Cole was born in Montgomery, Alabama, and grew up in Chicago, where he began his career as a child performing with his family's band. He went on to become one of the most successful jazz singers of the 1940s and 1950s, with a string of hit recordings that included "Straighten Up and Fly Right" (1943), "Nature Boy" (1948), and "Mona Lisa" (1950).
In addition to his success in music, Cole also broke racial barriers in the entertainment industry by becoming one of the first black performers to host his own television show, "The Nat King Cole Show" (1956-1957). He was also a vocal advocate for civil rights, and his death from lung cancer in 1965 was a major loss to the music world and the civil rights movement.
Here are some additional notable facts about Nat King Cole:
* Cole's smooth and velvety voice, which was often compared to that of a crooner, earned him the nickname "The King of Cool."
* Cole was also a talented pianist and arranger, and he often accompanied himself on his recordings and performances.
* In 1956, Cole became the first black performer to host his own television show, "The Nat King Cole Show," on NBC. The show was canceled in 1957, but Cole continued to break racial barriers by appearing in films, on television, and in magazines.
* Cole's political activism led him to perform at fundraisers for civil rights organizations and to speak out against segregation. He was also a key figure in the formation of the Artists' Rights Alliance, a group of performers that advocated for better working conditions and equal rights for black performers.
* Cole's death from lung cancer at the age of 45 was a shock to the entertainment industry and the world. He was posthumously awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1990 and was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1995.