Nat King Cole Born Today

March 17, 2008. Posted by Joshua Jackson.

Add new comment | Filed under: Birthdays, capitol recordings, danny boy, education, foggy day, Jazz Osmosis, king cole trio, luck of the irish, Masters, mosaic records, nat cole, nat king cole, nat king cole trio, nature boy, param name, rhapsody, scholarship money, smoky voice, tea, Video, www youtube

As the luck of the Irish would have it, Nathaniel Adams Cole , aka Nat King Cole, was born on this date. Most people know him more as the singer of "Nature Boy" than of "Danny Boy."
I think I love Nat Cole's piano playing as much as, if not more than, I love his smoky voice. Years ago, I spent college scholarship money on the 18-CD set on Mosaic Records, The Complete Capitol Recordings of the Nat King Cole Trio. 349 songs from 1942-1961. Now out of print...
I suppose that technically counted as an education expense, right?
Anyway, here's a video of Nat Cole playing "Tea for Two." Listen for the "Foggy Day" quote in his introduction, and to his "Rhapsody in Blue" reference in his solo. - Josh

© 2008 WBGO

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