There has always been two Nat “King” Coles.
Most everyone is familiar with the singer with the velvet pipes who captivated the world with “Mona Lisa,” “Nature Boy,” “Unforgettable.” From the late-1940s through the early-1960s, Cole was an enormously popular pop singer, television personality and, in a couple of films he should have passed on, movie star.
That was the second Nat Cole; the first was a genius.
Growing up in Chicago, Cole spent hours listening to Earl “Fatha” Hines. From there, he developed a style of piano playing that took parts of Hines, but went beyond that into territory that would, ultimately, influence nearly every major pianist who came after.
Singing was not part of Cole's act until he migrated to Los Angeles and put together a trio of piano, guitar and bass. No one had done that before and fans flocked to hear the trio.
Cole added vocals to his act, at first jazzy little ditties like “Straighten Up and Fly Right,” pop songs made to swing – punchy, finger-snapping singing. Hits followed.
Soon, Cole's approach changed. Notes he sang lost their swing. He smoothed out the tunes, rounded off the jazzy edges. Strings were added. He went “commercial,” much to the pain of the jazz world. And, essentially, he quit playing piano.
Capitol Records, Cole's home for his entire pop career, has released a dandy collection of his work – one CD of songs and one DVD biography. “The World of Nat King Cole” (
) focuses on Cole's Capitol hits, but the DVD is an essential look into the man.
Cole was not without his faults, of course – women mostly. He liked them, despite his married status, and the DVD doesn't shy away from noting that. It also gives a very clear picture of his role in the civil rights movement. When his popular TV show – a first for a black man – was canceled due to a lack of commercial sponsors, Cole rightly noted that “Madison Avenue was afraid of the dark.” By the end – he died at 45 of cancer – Nat “King” Cole was a much-admired and revered entertainer. This package captures his importance, and elegance as a pop singer, perfectly.
