Nat King Cole is undoubtedly one of the greatest and most influential jazz singers of all time. Passing away at the young age of 42, many still pay homage to Cole’s incredible jazz legacy, as his music transcends generations. To celebrate his birthday on March 17, here are some of his best songs to cherish one of the best jazz singers in the post war era.
The Best Nat King Cole Songs
Undoubtedly a legend on the piano, Cole’s vocals were simply jaw dropping. Not to mention the rhythm of his songs had a catchy tune to them, which made them so much better to listen to. Here are some of his standout hits that you can play to celebrate the 101th birthday of this legend.
Sweet Lorraine
Initially sung by Mitchell Parish and Cliff Burwell, this song very much jump-started the incredible singing career of Nat King Cole. While starting out as a pianist with the King Cole Trio in clubs, audience members requested to hear his voice. Setting the crowd ablaze with his phenomenal voice, he soon got the chance to record his song in a Hollywood studio. His voice matched his incredible piano skills and instruments of the King Cole Trio.
Day In, Day Out
"Day In, Day Out" is another popular song covered by the critically acclaimed singer. Originally crafted in 1939 by Johnny Mercer and Rube Bloom, Nat King Cole sang this particular song at one of his shows. This time only focusing on his singing, Nat stretches all of his chords to give one of the best performances he has ever given. The song itself is so popular that many other musicians across various genres have also covered it, including myself! You can listen to my rendition of this incredible song on my album, Yesterday Once More.
Unforgettable
Another incredible hit by the jazz legend, "Unforgettable" is an incredible serenade from 1951 written by Irvin Gordon. The slow violin along with Nat's deep and hypnotic voice makes the song incredibly soothing. The slow chords of this particular song allowed Nat King Cole to show off his incredible range of voice. The most famous version of this particular song is one recorded almost 25 years after his passing. Recorded posthumously with his daughter, Natalie Cole, the song won three Grammy awards and went platinum seven times!
Smile
One of his many incredible classics, "Smile" is a song – considered by many – to be the height of his singing ability. The lyrics and the incredible jazz band compliment the exquisite style that Nat was aiming for. The song could put a smile on anyone’s face, as the lyrics touch the heart and his voice touches the soul. As the orchestra swells, Nat gets a chance to really stretch his musical talent!
The first two lyrics of the song are especially heartwarming, as Nat sings: “Smile though your heart is aching” and “smile even though it’s breaking.” This song is so popular, in fact, that many artists have covered it throughout various genres. You can also listen to this song combined with Jimmy Durante’s "Make Someone Happy" in my album!
Nat King Cole was one of the best jazz singers of his time. His mesmerizing voice, combined with his magical piano skills, made for some of the best jazz performances in history. You can pay homage to his amazing legacy by listening to these incredible songs!