As a piano player, he formed a jazz trio in 1938 that played Los Angeles nightclubs, one of the first jazz trios featuring guitar and piano. Prior to this he had played music since he was a child and had worked with bands since he was sixteen. He was raised in Chicago and exposed to the abundant jazz scene there. He was heavily influenced by pianist Earl "Fatha" Hines.
Later he became more popularly known as a singer and crooner and his work became more orchestrated.
His first mainstream vocal hit was in 1944 with Straighten Up and Fly Right, based on a black folk tale that his father had used as a theme for a sermon. Although hardly a rocker, the song's success proved that an audience for folk-based material existed. It is considered a predecessor to the first rock and roll records. Indeed, Bo Diddley, who performed similar transformations of folk material, counted Cole as an influence.
Beginning in the late 1940s, Cole began recording and performing more pop-oriented material for mainstream audiences, often accompanied by a string orchestra. His stature as a popular icon was cemented during this period with such hits as The Christmas Song (1946), Nature Boy (1948), Mona Lisa (1950), and his signature tune Unforgettable (1951). While this shift to pop music led some jazz critics and fans to accuse Cole of selling out, he never totally abandoned his musical roots; as late as 1956, for instance, he recorded an all-jazz album, After Midnight. In 1991, Mosaic Records released the Complete Nat King Cole Trio Recordings on Capitol, which contained 349 songs on twenty-seven LPs or eighteen CDs.
Throughout the 1950s Cole continued to rack up hit after hit, including Smile, Pretend, A Blossom Fell, and If I May. Most of his pop hits were collaborations with famed arranger/conductor Nelson Riddle. It was with Riddle that Cole released his first ten-inch long-play album in 1953 entitled Sings for Two in Love. Several more albums followed, including the Gordon Jenkins arranged Love Is the Thing, which reached number one on the album charts in April 1957.
Inspired by a trip to Havana, Cuba in 1958, Nat went back there that same year and recorded Cole Espanol, an album sung entirely in Spanish and Portuguese. The album was a hit not only in the U.S., but in Latin America as well. The album was so popular, that two others followed: A mis amigos in 1959, and More Cole Espanol in 1962.
Musical tastes were changing in the late 1950s, and despite a successful stab at rock n' roll with Send for Me, Cole's ballad singing had grown old to younger listeners. Like contemporaries Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett, Nat found that the pop singles chart had been almost entirely taken over by youth oriented acts. In 1960, Nat's longtime collaborator Nelson Riddle, left Capitol Records for Frank Sinatra's newly formed Reprise Records label. The two parted ways with one final hit album Wild Is Love, based on lyrics by Ray Rasch and Dotty Wayne. Nat would later re-tool the concept album into an off-Broadway production called I'm With You.
As the 1960s progressed, Nat once again found success on the American singles chart, starting with the country/pop flavored hit Ramblin' Rose in August of 1962. Three more hit singles followed: Dear Lonely Hearts, Those Lazy, Hazy, Crazy Days of Summer, and That Sunday, That Summer. Nat's final album was entitled L.O.V.E, and was recorded in late 1964. It was released just prior to his death and reached number four on the Billboard Albums chart in the spring of 1965. A "Best Of" album went gold in 1968. His 1957 song When I Fall in Love was a chart topping hit for the U.K. in 1987.
Cole was the first African-American to have his own radio program. He repeated that success in the late-1950s with the first truly national television show starring an African-American. In both cases, the programs were ultimately canceled because sponsors shied away from a black artist. Cole fought racism all his life, refusing to perform in segregated venues. In 1956, he was attacked on stage in Birmingham, Alabama by members of the White Citizens' Council who apparently were attempting to kidnap him. Despite injuries, Cole completed the show but vowed never to perform in the South again.
On 23rd August 1956, Cole spoke at the Republican National Convention in the Cow Palace, San Francisco, California. He was also present at the Democratic National Convention in 1960, to throw his support behind President John F. Kennedy. Cole was also among the dozens of entertainers recruited by Frank Sinatra to perform at the Kennedy Inaugural gala in 1961. Nat King Cole frequently consulted with President Kennedy (and later President Johnson) on the issue of civil rights. Yet he was dogged by critics, who felt he shied away from controversy when it came to the civil rights issue. Among the most notable was Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, who was upset that Cole didn't take stronger action after the 1956 on-stage attack.
In 1948, Cole purchased a house in the all-white Hancock Park neighborhood in Los Angeles, California. The property owners association told Cole they didn't want any undesirables moving in, to which Cole retorted "Neither do I. And if I see anybody undesirable coming in here, I'll be the first to complain."
He and his second wife, Maria Ellington, were married in Harlem's Abyssinian Baptist Church by Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. They had five children, including twin girls. Daughter Carol Cole, and son Kelly Cole were adopted. Kelly Cole died in 1995. Nat's daughter, Natalie Cole, and his younger brother, Freddie Cole are also singers.
Natalie and her father had an unexpected hit in the summer of 1991. The younger Cole mixed a 1961 recording of her father's rendition of Unforgettable with her own voice, creating an electronic duet. Both the song and the album of the same name won several Grammy awards the following year.
Cole performed in many short films, and played W. C. Handy in the film Saint Louis Blues. He also appeared in The Nat King Cole Story, China Gate, and The Blue Gardenia.
Nat King Cole was a heavy smoker of Kool menthol cigarettes, believing that smoking up to three packs a day gave his voice the rich sound it had (Cole would smoke several cigarettes in rapid succession before a recording for this very purpose). Cole died of lung cancer at St. John's Hospital in Santa Monica, California, on 15th February 1965. His funeral was held at St. Victor's Catholic Church in West Hollywood, and he was buried in Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California. Cat Ballou, his final film, was released several months later.
