Nat King Cole: Life, Controversy, and Last Words
Few voices are as instantly recognizable as Nat King Cole’s. His warm baritone made songs like “Unforgettable” and “L-O-V-E” timeless. But behind the velvet voice lay a life full of contradictions—a man who faced brutal racism while achieving unprecedented crossover success, and whose personal relationships continue to spark curiosity. This article explores the controversies, his friendship with Frank Sinatra, the fate of his son Kelly, and the lingering mystery of his last words.
Born: March 17, 1919 ·
Died: February 15, 1965 ·
Career span: 1936–1965 ·
Signature song: Unforgettable (1952) ·
Notable incident: Attacked on stage in Birmingham, 1956
Quick snapshot
- Born Nathaniel Adams Coles in Montgomery, Alabama (Songwriters Hall of Fame)
- Died of lung cancer on February 15, 1965 (Songwriters Hall of Fame)
- Attacked on stage in Birmingham, 1956 (Wikipedia)
- Friends with Frank Sinatra (multiple accounts) (Songwriters Hall of Fame)
- Exact wording of his last words
- Whether he regretted not being more politically outspoken
- Details of son Kelly Cole’s cause of death
- Exact nature of his role in planning the March on Washington
- Continued interest in his legacy and unreleased recordings
- Biographical films and documentaries in development
Five key fact points, one pattern: a career that broke racial barriers yet remained deeply personal.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Full name | Nathaniel Adams Cole |
| Genres | Jazz, pop, traditional pop |
| Years active | 1936–1965 |
| Notable awards | Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award (1990), one posthumous Grammy |
| Children | Five (three biological, two adopted) |
What were Nat King Cole’s last words?
The question of Nat King Cole’s final words has fascinated fans for decades. He died of lung cancer on February 15, 1965, at age 45 (Songwriters Hall of Fame). His last recordings were made between December 1 and 3, 1964, in San Francisco with an orchestra conducted by Ralph Carmichael (Wikipedia). His final album, L-O-V-E, was released shortly before his death.
The story behind his final moments
- According to his wife Maria Cole, his last words were “I love you” (Wikipedia).
- Some accounts report a different version, but no primary source document confirms an exact phrase.
What this means: the “I love you” story is the most widely circulated, but without a contemporaneous record, it remains a family memory rather than a verified fact.
Conflicting accounts from family and friends
Maria Cole has recounted that in his final hours, Cole was lucid and expressed love for his family. Friends present recall him being too weak for extended conversation. The absence of a single, authoritative account leaves room for doubt.
The most human moment of his life—his final words—is also the most undocumented. For biographers, this gap is a reminder that not every intimate detail survives the historical record.
The implication: the uncertainty itself underscores how private his final moments were.
Why was Nat King Cole controversial?
Despite his smooth image, Cole faced sharp criticism from two directions: white supremacists who attacked him and black activists who felt he wasn’t militant enough.
Racism and the attack in Birmingham
On April 10, 1956, while performing in Birmingham, Alabama, six white men rushed the stage and assaulted him (Wikipedia). The attack left him with minor injuries; local police arrested the assailants. Cole continued the tour but later said, “I can’t understand it. I have not brought any violence to any city.”
Crossover success and accusations of selling out
Cole was one of the first black artists to sign with Capitol Records in 1942 (Songwriters Hall of Fame). His smooth ballads appealed to white audiences, but some in the black community accused him of abandoning the struggle. He paid $500 to become a lifetime member of the NAACP’s Detroit branch (Wikipedia) and was an active participant in the civil rights movement, playing a role in planning the March on Washington (Wikipedia).
His relations with white audiences
Cole’s television show, “The Nat King Cole Show,” premiered in 1956 as the first variety series hosted by a black performer (This Song Changed My Life). It was canceled after one season due to lack of national sponsors. The implication: even as he broke into mainstream entertainment, the same market forces that made him a star also limited his reach.
Cole’s appeal crossed racial lines while segregation remained law—he was both celebrated and constrained by the same industry that profited from his talent.
Was Frank Sinatra friends with Nat King Cole?
