Nat King Cole was the first black man to host a nationally televised variety show and he has been called “the Jackie Robinson of TV.” The show aired on NBC from 1956 to 1957, despite the fact that the program hosted some of the biggest stars at the time.
NBC was unable to secure national sponsors for the show due to fear that their products would be boycotted by disgruntled Southerners. It was a brief, yet important event in modern American history. Cole was not only the highest-paid black person in America of the time, but he was also one of the most successful entertainers in the world.
“Some people wanted him [Nat ‘King’ Cole] to be a stereotype from ‘Amos and Andy,’ but he was too dignified for that,” WABE’s Jazz Host, H. Johnson said in 2019. “He was an artist, highly educated, very intelligent and you can’t subjugate that.”
Nathaniel Adams Coles (March 17, 1919 – February 15, 1965), was born in Montgomery, Alabama. Known professionally as Nat King Cole, was a singer, jazz pianist, and actor. He recorded over 100 songs that became hits on the pop charts. His trio was the model for small jazz ensembles that followed. Cole also acted in films and on television and performed on Broadway. He was the father of singer-songwriter Natalie Cole (1950–2015).
On November 5, 1956, The Nat ‘King’ Cole Show debuted on NBC. The variety program was one of the first hosted by an African American. The program started at a length of fifteen minutes but was increased to a half-hour in July 1957. Rheingold Beer was a regional sponsor, but a national sponsor was never found. The show was in trouble financially despite efforts by NBC, Harry Belafonte, Tony Bennett, Ella Fitzgerald, Eartha Kitt, Frankie Laine, Peggy Lee, and Mel Tormé. Cole decided to end the program. The last episode aired on December 17, 1957. Commenting on the lack of sponsorship, Cole said shortly after its demise, “Madison Avenue is afraid of the dark.”
Plan now to attend the Pops Series event, Nat King Cole at 100 with The Nashville Symphony, at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center. Performances are Thursday, April 28 at 7:00 pm; Friday, April 29 at 8:00 pm; and Saturday, April 30 at 8:00 pm.
This celebration of Nat King Cole’s legacy features your Nashville Symphony, a full band, and special guest artists performing some of his best-known songs. Watch historic video footage of this iconic, groundbreaking artist and thrill to some of the greatest pop melodies ever written, including Unforgettable, Route 66, Mona Lisa, When I Fall In Love, Embraceable You, and L-O-V-E.
Performers for the event are the Nashville Symphony, Terri Lyne Carrington, Music Director & Drums (NEA Jazz Master And Three-Time Grammy® Award Winner); Gerald Clayton, Piano (Six-Time Grammy® Nominee); Ben Williams, Bass (Grammy® Award-Winner); Mark Whitfield, Guitar / Phillip Attmore, Tap Dance/Vocals; Patti Austin, Vocals (Grammy® Award-Winner); Ryan Shaw, Vocals (Three-Time Grammy® Nominee); Will Downing, Vocals (Grammy® Nominee).
