16: Nat King Cole: The Velvet Voice That Changed the World

Legacy Makers: Stories of Black Inventors and Icons

Date: December 18, 2024 Legacy Makers: Stories of Black Inventors and Icons Title and Show Info Episode #16. Nat King Cole: The Velvet Voice That Changed the World Featuring: Toni Davis (Host & Storyteller). Summary Ever wondered how a young boy from Montgomery, Alabama, became the voice of love and Christmas for generations? In this episode, we delve into the extraordinary life of Nat King Cole—born Nathaniel Adams Coles—a trailblazing musician, groundbreaking entertainer, and one of the smoothest voices in history. From his humble beginnings playing gospel and jazz piano in Chicago churches, to leading the iconic Nat King Cole Trio, and eventually topping charts with unforgettable hits like "Mona Lisa" and "The Christmas Song", Nat was a genre-defying artist who shattered barriers both musical and societal. We'll explore his early days sneaking out to hear jazz legends, the origins of his silky baritone, and the moment he broke through as a vocalist. You’ll also learn about his resilience in the face of racism, including a chilling attack on stage and a burning cross on his lawn. Despite these trials, Nat's legacy as a cultural icon endures—a man who helped reshape music, television, and the fight for equality in America. Tune in as we celebrate his life, loves, triumphs, and the heartbreaks that shaped one of the most influential artists of the 20th century. Prepare to be charmed, moved, and maybe even inspired to revisit the magic of his music. 🎶 Press play and let Nat’s story sing!

Highlights: 00:57- INTRO. 01:04- NATHANIEL ADAMS COLES’ BIRTH. 01:17- HIS FATHER REV. EDWARD B. COLES. 01:23- HIS MOTHER PERLINA COLES. 01:46- ONE OF FIVE SIBLINGS. 01:52- AGE 4 HE AND HIS FAMILY RELOCATE TO CHICAGO. 02:15- PLAYS, “YES, WE HAVE NO BANANS.”. 02:41- TEENAGER SNEAKING OUT OF THE HOUSE TO VISIT JAZZ CLUBS. 02:56- WENDEL PHILLIPS HIGH SCHOOL. 03:02- JOINS HIS BROTHER’S BAND “SOLID SWINGSTERS”. 03:14- HIS FIRST RECORDING. 03:32- MARRIES NADINE ROBINSON. 03:38- JOINS EUBIE BLAKES’ “SHUFFLE ALONG” NATIONAL TOUR. 03:47- TAKES A STAGE NAME & CREATES A TRIO BAND. 04:10- TRIO IS PERFORMING REGULARLY IN HOLLYWOOD. 04:20- ADOPTS THE MONIKER NAT KING COLE. 04:35- NBC’S BLUE NETWORK BROADCAST THEIR PERFORMANCES. 05:30- TRIO’S GROUNDBREAKING SINGLE “THAT AIN’T RIGHT”. 06:20- TRIO SIGNS WITH CAPITOL RECORDS. 06:29- SINGLE “STRAIGHTEN UP AND FLY RIGHT”. 06:59- BECOMES ONE THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN ARTISTS TO TOP BOTH R&B AND POP CHARTS. 07:24- CAPTIOL RECORDS BECOMES NICKNAMED, “THE HOUSE THAT NAT BUILT”. 07:54- MARRIAGE TO NADINE ROBINSON DISSOLVES. 08:02- MARRIES MARIA HAWKINS ELLINGTON. 08:15- OFFICIATED BY REV. ADAM CLAYTON POWELL, JR. 08:34- THE COUPLE ENCOUNTER THE KKK. 09:42- NAT’S POPULARITY SKYROCKETS. 10:01- NATURE BOY BECOMES ONE THE OF BEST SELLING RECORDS OF THE YEAR. 10:26- FREQUENTLY APPEARS ON RADIO PROGRAMS AND LATE-NIGHT SHOWS. 10:40- EMBRACES A SOLO CAREER. 10:50- THE CHRISTMAS SONG, MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU. 11:23- THE CHRISTMAS SONG ALBUM BECOMES THE BEST SELLING CHRISTMAS ALBUM OF THE DECADE. 11:31- AN INTERNATIONAL SENSATION. 11:41- BECOMES A FATHER. 11:59- TRANSITIONS TO MOSTLY POP MUSIC. 12:19- ATTACKED ON STAGE IN BIRMINGHAM, AL. 12:45- BECOMES A MEMBER OF THE NAACP. 13:05- PERFORMS IN CUBA, ALTHOUGH BARRED FROM THE HOTEL NACIONAL. 13:23- CUBA TRIBUTES A BUST & A JUKEBOX TO HIM AT THE HOTEL NACIONAL. 13:41- BECOMES THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN TO HOST A NATIONAL TV VARIETY SHOW. 14:25- FINANCIAL HARDSHIPS WITH SPONSORSHIP FOR THE PROGRAM. 15:01- SHOW LASTS FOR 58 WEEKS. 15:19- RECORDS ALBUMS IN SPANISH. 16:18- NAT IS A GLOBAL ICON. 16:30- ONE OF THE MOST VERSATILE ARTISTS OF HIS ERA. 1960S STRING OF HITS. 17:16- PLAYS FOR ROYALTY. 18:07- AFFAIR WITH SWEDISH DANCER GUNILLA HUTTON. 18:18- BATTLES WITH LUNG CANCER. 18:26- RECORDS LAST ALBUM, LOVE. 18:56- LEFT LUNG IS REMOVED. 19:06- METASTASIZED CANCER. 19:32- NAT KING COLE PASSES AWAY. 20:13- 100 HIT SONGS. 20:53- ACCOLADES. 23:54- HIS DAUGHTER NATALIE FEATURES A POSTHUMOUS DUET WITH NAT ON HER 1991 ALBUM UNFORGETTABLE…WITH LOVE. 24:21- CONCLUSION. Subscribe to the podcast.

Links To Additional Resources: Nat King Cole's Legacy Celebrates Its Centennial : NPR Nat King Cole: An Incandescent Voice : NPR Nat King Cole | Biography, Music & News | Billboard Straighten Up and Fly Right Nat King Cole | Country Music | Fandom Nat "King" Cole - Encyclopedia of Alabama JazzProfiles: The Accidental and Lucky Advent of the Nat King Cole Trio by Will Friedwald From the Archives: Nat 'King' Cole dies of cancer at 45 - Los Angeles Times Freemasons of Jazz | Grand Lodge of Ohio Remembering Maria Hawkins Cole, 1922–2012 | by Charlotte Hawkins Brown Museum | Medium Nat King Cole (U.S. National Park Service) Nat King Cole | Official Website – The Nat King Cole Nat King Cole | Biography & Facts | Britannica Nat King Cole - Students | Britannica Kids | Homework Help Nat King Cole - Songs, Death & Unforgettable Nat 'King' Cole - IMDb Nat King Cole discography - Wikipedia DuSable High School - Wikipedia Nat King Cole | Spotify Christmas With Nat King Cole - Compilation by Nat King Cole | Spotify Nat "King" Cole – That Ain't Right Lyrics | Genius Lyrics DownBeat Archives Inductees – National R&B Hall of Fame Nat "King" Cole | Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 100 Hits – Nat King Cole (4cd set) | Not Now Music