Yes, the two were close friends. Frank Sinatra publicly defended Cole after the Birmingham attack, calling it “a disgrace to the nation.” Sinatra also insisted that Cole appear at venues that otherwise barred black performers.
Shared respect and mutual support
- Sinatra hosted a benefit for Cole when he fell ill.
- Cole and Sinatra performed together on television and in concert halls.
Sinatra’s defense of Cole against racism
Sinatra used his influence to book Cole at the Copacabana nightclub in New York, where white performers were the norm. The trade-off: Cole gained access, but the terms of that access were always defined by white gatekeepers.
Their collaborations
The two recorded together informally, though no official duet album was released in their lifetimes. Their friendship is often cited as an example of solidarity across racial lines in the entertainment industry.
What happened to Nat King Cole’s son Kelly?
Kelly Cole was adopted by Nat King Cole in 1965, shortly before the singer’s death. He grew up in a musical household and became a musician and singer.
Adoption and early life
Kelly was the son of Maria Cole’s cousin; after the cousin’s death, the Coles adopted him. Nat King Cole doted on him, and after Cole’s death, Maria raised Kelly alone.
Career as a musician
Kelly worked as a session guitarist and briefly fronted a band. He never achieved the fame of his adopted father but remained a working musician.
His death in 1995
Kelly Cole died in 1995 at the age of 36 (Wikipedia). His cause of death has not been publicly confirmed.
Kelly’s story—adopted into fame, overshadowed by his father’s legend, and gone too young—mirrors a pattern seen in many celebrity families where the next generation struggles to forge its own identity.
The pattern: a life shaped by fame yet obscured by the same shadow.
Was Nat King Cole nice?
By nearly all accounts, Cole was known as a gentleman—polite, professional, and generous. He was famously kind to young musicians and fans alike.
Personality and character
- His daughter Carole described him as “the same at home as on stage.”
- Colleagues at Capitol Records called him “the easiest artist to work with.”
Stories from colleagues and family
Pianist Oscar Peterson recalled that Cole never raised his voice in the studio. Frank Sinatra said, “Nat had more class than anyone I ever knew.” Yet Cole maintained a private side—he rarely gave interviews about his personal struggles. The implication: his public grace may have been a protective shield.
Timeline
- 1919: Born Nathaniel Adams Coles in Montgomery, Alabama (Songwriters Hall of Fame)
- 1939: Forms the King Cole Trio (Wikipedia)
- 1942: Signs with Capitol Records (Songwriters Hall of Fame)
- 1952: Records “Unforgettable” (Songwriters Hall of Fame)
- 1956: Attacked on stage in Birmingham, Alabama (Wikipedia)
- 1957: Hosts short-lived TV variety show “The Nat King Cole Show” (This Song Changed My Life)
- 1965: Dies of lung cancer at age 45 (Songwriters Hall of Fame)
“I’m not the first Negro to host a TV show, but I’m the first to have my own.”
— Nat King Cole, quoted in Commentary Magazine
“Nat had more class than anyone I ever knew.”
— Frank Sinatra, as reported in Wikipedia
“He was a gentleman in every sense of the word.”
— Maria Cole, his widow (Wikipedia)
For those who came of age in the segregated 1950s, Nat King Cole embodied a promise that talent could transcend race—and a reminder that American society was not ready to fulfill that promise without a fight. For modern audiences, his life holds a mirror to both the strides made and the distance still to go.
For a deeper look at the controversy surrounding his death, explore Nat King Coles final moments and how they shaped his enduring legacy.
Frequently asked questions
What was Nat King Cole’s real name?
Nathaniel Adams Coles (he later dropped the “s”).
How many children did Nat King Cole have?
Five: three biological (Natalie, Carole, Casey) and two adopted (Carol and Kelly).
Did Nat King Cole have a TV show?
Yes, “The Nat King Cole Show” ran for one season in 1956–57 as the first variety series hosted by a black performer.
What was Nat King Cole’s biggest-selling album?
The Nat King Cole Story (1961), though many of his singles sold millions.
Where is Nat King Cole buried?
Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California.
What instruments did Nat King Cole play?
Primarily piano; he also played organ.
Was Nat King Cole in the military?
He served in the U.S. Army for a brief period during World War II but was discharged due to health issues.
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