![]() Oscar Peterson, one of Cole's biggest admirers, once said in an interview on the Dick Cavett show that Cole's piano playing had the quality of human speech. ![]() Cole's piano style was unique: punchy, spare, articulate. When Cole began his trio in the late 1930s, they were mostly an instrumental ensemble. Within the month, the show ran out of funds, so the Coles (with little money and the promise of a much nicer climate) decided to stay in the Golden State.Īfter gigging around as a pianist for years in seedy nightclubs, he finally settled on trio that could fit on any size stage: himself, guitarist Oscar Moore and bassist Wesley Prince. in 1937, when he was performing as part of the traveling Shuffle Along variety show. Cole and his wife at the time Nadine traveled from Chicago to L.A. While Nat King Cole grew up in Chicago, his musical story really begins in Los Angeles. This week, in honor of Cole's centennial on March 17th, I'll chronicle his rise to stardom throughout the 1940s, beginning with his work with The King Cole Trio on the Decca label, and moving through his success with Capitol Records, recording such hits as "Straighten Up and Fly Right" and "Nature Boy." Before he became the "Unforgettable" star of both music and television, Nat King Cole was just a work-a-day pianist in Los Angeles, trying desperately to secure his next gig.
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