Nat King Cole
Jazz Singer
Jazz pianist and baritone vocalist whose trio released the classic Christmas song "Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire."
After listening to Earl Hines, Nat was inspired to call himself Nat King. One of his first groups was called the Nat Cole Swingers.
He was one of the first African-Americans to have his own show when he became the host of The Nat King Cole Show.
He married Nadine Robinson on January 1937; after their divorce on March 22, 1948, he married Maria Cole on March 28, 1948. Together they had five children.
His daughter is Natalie Cole, who is also a singer.