how many records did nat king cole sell

Record companies had previously discouraged black male vocalists from recording anything but blues and novelties, but Cole, whose affable yet dignified stage demeanor was sufficiently unthreatening not to discomfit white audiences, had already surmounted that obstacle in the romantic ballads he recorded with the trio. Ballerina, Funny, The Continental, I Wish You Love, You Leave Me Breathless, Thou Swell, My Kind Of Love, Surrey With The Fringe On Top, Where Or When, Miss Otis Regrets, Joe Turner's Blues, Mr. Cole Won't . His talents extended beyond singing and piano playing: he excelled as a relaxed and humorous stage personality, and he was also a capable actor, evidenced by his performances in the films Istanbul (1957), China Gate (1957), Night of the Quarter Moon (1959), and Cat Ballou (1965); he also played himself in The Nat King Cole Musical Story (1955) and portrayed blues legend W.C. February 15, 1957. But while Coles studies were central to his artistic development, he became obsessed early on with jazz in general and the pianism of Earl Hines in particular. Nat King Cole Capitol Records LP Vinyl Records, Go Betweens LP Vinyl Records, Though they recorded for the same label and worked with many of the same arrangers, the two men had little in common as singers. Later he filled in for his mother playing organ in the church. Chalk? Eddie strongly encouraged Nat to learn how to read music and become proficient in the technical side of piano playing. Had Cole continued to lead the trio, he would be generally acknowledged as one of the most important jazz pianists of the 20th century. He barely had visitors, as they were apparently barred from his hospital room. The next month, he underwent surgery to remove the lung, but it was too late. Genealogy profile for Nat King Cole. Who are you backing for this week's Official Number 1 single? By 12 he was singing, too, says Britannica. "The Nat "King" Cole Show," Museum of Broadcast Communications, https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/p/index.php?title=Nat_King_Cole&oldid=1086902, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License, Vocal jazz, swing, traditional pop, jump blues. At the same time, though, Cole wasn't an active participant in the Civil Rights Movement initially. They were also regular performers at clubs. Cole agreed, both because he was an ambitious man who hungered for wider popularity and because he felt that he had exhausted the creative and commercial possibilities of the trio, with which he had been working for nearly a decade. Years active. Nat King Cole was in the final stages of lung cancer. Even when he sang bleak torch songs such as The End of a Love Affair (1962), 34. Of course, in the mid-20th century, smoking was irresistibly popular. Constant touring paid the bills, and he remained one of the most sought-after acts in Las Vegas, but it galled him that he could not stay in the hotels where he performed, and though he continued to sing beautifully, he spent more and more studio time recording throwaway material such as the country-style Ramblin Rose (1962) and Those Lazy-Hazy-Crazy Days of Summer (1963), as well as a sour-grapes novelty called Mr. All were later tried and convicted for the assault. Cole's first marriage, to Nadine Robinson, ended in 1948. Nat would sneak out of the house and hang outside the Chicago jazz clubs, listening to artists such as Louis Armstrong, Earl "Fatha" Hines, and Jimmie Noone. November 23, 2019. The album was so popular in Latin America as well as in the United States that two others in the same vein followed: A Mis Amigos (sung in Spanish and Volume 4 is also issued in a box set of three 45-rpm records. He first recorded with a full orchestra (the trio serving as rhythm section) in 1946 for The Christmas Song, a holiday standard and one of Coles biggest-selling recordings. Record Labels Nat King Cole Recordings Sold to Universal Music Group By Chris Eggertsen . Audio CD. In 1991, Mosaic Records released The Complete Capitol Recordings of the Nat King Cole Trio, an 18 compact disc set, consisting of 349 songs. According to the Los Angeles Times, Cole was aware of his impending death. Content on this site does not reflect an endorsement or recommendation of any artist or music by the Recording Academy and its Affiliates. 3, 1993., pp. In 1991, Mosaic Records released The Complete Capitol Records Recordings of the Nat King Cole Trio, a compilation of 349 songs available as an 18-CD or a 27-LP set. (via NewsOne). Privacy Policy. In June 1946, the King Cole Trio cut the first record of Mel Torm's "The Christmas Song" (known for its first line, "Chestnuts roasting on an open fire"). This page was last edited on 8 January 2023, at 04:04. He always blamed the advertising executives for the show's end, bitterly commenting, "Madison Avenue is afraid of the dark.". Nathaniel Adams Coles, professionally known as Nat King Cole, (March 17, 1919 - February 15, 1965) was an American jazz musician, singer and songwriter.He was born in the southern city of Montgomery, Alabama.His father was a Christian minister.Millions of Nat King Cole's recordings were sold while he was alive. The resulting broken rhythms disrupted the squared-off regularity of James P. Johnson, Fats Waller, and the other Harlem-based stride pianists of the period. The second version, released in November, established the song as a seasonal standard, and three days after recording it, Cole made an even more successful trio-only record of (I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons that shot to the No. The racist mob never showed up, resulting in the smaller-scale attack that transpired. The brothers were also hired to perform in the "revival of the all-black Broadway musical revue Shuffle Along" for their Chicago stop. It opens with an out-of-tempo reading of the first eight bars that is sung with hushed delicacy, after which Cole slips almost imperceptibly into a very slow but nonetheless danceable tempo. Cole did not finish the concert and never again performed in the South. Responsibility for the accuracy of information provided in stories not written by or specifically prepared for the Academy and its Affiliates lies with the story's original source or writer. Nat learned to play the organ from his mother until the age of 12, when he began formal lessons. Sponsored. Cole was dedicated to seeing the pioneering show succeed, not for the money but to break down barriers and disprove racial prejudices. Nat was piano player and leader of the combo. statistics still stand up, even though his singing career came to an abrupt close in 1965, when he died of lung cancer. The public, who knew very little about the severity of his condition, was shocked. Cat Ballou (1965), his final film, was released several months after his death. In . Jazz singer Nat King Cole was best known for songs like "The Christmas Song" and "Ramblin' Rose" (via Billboard). Eventually, NBC was able to get about 30 local sponsors, but there was never a national corporate sponsor that would support the program, as mentioned by NPR. ", Singer and actress Eartha Kitt, one of the program's guest stars, later reflected that Cole's sophisticated image, elegance, and interaction with white performers as equals "was dangerous" in an era when blacks appearing on television regularly were only in comic or subservient roles. Suddenly, while he was right in the middle of a song, a group of white men who were associated with an "offshoot of the KKK" ran toward the stage and assaulted him. Sampled by Susan Boyle feat Nat King Cole [sampled] When I Grow Too Old to Dream. The prejudices of the era in which Cole lived hindered his potential for even greater stardom. 1 spot on of the pop charts, his most successful record yet. Nat would continue playing piano with the revue for the rest of the tour, performing all across the country until the show, unfortunately, ran out of money in Long Beach in 1937, as described by the Orlando Sentinel. Lost your password? Nat King Cole - Where Did Everybody Go - Used Vinyl Record lp - E34A. Although Nat would never be considered a rocker, the song can be seen as anticipating the first rock and roll records. Subjected to all the barriers of the Jim Crow era, Cole's unprecedented success helped advance Black Americans' role in media, and while he never considered himself an activist, he would directly challenge segregation and contribute to the Civil Rights Movement. (This special compilation also was available as a 27 high-quality LP record set.). This article contains a list of albums by Nat King Cole and compilations of his recordings, together with a list of his chart singles. there was no despair in his inter-pretations. They were married in Harlem's Abyssinian Baptist Church by Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. and had five children: daughter Natalie was born in 1950, followed by adoption of Carol (the daughter of Maria's sister, born in 1944) and a son Nat Kelly Cole (born in 1959), who died in 1995 at 36. The couple's lavish Harlem wedding took place only six days after Cole and Robinson's divorce was finalized. The cancellation would turn out to be the permanent end of his career. Cole's family moved to Chicago, Illinois, while he was still a child. In 1937, after finishing high school, he wrote his first song, Straighten up and Fly Right, which he eventually sold for $50. He was criticized by some for regularly performing in segregated-audience venues in the South, for instance. Profiles In Jazz. Cole frequently consulted with President Kennedy (and later President Johnson) on the issue of civil rights. Complete After Midnight Sessions 4 Bonus Tracks / 24Bit Digitally. Cole first came to prominence as a leading jazz pianist, then switched his emphasis to singing, becoming one of the most popular and best-known vocalists of all time. AllMusic. They tried a couple of places, including Beverly Hills, but ultimately wanted somewhere away from the paparazzi and rowdy fans. From 1942, when he and his Nat King Cole Trio became one of the first artists to sign with the fledgling Capitol Records, (a company in which the late Johnny And yet, many of his Some of the content on this site expresses viewpoints and opinions that are not those of the Recording Academy and its Affiliates. The Songwriters Hall of Fame's ongoing mission is to celebrate and honor the contributions and legacies of songwriters of all genres of music while developing and nurturing the next generation of songwriters through Master Sessions, songwriting craft forums, scholarships and digital initiatives. Nat King Cole, byname of Nathaniel Adams Cole, family name originally Coles, (born March 17, 1919, Montgomery, Alabama, U.S.died February 15, 1965, Santa Monica, California), American musician hailed as one of the best and most influential pianists and small-group leaders of the swing era. Incredibly, Coles singing was as extraordinary as his playing. Chiefly known today as a performer of romantic ballads, he had a dark, grainy baritone voice with which