Elly Roberts reviews
Nat King Cole: The World Of Nat King Cole
Distributed by
EMI Records
- Cert:
- Cat.no: 5444719
- Running time: 130 minutes
- Year: 1999-2004
- Pressing: 2004
- Region(s): All, PAL
- Sound: Stereo, Dolby Digital 5.1, DTS 5.1
- Languages: English
- Subtitles: English, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish
- Widescreen: 16:9
- Disc Format: DVD 9
- Price: £15.99
- Rating: 10/10
- Extras:
Full length performance of Quizas, Quizas, Quizas (Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps)
by Omara Portuondo, Ibrahim Ferrer (Buena Vista Social Club) and Roberto Fonesca,
Extended interviews from The World of Nat King Cole, "Nat and Friends",
Film trailers of films starring Nat King Cole, China Gate and St.Luois Blues,
Nat's Rhiengold Beer radio jingle, Nat behind the camera (home movies),
40 Ways to Describe Nat
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.
Review & concert pics copyright © Elly Roberts, 2004-2010.
