Nat King Cole Essay - 2370 Words

Nat quot;Kingquot; Cole Music is a universal language, a language that many can speak; however, one that only few can master. One of those masters was Nat amp;quot;Kingamp;quot; Cole. A true legend, Nat not only could carry a song with his voice, but also through his incredible skills with the piano. Today, Nat is most remembered for that soft, soothing and so powerful voice; however he is recognized as one of the greatest jazz pianists of all-time. The man today known as Nat amp;quot;Kingamp;quot; Cole was actually born in Nathaniel Adams Coles, in Montgomery, Alabama on March 17, 1917. By the age of four, his father, Edward James Coles Sr. and his mother, Perlina Adams Coles, decided it would be best that the family move to†¦show more content†¦On one summer’s day, while playing at the Century Club, Nat was approached by Lewis to form a band. Lewis saw a special talent in Nat and offered him $75/week if he would play the Swanee Inn. Nat gladly accepted, not knowing that this offer would eventually lead to the success and wealth that had been eluding him for the most part. The King Cole Trio was about to be born. Nat now had to form a group. The first person to come to Nat’s mind was the drummer, Lee Young. Young however, had different ideas, deciding that there was no room for a drummer at the Swanee. Next Nat approached bassist Wesley Prince, whom he had met while playing the at club scene. Prince decided to accept Nat’s offer and along the way suggested the name of a guitarist named Oscar Moore, who would become the final member of the trio. Originally called King Cole and his Swingsters, the band eventually evolved to become the name that is famous today, the King Cole Trio. The trio was a talented group. From the second they played together, it was clear that these men performed with real chemistry, especially Nat and Oscar. Both men grew up listening to the same great jazz artists, including: Louis Armstrong, Earl Hines, Jimmy Noone and Art Tatum, all of whom had a profound influence on Nat’s and Oscar’s playing styles; yet there was something more when theseShow MoreRelatedNat King Cole s Vocal Style1434 Words   |  6 Pages Today, 66 years after the peak of his career, Nat King Cole remains to be a household name. Most anyone you ask will recognize his iconic baritone vocals. Although he is best known for his vocal style, Cole was also an extremely talented piano player. Along with his elegant presence, Cole was able to break the strong barriers of racism in the 1960s, leaving a legacy for artists behind him. Cole was raised in an extremely religious household outside of Chicago. His mother was the choir directorRead MoreThe Beauty Of Mona Lisa1477 Words   |  6 Pages Also in the 1950’s Nat King Cole wrote a top selling record called the Mona Lisa. Nats song about the Mona Lisa was so popular that it sold over a million copies in just one year and it also successfully reached number one on the Billboard singles! Nat King Cole was born in 1919 in Montgomery Alabama, and at the age of five Nats family moved to the South Side of Chicago into an African American neighborhood, and was raised in the lower-middle class. His first name was Cole but when he became famousRead MoreTelevision And Its Impact On The Production Of American Identities1191 Words   |  5 Pagesservants, the Nat King Cole fundamentally altered the role of people of color on television. For example, Nat King Cole represented the first time that African Americans were agents of â€Å"representing culture and music and talk† in media. In the documentary, Diahann Carrol discusses the â€Å"adjustments† and negotiations made by people of color in the entertainment industry. In order to keep their jobs, they hid anger, disappointed and avoided questions of â€Å"what’s wrong with me?† Perhaps Nat King Cole’sRead MoreThe Music Of The 1940 S1273 Words   |  6 Pagesthe most popular singers . There was Frank Sinatra, Dinah Shore, Tony Bennett, Pat Boone, Nat King Cole, Kate Smith and Perry Como. All of these very popular singers led the hit parade. They sang the songs that went with the mood of the country in the early 50s. Many of these crooners became the idols of the decade’s later rock and roll stars, who used their influence to create a unique sound. Nat King Cole was not only one of the first African American singers to reach such heights of popularityRead MoreAnalysis : Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire 2333 Words   |  10 Pagesfather died of lung cancer at the age of 45. After that my life went spiralling out of control. Involving drugs and a bad relationship with my mother. I am Natalie Cole daughter of Maria and Nat King Cole. And this is my story. February 6th, 1950 at Cedars of Lebanon Hospital at 6:07pm my mom gave birth to precious little me! Natalie Maria Cole 7lbs 11oz. I am the first born child to my mom and dad. But my parents adopted my mom’s daughter because she was an orphan. Her mom died of tuberculosis and herRead MoreDescriptive Essay : Who I Am1133 Words   |  5 Pagesare written with purpose and a meaning. Both Nat King Cole and Dan Croll will share the spotlight on my stereo. A last glance back when exiting my room would make one think that it contains very little. Yet, I find that it holds all that I could ever hope for. It is not an abundance of material possessions that makes me feel complete. Instead, the words of Salinger, the hanging photos of smiling faces, and a mounted worn down surfboard while Nat King Cole sings â€Å"Unforgettable† in the background leaveRead MoreLouis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Miles Davis, And Nat King Cole Essay2010 Words   |  9 Pages Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Miles Davis, and Nat King Cole. These men all lived vastly different lives, but one exploit that they will always hold in common is that they helped to develop jazz into the integral part of music it exists as today. Jazz created a form of expression that allowed an entire generation to show what they valued and what they represented in life, which is exactly what the men I mentioned earlier did. Accordingly, they did not just make catchy tunes for d ancing to andRead MoreIn the Kitchen Analysis Essay670 Words   |  3 Pagestelevision. While they were all watching, they saw Nat King Cole, a famous singer with â€Å"patent-leather hair† (328). His hair was processed, but not to the point where it looked completely like white peoples’ hair. It still looked somewhat natural. Back then, it was rare for an African American to be seen on television as Cole was. This shows the slow transition of blacks becoming accepted into white society. While Gates writes about his family was watching Cole on television it shows the togetherness ofRead MoreRay Charles683 Words   |  3 Pageslike he accomplished this to the best of his ability and this paved the way for many artists to do this action in today’s era. There are many influences that motivated Ray to experience to different type of music genres. Ray’s obsession with Nat King Cole pushed him to mimic his style in the beginning of his career. Due to his wife not liking they route he was going with he went down a different path of genre to an upbeat type of genre. With different music stars around him such as Elvis, Ray hadRead MoreEssay on Rock and Roll1295 Words   |  6 Pagesassault on Nat King Cole as an example in order to illustrate the degree of physical violence that resulted from this resistance. While performing at an all-white venue, Cole was ambushed by a mob of white supremacists and repeatedly beaten. Aside from receiving physical injuries, Cole was also criticized by Black activists for not demanding to perform at an integrated venue. The Amsterdam News claimed that â€Å"thousands of Harlem blacks who have worshiped at the shrine of singer Nat King Cole turned their