Christmas
Nat King Cole Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Jack Frost nipping at your nose
Yuletide carols being sung by a choir
And folks dressed up like Eskimos
Everybody knows a turkey and some mistletoe
Help to make the season bright
Tiny tots with their eyes all aglow
They know that Santa's on his way
He's loaded lots of toys and goodies on his sleigh
And every mother's child is gonna spy
To see if reindeers really know how to fly
And so I'm offering this simple phrase
To kids from one to ninety-two
Although it's been said many times, many ways
Merry Christmas to you
And so I'm offering this simple phrase
To kids from one to ninety-two
Although it's been said many times, many ways
Merry Christmas to you
The Christmas Song, also known as Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire, is a classic Christmas tune that captures the essence of the winter holiday season in its lyrics. The opening lines of the song, "Chestnuts roasting on an open fire, Jack Frost nipping at your nose," create an image of coziness and warmth as people gather around the fire to roast chestnuts and enjoy each other's company. Furthermore, the mention of Jack Frost, a personification of winter, adds to the festive atmosphere of the song.
The following lines, "Yuletide carols being sung by a choir, And folks dressed up like Eskimos," depict the communal aspect of Christmas, where people come together to celebrate and spread joy. The reference to the choir and the traditional singing of carols highlights the religious aspect of Christmas, but the mention of folks dressed up like Eskimos also celebrates cultural and regional differences, showing how Christmas is an inclusive holiday for all.
The second verse of the song refers to the typical Christmas scene of a turkey and mistletoe, and how they help to make the season bright. The third line speaks to the magic of Christmas, where "Tiny tots with their eyes all aglow" marvel at the wonder of the holiday. The mention of Santa Claus and his sleigh filled with toys and goodies is a reminder of the tradition of gift-giving during Christmas, and the final lines of the verse capture the excitement and anticipation of children waiting for Christmas morning.
The final verse of the song repeats the title of the song and offers a simple phrase of well-wishes for everyone, regardless of age. The repetition of "Merry Christmas to you" is a celebratory reminder of the essence of the winter holiday season.
Line by Line Meaning
Chestnuts roasting on an open fire
Imagine the comfort of roasting chestnuts on an inner fire, which resonates so positively in your being, like a warm hug from a good old friend.
Jack Frost nipping at your nose
Feel the crisp, invigorating air of the winter season that tickles your nose and makes you feel alive.
Yuletide carols being sung by a choir
Listen to the beautiful carols sung by a choir that fill your heart with joy, and allow you to take a moment to appreciate the beauty of the season.
And folks dressed up like Eskimos
People are bundled up in their warmest clothes, adding a unique and fascinating charm to the seasonal experience.
Everybody knows a turkey and some mistletoe
Thanksgiving leftovers and traditional mistletoe decor have become synonymous with the holiday season, creating a sense of comfort and familiarity.
Help to make the season bright
These familiar holiday symbols brighten up the season, reminding us of the joy and love that surrounds us.
Tiny tots with their eyes all aglow
Children are the purest embodiment of the magic of Christmas, filled with wonder and excitement.
Will find it hard to sleep tonight
Their excitement is so intense that they will find it hard to calm down and sleep, even though it is late at night.
They know that Santa's on his way
The children are excited for Santa Claus to arrive, knowing that he will bring them presents and joy.
He's loaded lots of toys and goodies on his sleigh
Santa Claus brings gifts and treats for all those who have been good throughout the year.
And every mother's child is gonna spy
All children, regardless of their background, look forward to catching a glimpse of Santa's sleigh and reindeer in the night sky.
To see if reindeers really know how to fly
It is a magical moment to see the reindeer fly, adding more charm and wonder to the already enchanting holiday season.
And so I'm offering this simple phrase
As a sign of gratitude and appreciation for the holiday spirit, I am offering this simple phrase.
To kids from one to ninety-two
This message is meant for everyone, regardless of age, to bring joy and love into their hearts.
Although it's been said many times, many ways
This message is one that has been repeated many times, but its significance never diminishes.
Merry Christmas to you
May the spirit of Christmas bring joy, love, and peace to you and your loved ones.
Lyrics ยฉ Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Mel Torme, Robert Wells
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@80schild48
I have stage 4 colon / liver cancerโฆ. And this song really puts me at easeโฆ hope this isnโt my lastโฆ. Merry Christmas my friends
@grizzlybear352
You got this. I know you do.
@jocejoce7638
I send prayers that the treatments works. Allow yourself to live experiences that you never dared to live before, and don't let fear take on you (sounds silly, but anti-anxiety herb tea like passiflora-valerian really helped me when I was diagnosed with kidney cancer). Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones!!
@baryntn41
And to you. And don't forget the reason for Christmas - the incarnation of God.
@tangelaharper4475
๐๐พ๐๐พ๐๐พ
@wilmapratiwi737
Sending prayer from here to you
@chuckers40
This is THE VERSION. This version is the standard setter of all Christmas songs. Natalie's version is just as sensational as this version.
@marksheiman1538
You can't go wrong with good music.
@Pete_Finch
No song can make a lonely person feel quite as lonely as this masterpiece during the holidays. Cheers to all you people lucky enough to be happy and loved. Don't take it for granted.
@TheBallinCollin96
Don't feel lonely, Nat's keeping you company. Stay warm and comfortable and have a Merry Christmas!