From the MCRFB NEWS archive: 1965
REMEMBERING NAT KING COLE
NATION’S STATIONS PAYS TRIBUTE: AIRS HIS SONGS
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NEW YORK — Radio stations across the nation are paying their respects to the man who has provided them with many years of fine programming.
A few of the representative tributes aired last week took the form of “Nat King Cole Day,” at WLIB, New York. Each station personality featured a different type of Cole music, his religious songs, popular ballads, r &b hits and his contributions to jazz.
WIP, Philadelphia, presented a tribute program produced in co-operation with the American Cancer Society.
WHN, New York, one of the first stations to salute Cole, played a different Nat Cole selection every half hour. The Storer outlet on Feb. 3 urged its listeners to send the then gravely ill performer letters and cards of encouragement.
Billboard February 27, 1965
HOLLYWOOD — Very few people in show business knew how seriously ill Nat Cole, who died last week, actually was. The internationally renowned entertainer died nine weeks after entering the hospital for treatment of a bronchial condition.
One of the last times Cole did anything in the public realm occurred Thursday (11) before his death. He was listening to satirist Dick Whittington on KGIL and when Whittington couldn’t remember the name of an actor, Cole phoned him the answer.
Whittington, shocked that Cole was calling, tried to air the conversation but the station’s beeper phone equipment wasn’t working, so he related what Cole said to his afternoon listeners. Under questioning Cole said he was progressing nicely and hoped to be home soon. A short time later Mrs. Cole called to support Cole’s
contention and Whittington was able to air her remarks.
The entertainer was kept secluded in his hospital room but had gone for a car ride the day before his death. Right up until his hospitalization Cole remained one of Capitol Records’ most successful performers. His singles and LP’s were steady chart items, his most recent being “Love,” “I Don’t Want to Be Hurt Anymore” and “My Fair Lady.”
Cole, who would have been 46 March 17, had been with Capitol over 20 years, selling some 9,000,000 albums, worth $50,000,000. His first hit for the label was “Straighten Up And Fly Right” and he was known for such ballads as “Nature Boy,” “Mona Lisa,” “Red Sails In The Sunset,” “Unforgettable,” “Love You For Sentimental Reasons,” “Too Young” and “Ramblin’ Rose.”
Cole began his career as a jazz pianist, moving to Chicago in the early 1930’s from his home in Montgomery, Ala. He came to California in 1937 and during an engagement at the Swanee Inn in Hollywood with his trio, picked up the nickname “King Cole.” One night a patron insisted that Cole sing so the
pianist complied and remained a singer forever after. From 1938 until 1943 Cole worked on the Coast until he met up with Carlos Gasset, who became his agent.
Gastel brought Cole to Capitol where his records brought him national prominence. Gastet and Cole split up in 1963. In 1962 Cole launched his own record label, KC Records, which never got off the ground.
With a reported annual income of $500,000, Cole was one of the top night club performers in all show business. The only area his being a Negro affected him was in TV. NBC carried a show emceed by Cole from 1956 -1957 but Southern opposition scared sponsors away. He made up for the embarrassment by guesting on all the prestige variety programs. END
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(Information and news source: Billboard; February 27, 1965)
