Nat King Cole, whose real name was Nathaniel Adams Coles, was an American jazz pianist, singer, and actor widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in jazz and popular music history. Celebrated for his elegant piano style, warm baritone voice, and refined phrasing, Cole became a defining voice of American music and one of the first African American artists to achieve mainstream success across radio, records, film, and television.

Nat King Cole was born on 17 March 1919 in Montgomery, Alabama, United States. During his early childhood, he moved with his family to the Bronzeville neighborhood near Chicago. His father, Edward Coles, worked as a butcher and later became a church minister, while his mother Perlina Coles served as the church organist. It was during this period that Cole began learning the organ and piano, receiving musical instruction from his mother until the age of twelve before continuing with formal music education.

Beyond jazz and gospel, Cole studied Western classical music extensively, learning works by Johann Sebastian Bach and Sergei Rachmaninoff, which greatly enhanced his technical foundation. As a young musician, he frequented jazz clubs and listened to performers such as Louis Armstrong, Earl “Fatha” Hines, and Jimmie Noone. By the early 1930s, while still a teenager, he had already begun his professional career, adopting the name “Nat Cole.”

In 1936, Cole made his first recordings with his brother Eddie Coles. That same year, he worked as a pianist in Eubie Blake’s revue and joined a nationwide tour. After relocating to Long Beach, California, he formed an ensemble called the King Cole Swingers, performing regularly in local clubs.

Following his marriage to dancer Nadine Robinson, Cole moved to Los Angeles, where he founded the influential Nat King Cole Trio. In this trio, Cole played piano, Oscar Moore served as guitarist, and Wesley Prince played bass. The trio became renowned for its innovative small-group jazz sound and recorded extensively for radio throughout the late 1930s. Cole’s brother Eddie Coles later joined the group under the stage name “Eddie’s,” and Cole also worked as a pianist on Broadway productions.

On 5 November 1956, Nat King Cole made television history with the debut of *The Nat King Cole Show* on NBC. Although widely recognized as the first nationally broadcast television program hosted by an African American performer, the show struggled due to a lack of sponsorship, as many companies refused to support a Black host. Despite strong artistic success, the program ended on 17 December 1957, highlighting the racial barriers of the era.

In addition to music, Cole appeared in several films, including Citizen Kane, China Gate, St. Louis Blues, and Cat Ballou, further expanding his cultural influence.

In his personal life, Cole married dancer Nadine Robinson, from whom he divorced on 28 March 1948. Shortly thereafter, on 4 April 1948, he married singer Maria Hawkins Ellington. The couple had five children together.

Nat King Cole died on 15 February 1965 at St. John’s Hospital in Santa Monica, California, from lung cancer, at the age of forty-six. Despite his relatively short life, his artistic legacy remains immense.

Legacy and Influence
Nat King Cole is remembered as a trailblazer who helped bring jazz piano into the mainstream and laid the groundwork for future generations of vocalists and musicians. His influence extends across jazz, pop, and American popular song, and he remains an enduring symbol of elegance, musicianship, and artistic excellence.

Films
1941 – Citizen Kane
1943 – Here Comes Elmer
1943 – Pistol Packin’ Mama
1944 – Stars on Parade
1945 – See My Lawyer
1957 – Istanbul
1957 – China Gate
1958 – St. Louis Blues
1959 – Night of the Quarter Moon
1965 – Cat Ballou

Albums
1944 – The King Cole Trio
1946 – The King Cole Trio Volume 2
1948 – The King Cole Trio Volume 3
1950 – Nat King Cole at the Piano
1952 – Penthouse Serenade
1953 – Sings for Two in Love
1954 – Unforgettable
1955 – The Piano Style of Nat King Cole
1956 – Ballads of the Day
1957 – After Midnight
1957 – Love Is the Thing
1958 – Cole Español
1959 – Welcome to the Club
1960 – Wild Is Love
1961 – The Nat King Cole Story
1962 – Ramblin’ Rose
1963 – Those Lazy-Hazy-Crazy Days of Summer
1964 – Nat King Cole Sings My Fair Lady
1965 – L-O-V-E

Source: Biyografiler.com