Nat King Cole
FameRank: 9

"Nathaniel Adams Coles", known professionally as "Nat King Cole", was an American singer who first came to prominence as a leading jazz pianist. He was widely noted for his soft, baritone voice, which he used to perform in big band and jazz genres.

Cole was one of the first African Americans to host a television variety show, The Nat King Cole Show, and has maintained worldwide popularity since his death from lung cancer in February 1965.

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I'm a businessman. I work for business people. The kind of thing they say is: Now we've sold a lot of records, let's sell some more.

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A Raisin in the Sun.

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I've worked too long and too hard to play in some little joint for $65 a night, ... In New York, jazz fans support you. In Atlanta, unless you're booked in a club where folks can drive up to the front door, you're out of luck. If people have to look for parking, forget it.

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Well, I'm always introduced as Nat Cole's brother, Ike Cole's brother and Natalie Cole's uncle. So I added a few others. I'm also Lionel Cole's father. I'm Crystal Cole's father. I'm the Cole nobody knows.

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I am famous because I am an African American jazz artist.

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I felt something impossible for me to explain in words. Then when they took her away, it hit me. I got scared all over again and began to feel giddy. Then it came to me -- I was a father.

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He got it, man, ... Clay understands the music. I've been fortunate in my career. But it's a tough fight out there by yourself.

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Critics don't buy records. They get 'em free.

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