(Born March 17, 1919, Montgomery, Ala., U.S.—Died Feb. 15, 1965, Santa Monica, Calif.)
American musician who first came to prominence as a jazz pianist but who reached enormous popularity with his warm, relaxed, somewhat breathy-voiced ballad singing.
Cole grew up in Chicago. In 1937, after touring with a black musical revue, he began playing in jazz clubs in Los Angeles. There he formed the King Cole Trio, with guitarist Oscar Moore and bassist Wesley Prince, in 1939. With his compact, syncopated backup chords and clean, spare, melodic phrases, Cole emphasized the piano as a solo, rather than a rhythm, instrument in his jazz arrangements. Commercial success, however, came with his singing. After "Straighten Up and Fly Right" (1943), Cole gradually abandoned jazz piano for popular vocals. Among his other hits were "Nature Boy," "Mona Lisa," "Too Young," and "Unforgettable." Cole toured internationally and appeared in motion pictures.
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