The World Of Nat King Cole - Nat 'King' Cole DVD Review
DVD Review
Experience the life and times of the world's first black pop star on this thoroughly entertaining 130 minute definitive documentary.Born Nathaniel Adams Coles,his father moved the family north from Montgomery Alabama in 1923,during the huge exodus to the Mecca of music-Chicago.Cole experienced the highs and lows of a remarkable showbiz career.Overcoming racial bigotry,a broken marriage,he went on to conquer the world.Behind the mild mannered persona,there was a man with a steely determination to succeed-at all cost.During the programme we get interviews with family-second wife Maria,daughters Natalie and Timolin.Friends and colleagues such as Les Paul, Jack Costanzo and Ertha Kitt,they lift the lid on his personal and private life;and it's quite revealing.Musicians Jools Holland,BB King,Carlos Santana,Stevie Wonder and Quincy Jones throw-in their opinions.His rise to fame,from church organist to world stage is looked at in great detail,with black and white stills and film footage from a variety of sources.There's also some early colour sequences from a private archive.-the shots from his honeymoon in Acapulco are wonderful Along the way we discover the development from maestro pianist to singing sensation.It came as no surprise to them that he became a mega-star,as the man was ultra-talented.He invented the jazz trio-The King Cole Trio,during the Wall Street Crash,and made a decent living during a difficult national period.His new format took Chicago by storm,even challenging his hero Earl Hines to a contest in the
'Battle Of Rhythm' which turned out to be a tie.This elevated Cole to national hero,and his career took off.At one gig,the promoter encouraged him to sing,so he added another dimension to his repertoire,for which he eventually traded-in his jazz background.The greater his success,the more he encountered prejudice,particularly when he got his shot at hosting his own TV show-a first in the States.It apparently failed in the end because of racist sponsors.Further confrontations occurred when he hit Los Angeles as he moved into the 'rich belt' of Hancock Park,but he stuck it out.Record sales for Capitol Records enabled the company to literally build a new HQ from the proceeds.Always looking for new challenges,he appeared in films,did radio jingles,but his masterstroke was to record in several European languages,which increased his already massive fanbase.He even appeared and sang on Japanese television.In 1964 he was diagnosed with cancer and died a year later.
It's like Carlos Santana said"Class sells"- and how.
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