The Unforgettable Nat "King" Cole (2003)

This 18-song set from Nat "King" Cole is visual tribute to one of the most elegant trailblazers in history. Born on St. Patrick's Day 1919, Nathaniel Adams Coles took to the piano at an early ago and formed his own group while in his teens.

Nat put a royal sobriquet in the middle, dropped the 's' from his last name and truly became "King." He was the most successful Black recording artist of his time, selling over 50 million records by 1950.

His smooth, sensuous vocals bridged America's changing tastes from pre- World War II to a post-war world in a hurry. Nat "King" Cole became the first African-American to host a national tv show in 1955 setting standards for all who followed. He remains a musical treasure more than half a century after his death.

Songs Include: • Route 66 • Sweet Lorraine • Calypso Blues • Nature Boy • Opus One • Autumn Leaves • Shine On Harvest Moon • Got A Penny Benny • Little Girl • Mona Lisa • Save The Bones For Henry Jones • When I Fall In Love • So Long My Love • Tenderly • Stompin’ At The Savoy • Straighten Up And Fly Right • Je Vous Aime Beaucoup • Nat’s Song

"Trailblazer in the World of Jazz ... Nat King Cole ... Passport Video"

Passport Video celebrates the career of Nathaniel Adams Coles, known professionally as Nat King Cole (March 17, 1919 - February 15, 1965) was a popular American singer, songwriter, and jazz pianist --- "THE UNFORGETTABLE NAT KING COLE" (2003) (50 mins/B&W) ... One of the most beloved vocalists of all time, Nat King Cole paved the way for all African-American entertainers that came after him --- His grand musical legacy is celebrated with this 18-song visual tribute that includes "Route 66," "Mona Lisa," "Stompin' at the Savoy," "Straighten up and Fly Right," "Nat's Song" performed by actor Obba Babatunde

On November 5, 1956, The Nat King Cole Show debuted on NBC-TV ... Initially begun as a 15 minute show on Monday night, the show was expanded to a half hour in July 1957 ... Nat's guest were Ella Fitzgerald and Harry Belafonte and many other close friends in the entertaiment field ... The Nat King Cole Show had a short run due to the lack of national sponsorship, companies such as Rheingold Beer assumed regional sponsorship of the show, but a national sponsor never appeared ... to bad this show had star quality, in the name of Nat King Cole.

Nat King Cole was on the Ed Sullivan show six times before his own show ran regularly in 1957. He appeared twice after his show ended, once in 1958 and once in 1961.

SPECIAL FEATURES:
BIOS:
Nat 'King' Cole (aka: Nathaniel Adams Coles)
Date of birth: 17 March 1919 - Montgomery, Alabama
Date of death: 15 February 1965 - Santa Monica, California

Listen as Nat sings a compilation of tunes in his special smooth signature style, many performances capture the true voice and man himself as he defines the music of American Jazz..

1. ROUTE 66
2. SWEET LORAINE
3. CALYPSO BLUES
4. NATURE BOY
5. OPUS ONE
6. AUTUMN LEAVES
7. SHINE ON HARVEST MOON
8. GOT A PENNY BENNY
9. LITTLE GIRL
10.MONA LISA
11.SAVE THE BONES FOR HENRY JONES
12.WHEN I FALL IN LOVE
13.SO LONG MY LOVE
14.TENDERLY
15.STOMPIN' AT THE SAVOY
16.STRAIGHTEN UP AND FLY RIGHT
17.JE VOUS AIME BEAUCOUP
18.NAT'S SONG (performed by Obba Babatunde)

The last episode of The Nat King Cole Show aired December 17, 1957 --- Cole had survived for over a year, and it was he, not NBC, who ultimately decided to pull the plug on the show --- NBC and Nat had been operating at an extreme financial loss due to the lack of sponsorship his show received --- Cole quipped shortly after its demise, "Madison Avenue is afraid of the dark." --- once again enjoy those vintage performances just as they appeared decades ago in the small tube...meanwhile pick up your copy of "The Unforgettable Nat King Cole" from Amazon or Passport Video and relive those shows from Nat Cole the "King" of Jazz.

Total Time: 50 mins on DVD ~ Passport Video 1537 ~ (7/22/2003) October 4, 2006

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