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.
Mrs Santa Claus
Nat King Cole Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Who wraps the gifts and packs the sleigh?
Who's helping Santa every day?
Mrs. Santa Claus
Who keeps his red suit looking nice?
Who does he turn to for advice?
Who gives the brownies all their spice?
She pitter-patters all around the workshop
The whole year long
Amid the happy clatter of the workshop
She sings a merry, merry Christmas song
Who reads the notes from girls and boys?
Turns in the order for their toys?
Fills every heart with wondrous joys?
Mrs. Santa Claus
She pitter-patters all around the workshop
The whole year long
Amid the happy clatter of the workshop
She sings a merry, merry Christmas song
Who reads the notes from girls and boys?
Turns in the order for their toys?
Fills every heart with wondrous joys?
Mrs. Santa Claus
Mrs. Santa Claus
Nat King Cole's "Mrs. Santa Claus" is a delightful ode to the unsung hero of Christmas, Mrs. Claus. Through the lyrics of the song, the singer highlights the crucial role played by Mrs. Claus in ensuring that Christmas runs smoothly each year. The song reels off a list of important responsibilities that Mrs. Claus takes on, from feeding the reindeer and wrapping gifts to filling every heart with wondrous joys. The song emphasizes how much Santa relies on her, from turning to her for advice, to making sure his red suit is always looking its best. Throughout the whole year, Mrs. Claus works tirelessly, pitter-pattering around the workshop, amid the happy clatter, and singing a merry, merry Christmas song.
However, the song is much more than just an acknowledgement of Mrs. Claus's important role. It is also a celebration of the feminine touch and spirit of Christmas. Historically, Christmas has been celebrated as a male-centered holiday, with the focus on Santa Claus and all that he does. But "Mrs. Santa Claus" gives a female perspective on the holiday, showing that women play an integral role in making Christmas happen. As such, the song reminds us that Christmas is about more than just the jolly fat man in a red suit; it is about family, togetherness, and the shared joys of the season.
Line by Line Meaning
Who feeds the reindeer all their hay?
Who takes care of the reindeer's food?
Who wraps the gifts and packs the sleigh?
Who prepares and loads the sleigh with wrapped gifts?
Who's helping Santa every day?
Who tirelessly assists Santa Claus all year round?
Who keeps his red suit looking nice?
Who is responsible for maintaining Santa Claus' signature red suit?
Who does he turn to for advice?
Who does Santa Claus rely on for counsel and guidance?
Who gives the brownies all their spice?
Who provides the special ingredients for the holiday brownies?
Mrs. Santa Claus pitter-patters all around the workshop
Mrs. Santa Claus moves quickly and lightly throughout the workshop
The whole year long amid the happy clatter of the workshop
Throughout the entire year, amidst the joyful noise of the workshop
She sings a merry, merry Christmas song
Mrs. Santa Claus sings a joyful Christmas tune
Who reads the notes from girls and boys?
Who is responsible for reviewing Christmas wish lists from children?
Turns in the order for their toys?
Submits the requests for the desired toys to be made and delivered?
Fills every heart with wondrous joys?
Brings happiness and wonder to every child's heart?
Mrs. Santa Claus
The persistent, hardworking and caring spouse of Santa Claus.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JACK FULTON, HAZEL HOULE, LOIS STEELE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
jamieelvisfan Freeman
Really enjoyed this tune. Takes me back to my feelings of Christmas as a kid. That feeling is the same now. Thank GOD for classics like this.
Paraquita
I love this song. One of my favorites.
Marcelo Sastre
Sencillamente sublime versión del número uno en cantantes de todos los tiempos, el gran gigante, nat King cole,,sencillamente, 💎💎💎💎💎💎💎💎💎💎💎💎💎💎💎💎💎💎💎💎💎💎💎💎💎💎💎💎💎💎💎💎💎💎💎🥂🥂🥂🥂🥂🥂🥂🥂🥂🥂🥂🥂🥂🥂🥂🥂🥂🥂🥂💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖
Nicky Breed
Happy memories of my late mum. Always played this song 9
Jeri Kropp
Thank you for posting this
pcojedi
ready for all the holidays in 2020
Nicholas DiMatteo
This song really talks about Mrs Claus.
Tevin Howard
Ready for thanksgiving and Christmas in 2019 ?🦃🍁🍂🔔🎄🎁🎀👼❄🌨✌🚂👨👩👦👦🎅🤶✨🏵
Tevin Howard
Everyone ready for Thanksgiving & Christmas in December 2021? All we have to do is Believe.🎅🤶🎁🎀🎆🎄✨🔔🦃🎟🗺☕🚂🛤🕛⛄❄🎿🏂🏒
Jareth The Goblin King
“ He's Arnold, Arnold, Arnold Rimmer”