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Tea for Two

Nat King Cole

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Everyone knows Nat King Cole the popular crooner.

His "Christmas Song" (...'chestnuts roasting on an open fire') could well be the most beloved secular Christmas song on the planet.

Fewer people are familiar with Nat King Cole, jazz master.

Cole was born in Alabama, but moved to Chicago with his family as a child. He began performing at 4 years old and was one of the graduates of the legendary Captain Walter Dyett at DuSable High School on Chicago's South Side.

As a popular singer and songwriter, Cole was a major money maker for Capital Records (Some say revenues from his recordings financed the building of the label's headquarters on Hollywood and Vine in Los Angeles.)

Cole appeared in the first "Jazz at the Philharmonic" which was took place in 1944 in LA. Founder and producer Norman Granz reportedly put it on with $300 in borrowed money.

Cole popularized jazz trios at a time when big bands were still in full flower. He appeared as the pianist under the name "Aye Guy" (for contractual reasons) on one of the great trio recordings of all time, "The Lester Young Buddy Rich Trio."

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