HMR Project: History of Music & Modern Recording

Nat King Cole

Birth of Modern Jazz: Nat King Cole

Nat King Cole

Nat King Cole was born in Montgomery, Alabama, on 17 March 1919, removed by his family to Chicago when he was four. He and older brother, Eddie, a bassist and pianist born in 1910, toured with Noble Sissle when Nat was fifteen [Wikipedia]. He made his first recordings on 28 July 1936 in Chicago with Eddie's Solid Swinsgters: 'Honey Hush'/'Thunder' (Decca 7210) and 'Bedtime'/'Stompin' at the Panama' (Decca 7215) [Lord]. Those also saw later issue in 1973 on the Cole compilation, 'From The Very Beginning', by MCA. There was time when you could find just about anything Cole on YouTube. This has been reduced to a trickle.

'Thunder' Instrumental by Nat King Cole w Eddie Cole's Solid Swingers

Recorded 28 July 1936 in Chicago Matrix 5 of 5 Decca 7210

Other personnel: Saxophones: Tommy Thompson & Bill Wright

Trumpet: Kenneth Roane Drums: Jimmy Adams

Composition: Nat King Cole

The next year Nat formed the King Cole Trio with bassist, Wesley Prince, and guitarist, Oscar Moore. Lord's account of that trio begins with radio transcriptions in Los Angeles likely in October of '38 for such as 'Mutiny in the Nursery' (Standard X-76) and 'By the River Sainte Marie' (Standard Y-132). Also featuring Nat at vocals, those saw later issue in 1991 on the Cole compilation, 'The Complete Early Transcriptions Of The King Cole Trio: 1938-1941', by Vintage Jazz Classics. Numerous transcriptions followed to April 18 of 1940 when the trio was assisted by probable drummer, Lee Young, to lay out 'I Like to Riff'/'On the Sunny Side of the Street' (Ammor 108) and 'By the River Sainte Marie'/'Black Spider Stomp' (Ammor 109). Becoming a Freemason around that time, Cole was first and foremost a pianist, though his rise to popularity was due more to vocals.

'That Ain't Right' Nat King Cole Trio

Recorded 22 Oct 1941 in NYC Matrix 3 of 3 Decca 8630

Guitar: Oscar Moore Bass: Wesley Prince

Composition: Nat King Cole / Irving Mills

'All for You' Nat King Cole Trio

Recorded 11 Oct 1942 in Hollywood V-Disc 286-B

Guitar: Oscar Moore Bass: Red Callender

Composition: Robert Scherman

'That Ain't Right' was performed by Fats Waller and Ada Brown in the 20th Century Fox production of 'Stormy Weather' released in 1943. Mills also wrote the lyrics for 'Straighten Up and Fly Right' which the King Cole Trio performed in the Republic release of 'Here Comes Elmer' in 1943. Cole released his first album on shellac the next year titled 'The King Cole Trio' (Capitol A-8). That got issued again in 1950 on 33 rpm LP (Capitol H220). 'Embraceable You' was given two takes. The first was matrix 140-1 issued on 'The King Cole Trio, et al'. The second was matrix 140-2 issued on V-Disc 365, et al.

'Sweet Georgia Brown' Nat King Cole Trio

Recorded 1 March 1943 in Los Angeles MacGregor 67

Guitar: Oscar Moore Bass: Johnny Miller

Composition: Ben Bernie / Kenneth Casey / Maceo Pinkard

'Sweet Lorraine' Nat King Cole Trio

Recorded 15 Dec 1943 in Los Angeles Matrix 139-1

Album: 'The King Cole Trio' Capitol A-8 & Capitol BD 8

Guitar: Oscar Moore Bass: Johnny Miller

Composition: Clifford Burwell / Mitchell Parish

'Embraceable You' Nat King Cole Trio

Recorded twice on 15 Dec 1943 in Los Angeles Either matrix 140-1 or 140-2

Issued on either Capitol A-8 & Capitol BD 8 or V-Disc 365

Guitar: Oscar Moore Bass: Johnny Miller

Composition: George & Ira Gershwin

'It's Only a Paper Moon' Nat King Cole Trio

Recorded 15 Dec 1943 in Los Angeles Matrix 141-4 Capitol 20012

Album: 'The King Cole Trio' 139-1 Capitol A-8 & Capitol BD 8

Guitar: Oscar Moore Bass: Johnny Miller

Music: Harold Arlen 1933 Lyrics: Yip Harburg / Billy Rose

'What Is This Thing Called Love' Instrumental by the Nat King Cole Trio

Recorded 17 Jan 1944 in Los Angeles

Album: 'The King Cole Trio' Capitol A-8 & Capitol BD 8

Guitar: Oscar Moore Bass: Johnny Miller

Composition: Cole Porter

It was 1944 when impresario, Norman Granz, scheduled his first Jazz at the Philharmonic (JATP) concert on 2 July at the Philharmonic Auditorium in Los Angeles. Granz' notion was to gather together ensembles of the elites in jazz which began touring the United States and Canada in 1945, Europe in 1952. Tours were infrequent after 1959, though included Japan. The last JATP concert was held in Tokyo in October of 1983. As Cole was under contract with Columbia in 1944 he was listed as Shorty Nadine on Mercury recordings of Jazz at the Philharmonic.

Nat King Cole as Shorty Nadine

First Jazz At The Philharmonic Concert on 2 July 1944 Los Angeles Philharmonic Auditorium

Cole's most popular issues in the latter forties were '(I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons' in '46, 'Save the Bones for Henry Jones' w Johnny Mercer in '47 and 'Nature Boy' in '48. Irving Ashby replaced original guitarist, Oscar Moore, in latter 1947. Cole issued his album, 'Nat King Cole at Piano' on 10" shellac in '49, on 10" vinyl in 1950.