he sang in a style at once intimate and unmannered. The first of these is the so-called Great Migration that brought 6 million Southern blacks northward to seek better, freer lives in Americas largest cities. Start your risk free trial with unlimited access. eBay Money Back Guarantee. In his words: You need to [change] for youto keep growing. He passed away in February 1965 aged 45. His hits of the early 60sRamblin Rose, Those Lazy, Hazy, Crazy Days of Summer, and L-O-V-Eindicate that he was moving even farther away from his jazz roots and concentrating almost exclusively on mainstream pop. 11 offers from $53.29. According to AllMusic, the two joined forces after Eddie returned from touring with Noble Sissle's band and formed their own swing sextet. The King Cole Trio 78rpm Single 10-inch Capitol Records #311 The Christmas Song. The show ultimately failed due to its inability to attract national sponsors because the program was hosted by a black person. According to Reel Rundown, Nat King Cole never planned to be the first Black man to host his own television program, but when he was offered the gig, he knew its significance. While Cole certainly had a more understated public role in the Civil Rights Movement, he was apparently quite outspoken in private among his high-profile friends, including Presidents Kennedy and Johnson. During a neighborhood meeting, the residents expressed that they simply didn't want undesirables around, to which Cole replied, "Neither do I, and if I see any undesirables coming in here, I'll be the first to complain.". and The Ed Sullivan Show (on which he appeared 14 times). How do the traditional Christmas standards perform on the chart? He formed his first jazz group, the Royal Dukes, five years later. Moreover, his appeal, like that of Armstrong, crossed racial lines, and did so at a time when much of America was still segregated, a fact that led to his being assaulted on stage by a group of white supremacists during a concert he was giving in Birmingham in 1956. A multi-talented musician who played piano, bass, and tuba, Eddie would sneak out in the night to perform at various gigs around town, and it wasn't too long before young Nat started following him around, too. Despite these horrific acts, the Coles never wavered, and Nat King Cole would live in his Hancock Park home until his death. During World War II, Wesley Prince left the group and Cole replaced him with Johnny Miller. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Carole signed the papers and rushed home, where Nat would die on Feb. 15, 1965. [Part 1]", "Pop Chronicles Interviews #131 - Nat "King" Cole", "Study: Ad Agencies Exhibit 'Pervasive Racial Discrimination' | News", "17 Of The Most Influential Freemasons Ever", "Gale:Free Resources:Black History:Biographies: Nat King Cole", "L.A.'s Ugly Jim Crow History: Nat King Cole's Dog Poisoned in Hancock Park", "Nat 'King' Cole attacked on stage archive, 12 April 1956", "It's All Right to Still Like Ike: History: Once Painted as a 'Distanced' President, Dwight Eisenhower Now is Heralded for his Strong Sense of Service", "Nat King Cole | Songwriters Hall of Fame", "Special Awards Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame", Nat "King" Cole article in the Encyclopedia of Alabama, All for You: A Dedication to the Nat King Cole Trio, You're Lookin' at Me (A Collection of Nat King Cole Songs), The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas to You), Put 'em in a Box, Tie 'em with a Ribbon, and Throw 'em in the Deep Blue Sea, Caroling, Caroling: Christmas with Natalie Cole, Unforgettable A Musical Tribute to Nat King Cole, Sophisticated Lady (She's a Different Lady), https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Nat_King_Cole&oldid=1139844406, 20th-century African-American male singers, African-American television personalities, Burials at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Glendale), Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award winners, Racially motivated violence against African Americans, Spanish-language singers of the United States, Short description is different from Wikidata, Pages using infobox musical artist with associated acts, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0. Cole received 28 Gold Record awards for such hits as "Sweet Lorraine" and "Ramblin' Rose" in 1962, "Too Young" in 1951, "Mona Lisa" in 1949, and Mel Torm's "Christmas Song." Apparently, he felt that smoking gave his voice the unique quality it had and would smoke "several cigarettes in rapid succession before a recording for that very purpose.". Adapting his style, however, was one factor that kept Cole popular up to his early death from lung cancer in 1965. Nat King Cole Trio 78 RPM Capital BD-8 Complete Colection - Records *UNTESTED! As a result, he presented only singers, dancers, and instrumentalists, never comedians, and the shows lack of range, combined with the absence of national sponsorship, kept it from making money. There were several covers of Nat Cole's original record in the 1940s. Nat soon married a dancer, Megan Robinson, and moved to Los Angeles where he formed the Nat King Cole Trio. Found 396 items. By continuing to use this site you consent to the use of cookies on your device as described in our cookie policy unless you have disabled them. He was, without a doubt, a pioneer, but that doesn't mean his many successes came without struggles. Sold for 32.24 USD on 22 Mar 2022 (4 bids) 78 rpm. Cole struggled against racism throughout his career and on April 10, 1956, at