“Unforgettable” September 23, 2007

Nat “King” Cole, who smoked three packs of Kools a day because he thought it helped his voice, died of lung cancer in 1965 at the age of forty-five.

This song, written for him by Irving Gordon in 1951 and arranged by Nelson Riddle, became his signature theme. Forty years later, Nat’s daughter Natalie Cole had the biggest hit of her career with an album of her father’s standards, including this cut in which she duetted with him:

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“Caravan” September 22, 2007

Again from the 1957 show, accompanied by Jack Costanzo on bongos and one of the song’s writers, trombonist Juan Tizol.

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“Stompin’ at the Savoy” September 21, 2007

Another clip from Nat “King” Cole’s 1957 TV show, accompanied by Stan Getz and Coleman Hawkins on sax, Roy Eldridge and trumpet and Jo Jones on drums, together with the Oscar Peterson Trio with Ray Brown and Herb Ellis.

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“Tenderly” September 20, 2007

Throughout Nat “King” Cole’s career, he was accused of “selling out” his jazz roots for success as a pop singer.

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“Sweet Lorraine” September 17, 2007

When he was still in his teens, he formed a jazz trio of himself on piano with a guitarist and bassist. (There was originally a drummer, but when he didn’t show for their first gig Nat decided they didn’t need him.)

The story goes that one night at a nightclub, a drunk patron demanded that he sing “Sweet Lorraine”. He refused — he was, after all, a piano player, not a singer. The patron complained to the manager who threatened to fire the trio if he didn’t sing. So, sing he did. In 1940, it was his first hit.

Jazz aficionados will tell you Nat “King” Cole (1919-1965) was a better pianist than he was a singer. And he was, of course, a very good singer.

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