Question 1

Did Nat King Cole write his own songs?

Accepted Answer

Mostly no. He was chiefly an interpreter who recorded songs written by other composers and lyricists. He did co-write a few of his own, most notably 'Straighten Up and Fly Right' in 1943 with Irving Mills, but his catalog of hits was largely built on outside material.

Question 2

Who wrote 'Unforgettable'?

Accepted Answer

Irving Gordon wrote 'Unforgettable', which was published in 1951. Nat King Cole recorded the best-known version that year. He did not write it himself.

Question 3

Who wrote 'The Christmas Song'?

Accepted Answer

Mel Tormé and Robert Wells (often credited as Bob Wells) wrote 'The Christmas Song' in 1945. The Nat King Cole Trio first recorded it in 1946, and Cole's version became the definitive one, but the song was not his composition.

Question 4

Who wrote 'Mona Lisa'?

Accepted Answer

Jay Livingston and Ray Evans wrote 'Mona Lisa' for the 1949 Paramount film Captain Carey, U.S.A. It won the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1950. Nat King Cole's recording spent five weeks at number one that year, but he was the performer, not a writer.

Question 5

What is Nat King Cole's real name?

Accepted Answer

His birth name was Nathaniel Adams Coles. He was born on March 17, 1919, in Montgomery, Alabama, and later dropped the 's' to perform as Nat King Cole.

Question 6

Did Nat King Cole play piano?

Accepted Answer

Yes. He began his career as a jazz pianist in the late 1930s and led the King Cole Trio, one of the most influential small groups in jazz. His piano work is a major part of his legacy, even though he became more widely known for his singing.

Question 7

What songs did Nat King Cole actually write?

Accepted Answer

His best-known original is 'Straighten Up and Fly Right', which he co-wrote with Irving Mills in 1943 based on a folk tale his father had used in a sermon. He sold his publishing share of the song for $50 before it was recorded and later sued unsuccessfully to recover the rights. Most of his other hits came from outside writers.

Question 8

How many records did Nat King Cole sell?

Accepted Answer

His records sold about 50 million copies during his career, making him one of the best-selling artists of his era. He also charted more than 150 singles across the Billboard Pop, R&B, and Country charts.

Question 9

Is the 'Unforgettable' duet with Natalie Cole authentic?

Accepted Answer

It is a posthumous studio creation. In 1991 Natalie Cole recorded a new vocal that was mixed with her father's earlier recording of 'Unforgettable', which he had originally sung in 1951. The resulting duet won seven Grammy Awards in 1992.

Question 10

Why is Nat King Cole significant beyond his music?

Accepted Answer

He hosted The Nat 'King' Cole Show from 1956 to 1957, the first nationally broadcast US television variety show hosted by a Black American. He was also the top-selling act and only Black artist on Capitol Records in the 1940s.