Nat King Cole Research Paper

A brilliant young child is sitting with sturdy concentration learning to play the cold hard ivory keys of the piano. Little does he know, he will soon be called King. Famous musicians are not uncommon in large musical families. Sometimes, it is difficult for musicians to transition to more popular music. Fame and fast lives occasionally end in awful and shocking deaths. The unforgettable life of Nat King Cole should be an inspiration to everyone. Nathaniel Adams Coles was born on March 17, 1919 in Montgomery, Alabama to Mr. Edwin Coles and Mrs. Perlina Coles. His father was the Baptist Minister and his mother was the choir director of their church in Chicago, Illinois. In his huge musical family he had two sisters and four brothers, who were all taught music by their mother. All five sons became professional musicians. As an adult he was married to Nadine Robinson but later divorced in 1946. Nat then married jazz singer Maria …show more content…
As a teen he would sneak out to the jazz music club and listen outside because he wasn’t old enough to be allowed to enter. Eventually, he started his own jazz band, The Nat King Cole trio called that because Nat was forced by the jazz club owner to wear a crown on his head. The name King stuck. His other band member was none other than the “Duke”, Edward Kennedy Ellington. In the 1950s he transitioned from jazz music to pop music. His first hit song was Straighten Up and Fly Right. He became the star in the TV show The Nat King Cole Show where he collaborated with other famous guest stars like Sammy Davis Jr. and Frank Sinatra on his show. People were racist and didn’t want to advertise during his show so he cancelled after 64 episodes. He later started showing up in different movies like, Cat Ballou, starring Jane Fonda, singing the title song “The Ballad of Cat Ballou.” He also appeared in The Nat King Cole Story and produced a musical play in the 1960s called I’m With