Nat King Cole

thumb|right|Straighten up and fly rightStraighten up and fly rightCool down, papa, don't you blow your top. thumb|right|I … started out to become a jazz pianist; in the meantime I started singing and I sang the way I felt and that's just the way it came out. Nat "King" Cole (born Nathaniel Adams Coles; 17 March 1919 – 15 February 1965) was an American singer, jazz pianist and actor. Quotes I felt something impossible for me to explain in words. Then when they took her away, it hit me. I got scared all over again and began to feel giddy. Then it came to me— I was a father." Ebony (March 1950) Madison Avenue is afraid of the dark. Comment on why his hit NBC TV show couldn't get a national sponsor. (1956) Quoted in article at the Songwriters Hall of Fame I … started out to become a jazz pianist; in the meantime I started singing and I sang the way I felt and that's just the way it came out. Spoken in VOA interview (c. 1956) broadcast on Pop Chronicles Show 22 - Smack Dab in the Middle on Route 66: A skinny dip in the easy listening mainstream. Also on cassette 3, side B of Gilliland John w:John Gilliland Pop Chronicles the 40's: The Lively Story of Pop Music in the 40's 978-1-55935-147-8 31611854 1994 Mind's Eye audiobook Pop Chronicles Interviews #131 - Nat "King" Cole. I'm a businessman. I work for business people. The kind of thing they say is: Now we've sold a lot of records, let's sell some more. British interview (1963) I'm a musician at heart, I know I'm not really a singer. I couldn't compete with real singers. But I sing because the public buys it. As quoted in Nat King Cole (1990) by James Haskings Critics don't buy records. They get 'em free. As quoted in Nat King Cole (1990) by James Haskings «There's just one thing I can't understand. My income tax!”».Nat King Cole at Todomusica.org Lyrics A buzzard took the monkey for a ride in the airThe monkey thought that everything was on the squareThe buzzard tried to throw the monkey off his backBut the monkey grabbed his neck and said — "Now listen, Jack..." "Straighten up and fly rightStraighten up and fly rightStraighten up and fly rightCool down, papa, don't you blow your top." "Straighten Up And Fly Right" (1937) written with Irving Mills. The buzzard told the monkey "You're chokin' meRelease your hold and I'll set you free"The monkey looked the buzzard right dead in the eye and said"Your story's touching but it sounds like a lie." "Straighten Up And Fly Right" (1937) written with Irving Mills. External links Nat King Cole, The Early Years Songwriters Hall of Fame All Things Considered (18 December 1999) NPR soundfile (Realplayer) References Category:1919 births Category:1965 deaths Category:African Americans Category:Jazz musicians Category:Pianists from the United States Category:Guitarists from the United States Category:Jazz singers Category:Actors from Alabama Category:People from Chicago Category:Singer-songwriters from the United States Category:Television personalities Category:Episcopalians from the United States Category:Organists from the United States