Origins & Early Life

Nathaniel Adams Coles (March 17, 1919 – February 15, 1965), known professionally as Nat King Cole, was an American singer, jazz pianist, and actor. Cole's career as a jazz and pop vocalist started in the late 1930s and spanned almost three decades, during which he found success and recorded over 100 songs that became hits on the pop charts. Cole began his career as a jazz pianist in the late 1930s, when he formed the King Cole Trio, which became the top-selling group (and the only black act) on Capitol Records in the 1940s. Cole's trio was the model for small jazz ensembles that followed.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Starting in 1950, he transitioned to become a solo singer billed as Nat King Cole. Despite achieving mainstream success, Cole faced intense racial discrimination during his career. While not a major vocal public figure in the civil rights movement, Cole was a member of his local NAACP branch and participated in the 1963 March on Washington. He regularly performed for civil rights organizations. From 1956 to 1957, Cole hosted the NBC variety series The Nat King Cole Show, which became the first nationally broadcast television show hosted by a Black American.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Some of Cole's most notable singles include...

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Akashi Motojiro — Contemporary (Died in 1919) (1919): General in the Imperial Japanese Army and Governor-General of Taiwan.
• Andrew Carnegie — Contemporary (Died in 1919) (1919): Scottish-American industrialist who pioneered the American steel industry and became a major philanthropist.
• Beate Uhse-Rotermund — Contemporary (Born in 1919) (1919): Pioneering German pilot and influential founder of the modern sex shop industry.
• Aamir Khan — Contemporary (Born in 1965) (1965): Iconic Indian actor and filmmaker, known for his dedication to cinematic perfection.
• Albert Schweitzer — Contemporary (Died in 1965) (1965): German polymath renowned for theology, music, and 'Reverence for Life'
• Andrea M. Ghez — Contemporary (Born in 1965) (1965): Pioneering astrophysicist known for studying the Milky Way's central black hole.
• Bayard Rustin — Shared historical date (03-17 · Born) (1912): Pioneering organizer of nonviolence, civil rights, and socialist movements.
• Bobby Jones (golfer) — Shared historical date (03-17 · Born) (1902): Pioneering American amateur golfer, founder of Augusta National and the Masters.
• Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib — Shared historical date (02-15 · Died) (653): Paternal uncle and wealthy merchant of the Prophet Muhammad; ancestor of the Abbasid Caliphate.
• Alexander Borodin — Shared historical date (02-15 · Died) (1887): Russian Romantic composer, chemist, and physician known for 'Prince Igor' and symphonies.
• 1919 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1919
• March 17 (03-17) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on March 17
• 1965 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1965
• February 15 (02-15) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on February 15