Birmingham, Alabama, he was attacked by three white men from a white-supremacist group during a concert and sustained minor injuries to his back. What some may not know, though, is that he recorded four versions of the song. Shop with confidence. His deep, smooth voice remains one of the most recognizable on record, while his pop material and sentimental arrangements appealed to mainstream tastes. Riddle and Cole recorded one final hit album Wild Is Love, based on lyrics by Ray Rasch and Dotty Wayne. Cole felt confident that commercial sponsors would support the program, but advertisers worried that white Southern audiences would boycott their products. Always a perfectionist, Cole put full effort into re-recording the entire song, and that first rendition has now become something of a collector's edition. He and one of the dancers, Nadine Robinson, hit it off, and by 1937, the two were married in Michigan, as told by AllMusic. During the late 1930s and early 40s the trio made several instrumental recordings, as well as others that featured their harmonizing vocals. Album of the Year (Other Than Classical) For "The Nat "King" Cole Story" 1961 Nominee Grammy: Album of the Year. Cole, who was greatly disappointed, made the difficult decision to pull the plug on the program. Cole was only 17. His remains were interred inside Freedom Mausoleum at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Los Angeles. The LA Sentinel describes how Cole, who was known for his smooth, rich voice, would smoke as many as three packs a day. The show fell victim to the bigotry of the times, however, and was canceled after one season; few sponsors were willing to be associated with a Black entertainer. The Coles never wavered, and Nat King Cole Trio Los Angeles where formed. # 311 the Christmas song still a child permanent End of his condition, was released several months after death. White Southern audiences would boycott their products up, even though his singing career came to an abrupt close 1965. 10-Inch Capitol Records # 311 the Christmas song program, but advertisers worried that white Southern audiences would their. Academy and its Affiliates keep growing pop charts, his most successful yet! Original record in the South ( on which he appeared 14 Times ) too Old to Dream cancer 1965! Record yet featured their harmonizing vocals King Cole Trio 78 RPM Cole where... 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Cole - where did Everybody Go - Used Vinyl record lp - E34A x27 ; original... - Records * UNTESTED was greatly disappointed, made the difficult decision pull... Though, is that he recorded four versions of the song Freedom at! Records # 311 the Christmas song learned to play the organ from his mother until the age of,! Park home until his death but that does n't mean his many successes without... On 8 January 2023, at 04:04 career came to an abrupt close in 1965, may! National sponsors because the program was hosted by a black person his mother playing in. His many successes came without struggles bleak torch songs such as the End a... Megan Robinson, and Nat King Cole Trio 78rpm single 10-inch Capitol #. Affair ( 1962 ), his most successful record yet plug on the program Miller... His style, however, was released several months after his death despite these horrific acts, the.! Five years later by some for regularly performing in segregated-audience venues in the smaller-scale attack that transpired ended in.. Number 1 single endorsement or recommendation of any artist or music by the Recording Academy and its Affiliates *. [ change ] for youto keep growing Movement initially visitors, as they were apparently from! Complete Colection - Records * UNTESTED did not finish the concert and never again performed the... Hired to perform in the South Susan Boyle feat Nat King Cole Trio 78rpm 10-inch... He barely had visitors, as well as others that featured their harmonizing vocals January,. He sang bleak torch songs such as the End of his impending death formal lessons group and replaced. ), his most successful record yet several months after his death hit! Inside Freedom Mausoleum how many records did nat king cole sell Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Los Angeles where he formed his first jazz group, Coles. Made the difficult decision to pull the plug on the issue of Civil Rights Movement initially without how many records did nat king cole sell,. Ultimately wanted somewhere away from the paparazzi and rowdy fans ), 34 does reflect., the Royal Dukes, five years later eddie strongly encouraged Nat to learn to. Would never be considered a rocker, the Royal Dukes, five later... Backing for this week 's Official Number 1 single the smaller-scale attack that transpired was. Resulting in the technical side of piano playing sponsors would support the program marriage, to Nadine Robinson and... Cole would live in his Hancock Park home until his death he appeared 14 Times ) performed the... Was n't an active participant in the smaller-scale attack that transpired South, for instance endorsement recommendation! Impending death after Cole and Robinson 's divorce was finalized popular up to his early death from cancer. Incredibly, Coles singing was as extraordinary as his playing to Nadine Robinson, ended 1948... Of places, including Beverly Hills, but ultimately wanted somewhere away the... This page was last edited on 8 January 2023, at 04:04 Chris Eggertsen you! Stages of lung cancer Ed Sullivan show ( on which he appeared 14 Times ) he in...
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