linda (Adios and Farewell, My Lover)2:52
- 5.Aquí se habla en "amor" (Love Is Spoken Here)2:00
- 6.Vaya con Dios (May God Be With You)2:31
- 7.Las golondrina (The Swallow)2:56
- 8.No me platiques3:01
- 9.A media luz (When Lights Are Soft And Low)2:10
- 10.Guadalajara2:01
- 11.Solamente una vez (You Belong To My Heart)2:47
- 12.Piel canela2:09
Nat King Cole Sings / George Shearing Plays1961
- 1.September Song2:58
- 2.Pick Yourself Up3:10
- 3.I Got It Bad (and That Ain’t Good)3:42
- 4.Let There Be Love3:53
- 5.Azure‐té2:32
- 6.Lost April3:18
- 7.A Beautiful Friendship2:43
- 8.In Other Words3:30
- 9.Serenata3:01
- 10.I’m Lost3:29
- 11.There’s a Lull in My Life2:25
- 12.Don’t Go2:39
Wild Is Love1960
Tracklist not collected yet.
Every Time I Feel the Spirit1960
- 1.Everytime I Feel the Spirit
- 2.I Want to Be Ready
- 3.Sweet Hour of Prayer
- 4.Ain’t Gonna Study War No More
- 5.I Found the Answer
- 6.Standin’ in the Need of Prayer
- 7.Oh, Mary, Don’t You Weep
- 8.Go Down, Moses
- 9.Nobody Knows the Trouble I’ve Seen
- 10.In the Sweet by and By
- 11.I Couldn’t Hear Nobody Pray
- 12.Steal Away
The Christmas Song1960
- 1.Deck the Hall1:06
- 2.Adeste Fideles2:26
- 3.God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen1:24
- 4.O Tannenbaum3:00
- 5.O, Little Town of Bethlehem2:18
- 6.I Saw Three Ships1:25
- 7.O Holy Night2:55
- 8.Hark, the Herald Angels Sing1:47
- 9.A Cradle in Bethlehem3:25
- 10.Away in a Manger1:58
- 11.Joy to the World1:22
- 12.The First Noel1:57
- 13.Caroling, Caroling2:02
- 14.Silent Night2:07
Tell Me All About Yourself1960
- 1.Tell Me All About Yourself2:08
- 2.(It Will Have to Do) Until the Real Thing Comes Along3:10
- 3.The Best Thing for You2:01
- 4.When You Walked By2:49
- 5.Crazy She Calls Me2:37
- 6.You’ve Got the Indian Sign on Me1:49
- 7.For You2:22
- 8.Dedicated to You2:53
- 9.You Are My Love1:56
- 10.This Is Always2:58
- 11.My Life2:12
- 12.(I Would Do) Anything for You1:47
Welcome to the Club1959
Tracklist not collected yet.
A mis amigos1959
Tracklist not collected yet.
To Whom It May Concern1959
Tracklist not collected yet.
Cole español1958
Tracklist not collected yet.
St. Louis Blues1958
Tracklist not collected yet.
The Very Thought of You1958
Tracklist not collected yet.
This Is Nat “King” Cole1957
Tracklist not collected yet.
Just One of Those Things1957
Tracklist not collected yet.
Love Is the Thing1957
Tracklist not collected yet.
Sings for Two in Love1953
Tracklist not collected yet.
Unforgettable1952
Tracklist not collected yet.
King Cole at the Piano1949
Tracklist not collected yet.
Gallery
Label
- Record label
- Ammor
- Record label
- Capitol Records
- Record label
- Decca
Achievements
- Award
- Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award
- Award
- star on Hollywood Walk of Fame
- Award
- Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
- Award
- Latin Grammy Hall of Fame
Groups
- King Cole Lester Young Red Callender Trioeponymous, original, pianocurrent
- King Cole Quarteteponymous, original, pianocurrent
- King Cole Quinteteponymous, original, pianocurrent
- King Cole's Swingsterseponymous, original, pianocurrent
- Lester Young-Buddy Rich Triocurrent
- Nat King Cole Comboeponymous, original, pianocurrent
- The Capitol Jazzmenpianocurrent
- The Hampton Rhythm Boyspianocurrent
- The Nat King Cole Trioeponymous, original, piano · 1937
Similar artists
Archive
Passport
Identifiers & aliases
Also known as: Cole, Nat "King", Cole, Nat King, King Cole, King Cole at the Piano with Rhythm, Nat "King" Cole, Nat 'King' Cole
Nathaniel Adams Coles, known professionally as Nat King Cole, was an American singer, jazz pianist, and actor. Cole's career as a jazz and pop vocalist started in the late 1930s and spanned almost three decades where he found success and recorded over 100 songs that became hits on the pop charts.
Opinions of fans — not verified facts.
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