Nat King Cole: the reluctant vocalist

1937: Number 10 in our series of the 50 key events in the history of jazz musicIn 1937, Nat King Cole and his trio started a residency at the Sewanee Inn, an LA nightclub. Cole was a sprightly pianist who, at this point, had not sung professionally, but legend has it that a big-spending client drunkenly badgered him to sing. Cole reluctantly acquiesced with a version of Sweet Lorraine, showcasing a honey-smooth baritone that would overshadow his pianistic skills. Since then plenty of talented in...

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