Unforgettable: The Life and Mystique of Nat King Cole

by Gourse, Leslie

• ISBN13: 9780815410829
• ISBN10: 0815410824
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2000-11-01
• Publisher: Natl Book Network

Summary

This exhaustively researched biography of the great pianist and singer Nat King Cole delves into his storied musical career and life.

Table of Contents

Author's Note	ix
An Overview	xv
Nathaniel Adams Coles in Chicago	1	(19)
Hanging onto the Buzzard for Dear Life in California	20	(18)
The Trio Begins to Travel	38	(11)
Enter Carlos Gastel	49	(5)
Friends Witness the Rise	54	(4)
A Record Contract, and the Hits Begin	58	(7)
Merging Jazz and Pop and Climbing on the Roller Coaster	65	(9)
Enter the Strings	74	(8)
A Nonscandal	82	(8)
Tying the Knot	90	(5)
1948--A Year with Nearly Everything	95	(12)
``Nature Boy''	107	(6)
Nat Begins Family Feuds with the Jazz Critics and His Own Jazz Trio	113	(10)
The Midas Touch of the ``King''	123	(11)
Nat King Cole and His Trio on the Road--and Another Transition	134	(11)
``Mona Lisa'' Ensures a Luxurious Life-style for the Coles and Their New Baby, ``Sweetie''	145	(6)
But the IRS Nearly Takes It All	151	(8)
An Apology at Carnegie Hall	159	(6)
Winning the Battle in Las Vegas	165	(5)
Capping Life at the Top in Pop in 1954 and 1955, Cole Records After Midnight, a Classic Jazz Album	170	(6)
Even If You Can Go Home Again, Perhaps You Shouldn't	176	(5)
A Chops-Breaking Ground-Breaking on Television	181	(6)
A King at the Copacabana	187	(7)
Exploring New Horizons	194	(5)
The Coles Adopt a Son, as Nat Searches for a Way to the Broadway Stage	199	(10)
Twins Surprise the Coles	209	(4)
``Ramblin' Rose''	213	(6)
Lung Cancer	219	(11)
An Afterword: A Panorama of Nat Cole's Brothers and Sisters and the Second Generation of the Cole Musical Dynasty	230	(14)
Bibliography	244	(2)
A Discographical Survey	246	(51)
Index	297