Nat "King" Cole (March 17, 1919 ??? February 15, 1965) was a popular American singer and jazz musician. As a piano player, he formed a jazz trio in 1938 that played Los Angeles nightclubs, one of the first jazz trios featuring guitar and piano. Prior to this he had played music since he was a child and had worked with bands since he was 16. He was raised in Chicago and exposed to the abundant jazz scene there. He was heavily influenced by pianist Earl "Fatha" Hines. Later he became more popularly known as a singer and crooner and his work became more orchestrated. His first mainstream vocal hit was in 1944 with Straighten Up and Fly Right, based on a black folk tale that his father had used as a theme for a sermon. Although hardly a rocker, the song's success proved that an audience for folk-based material existed. It is considered a predecessor to the first rock and roll records. Indeed, Bo Diddley, who performed similar transformations of folk material, counted Cole as an influence. Beginning in the late 1940s, Cole began recording and performing more pop-oriented material for mainstream audiences, often accompanied by a string orchestra. His stature as a popular icon was cemented during this period with such hits as The Christmas Song (1946), Nature Boy (1948),
1 | The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas To You) | Now That's What I Call Christmas 4 (Disc 2) |
2 | Embraceable You | Embraceable You |
3 | Candy | Embraceable You |
4 | You're Nobody Till Somebody Loves You | Embraceable You |
5 | If You Can't Smile And Say Yes, PLease Don't Cry A | Embraceable You |
6 | Any Old Time | Embraceable You |
7 | That's All | Hooray For Love: Great Gentlemen Of Song (Vol. 1) |
8 | Please Consider Me | Embraceable You |
9 | I'd Love To Make Love To You | Embraceable You |
10 | It Only Happens Once | Embraceable You |
11 | Adeste Fideles (O Come All Ye Faithful) | Superstars of Christmas 1995 |
12 | There Will Never Be Another You | Pennies From Heaven: Capitol's Great Gentlemen Of Song, Vol. 2 |
13 | Sweet Lorraine | Embraceable You |
14 | Bring Another Drink | Embraceable You |
15 | I Get A Kick Out Of You | Starbucks: Blue Note Blend |
16 | Brahm's Lullaby | Let It Snow! Cuddly Christmas Classics From Capitol |
17 | (I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons | Pure Cool |
18 | Jingle Bells | The Christmas song |
19 | Frosty the snowman | Absolute Christmas Classics |