'How Does It Feel' Nat King Cole Trio

Recorded 4 Dec 1945 Radio WMCA NYC

Guitar: Oscar Moore Bass: Johnny Miller

Composition: Roy Alfred / Marvin Fisher

'(I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons' Nat King Cole Trio

Recorded 22 August 1946 in NYC Capitol 304

Guitar: Oscar Moore Bass: Johnny Miller

Composition: Roy Alfred / Marvin Fisher

'When I Take My Sugar to Tea' Nat King Cole Trio

Recorded 6 August 1947 in Los Angeles Capitol F 813

Guitar: Oscar Moore Bass: Johnny Miller

Composition: Sammy Fain / Irving Kahal / Pierre Connor

'Too Marvelous for Words' Nat King Cole Trio

Recorded 8 August 1947 in Los Angeles

Issued on 'King Cole Trio' Volume 3 Capitol Records CC-59 1947

Guitar: Oscar Moore Bass: Johnny Miller

Composition: Johnny Mercer / Richard Whiting

'Save The Bones for Henry Jones' Nat King Cole Trio

Recorded 20 August 1947 Capitol 15000

Guitar: Oscar Moore Bass: Johnny Miller

Composition: Danny Barker / Vernon Lee

'Dream a Little Dream of Me' Nat King Cole Trio

Recorded 8 Oct 1947 in NYC

Issued on '10th Anniversary Album' Capitol W 514 1954

Guitar: Irving Ashby Bass: Johnny Miller

Music: Fabian Andre / Wilbur Schwandt 1931 Lyrics: Gus Kahn

Cole began the fifties recording titles with Nellie Lutcher on 5 January 1950 in Los Angeles. He introduced 'Mona Lisa' in the film 'Captain Carey, U.S.A.' released on 21 February 1950. 'Mona Lisa' would become Cole's highest-selling recording upon its issue in 1950 per Telefunken Capitol A 18063 (shellac) and Capitol F1010 (vinyl).

'Mona Lisa' Nat King Cole Trio Film

'Captain Carey, U.S.A' released on 21 Feb 1950

Guitar: Irving Ashby Bass: Johnny Miller

Composition: Ray Evans / Jay Livingston

'Nature Boy' Nat King Cole Trio Film

'Captain Carey, U.S.A' released on 21 Feb 1950

Guitar: Irving Ashby Bass: Johnny Miller

Composition: eden ahbez

The fifties found Cole expanding into big bands such as Stan Kenton's which supported Cole's recording of 'Orange Colored Sky' in August of 1950. The early fifties brought popular titles like 'Too Young' in '51, and a couple backed by the orchestra of saxophonist, Billy May: 'Walkin' My Baby Back Home' in '52 and 'Can't I' in '53. He worked more often, however, with the orchestra of Nelson Riddle. Cole toured to Cuba in 1956.

'Because You're Mine' Nat King Cole w the Nelson Riddle Orchestra

Capitol F2212 1952

Music: Nicholas Brodszky Lyrics: Sammy Cahn

'Smile' Nat King Cole w the Nelson Riddle Orchestra

Issued on Capitol 2897 1954

Music: Charlie Chaplin 1936 Lyrics: John Turner / Geoffrey Parsons 1954

'Love Is Here to Stay' Nat King Cole w the Nelson Riddle Orchestra

Issued on 'Sings For Two In Love' Capitol T420 1955

Composition: George & Ira Gershwin

'For Sentimental Reasons' Nat King Cole Trio

Filmed live at the Apollo in Harlem sometime 1955

Guitar: Irving Ashby Bass: Johnny Miller

Composition: Ivory "Deek" Watson

'The Nat King Cole Show' debuted in November 1956 for NBC, though ran only just over one year, unable to acquire sufficient sponsorship. That Cole was black was the likely reason, as it was when he'd been attacked on stage by three men in early 1956 in Birmingham, Alabama. Cole fell from his piano bench during the fracas and never played the South again. He was facing criticism at the time from both fans and the NAACP for playing to segregated and white-only audiences. By April of 1956 he had paid the NAACP its $500 membership fee. 'Send for Me' was large the next year. A second tour to Cuba, then Venezuela, in 1958 resulted in a few albums in Spanish. In English, Cole was a millionaire several times over by the time he released 'Ramblin' Rose' in 1962. He recorded his last album, 'L-O-V-E', in December 1964.

'It's a Good Day' 'Nat King Cole Show'

Telecast 3 Sep 1957 Season 2 Episode 9

Composition: Peggy Lee / Dave Barbour (husband)

'Cole Español' Album by Nat King Cole Capitol W 1031 1958

'Ramblin' Rose' Nat King Cole C & O conducted by Belford Hendricks

Issued on Capitol 4804 1962

Composition: Joe Sherman / Noel Sherman

'L-O-V-E' Nat King Cole w Bobby Bryant (trumpet)

Recorded 3 Dec 1964 Album: 'L-O-V-E' on Capitol ST 2195 1965

Arrangement & conducting: Ralph Carmichael

Composition: Bert Kaempfert / Milt Gabler

Cole had lived to hear the issue of 'L-O-V-E' before his death of lung cancer (two packs a day) on February 15, 1965, in Santa Monica, CA. He was the father of vocalist, Natalie Cole (1950-2015).

Sources & References for Nat King Cole:

Encyclopedia

Encyclopedia of Alabama

Musician Guide

New World Encyclopedia

William Ruhlmann

Unforgettable Nat King Cole

VF History

Wikipedia

Albums (pertaining to above):

10th Anniversary Album (Capitol W 514 in 1954):

Discogs