Nathaniel Adams Coles (March 17, 1919 – February 15, 1965), known professionally as
Nat King Cole, was an
American singer who first came to prominence as a leading
jazz pianist. He was widely noted for his soft,
baritone voice, which he used to perform in
big band and jazz genres and which he used to become a major force in popular music for three decades, producing many hit songs. Cole was one of the first African Americans to host a national television
variety show,
The Nat King Cole Show, and has maintained worldwide popularity since his death from
lung cancer in February 1965.