Nat King Cole Trio
Jazz and pop vocalist and pianist Nat King Cole was born Nathaniel Coles on March 17, 1919, in Montgomery, Alabama. With his soft, velvety smooth voice and profound elegance and dignity, he stands as a legendary figure in American music. Best-known as a vocalist on hits such as “Mona Lisa”, “Unforgettable”, “When I Fall in Love”, and “The Christmas Song”, his career began as a jazz pianist. While still in his teens, Nat King Cole dropped out of high school and began performing as a pianist in Chicago clubs with his brother Eddie’s sextette, Eddie Cole’s Solid Swingers. After making their first recordings for Decca Records, the group toured in the musical Shuffle Along. When the tour ended in 1937 in Los Angeles, California, Nat King Cole decided to move there and pursue a career in music. Encouraged by a club owner, he formed the King Cole Swingsters with Wesley Prince (bass) and Oscar Moore (guitar). Breaking the popular big band mold, the drummer-less line-up was unique amongst the swing and jazz bands. The group soon changed their name to the King Cole Trio and began their recording career, cutting sides for independent labels and taping radio transcriptions. As the group’s pianist, Nat King Cole was encouraged to sing during his live sets, which would lead him in a different direction shortly thereafter. The King Cole Trio’s first hit was 1940’s “Sweet Lorraine”. Prince and Moore were eventually replaced by Johnny Miller (bass) and Irving Ashby (guitar) as the trio began recording for Decca Records and then Capitol Records. The line-up would change several times with Nat King Cole being the only constant member. The trio’s popularity began to soar in the ‘40s, leading Nat King Cole and his band to host King Cole Trio Time, a 15-minute radio program, in 1946. They began recording radio transcriptions and performing on various radio programs. Their signing to Capitol Records in 1944 raised their profile even more, leading to Nat King Cole’s subsequent Pop solo career. The trio released a series of albums in the ‘40s including The King Cole Trio (1944) Volume 2 (1946), Volume 3 (1947), King Cole for Kids (1948), and Volume 4 (1949). Nat King Cole’s solo career took precedence in the 1950s and 1960s, although one of his biggest selling albums during that period was his trio’s 1956 album After Midnight, the last collection of new recordings credited to the group. Nat King Cole died of lung cancer at the age of 45 on February 15, 1965.
©Copyright Music Story Stephen Schnee 2023
Similar artists
-
Music from Soul
Jazz - Released by Underground Inside Records on 31 Mar 2017
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Absolute Collection
Jazz - Released by Underground Inside Records on 3 Mar 2017
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
At the Last Masters
Jazz - Released by Underground Inside Records on 3 Feb 2017
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Best Of Christmas Holidays (Fantastic Relaxing Songs)
Jazz - Released by Underground Inside Records on 1 Dec 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Me Myself and My Songs
Jazz - Released by Underground Inside Records on 24 Jun 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Listen My Shuffle (Remastered)
Jazz - Released by Underground Inside Records on 8 Jul 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Trio Classics CD2
Pop - Released by Charly Records on 1 Jul 1999
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Transcriptions, Vol. 4 (1939-1940)
Nat King Cole Trio, Nat King Cole, Dreamers, The
Classical - Released by Naxos on 28 Jul 2003
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Straighten Up And Fly Right (Billboard Hot 100 - No. 09)
Alternative & Indie - Released by Music Manager on 19 Dec 2018
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Lush Life
Nat King Cole Trio, Jack Costanzo
Jazz - Released by Top Tracks on 30 Oct 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Put 'Em In A Box, Tie 'Em With A Ribbon (Billboard Hot 100 - No. 30)
Alternative & Indie - Released by Music Manager on 19 Dec 2018
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Ruby and The Pearl
Jazz - Released by Diamond Days on 5 May 2008
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Lush Life
Nat King Cole Trio, Jack Costanzo
Jazz - Released by Diamond Days on 5 May 2008
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Peaches
Nat King Cole Trio, Jack Costanzo
Jazz - Released by Firefly Entertainment on 5 May 2008
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Greatest Famous Masters
Jazz - Released by Underground Inside Records on 15 Sep 2017
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Complete Early Transcriptions 1938-1941 (Remastered Version) (Doxy Collection)
Jazz - Released by Doxy Records on 1 Jan 1991
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Orange Colored Sky
Pop - Released by Heaven And Earth Music on 19 Sep 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
All the Best Christmas Songs
Jazz - Released by HCR Music on 5 Dec 2018
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
All the Fabulous Masters
Jazz - Released by Almrec Muzik Remastered on 29 Jul 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
-
Looking for the Gold Masterpieces (Remastered)
Jazz - Released by Almrec Muzik Remastered on 13 May 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo