Nat “King” Cole

“I may be helping to bring harmony between people through my music.“

  • Name: Nathaniel Adams Coles (stage name: Nat “King” Cole)
  • Born: March 17th, 1919
  • Died: February 16th, 1965
  • From: Montgomery, Alabama, US
  • Occupation: Musician
  • Awards: Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Song (1959), Golden Globe Special Achievement Award (1963), Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award (1990), Grammy Hall of Fame

Nat King Cole was an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. Cole was a prominent and successful mainstream musician in the mid-1900s, during a time where Jim Crow laws still existed in the South. His singing style inspired a lot of musicians, and his Civil Rights activism. Cole would refuse to perform to segregated crowds and played an important role in the March on Washington in 1963.

Handout

To download the Handout:

  1. Click on the image
  2. Right-click and select Save Image As…
  3. Print
  4. Write a description on the line and decorate.
  5. Cut out and use for a selfie to share on our social media page.
  6. Download a card and envelope template and write about an idea this leader inspires.
  7. Check out more resources and ways to celebrate MLK can be found on these links as well as our official  Day of Service opportunity to volunteer.

This ASI Special event is an ongoing volunteer-led project made by people like you, using multiple educational sources regularly being revised and updated. We would love your assistance if you or your group would like to get involved, learn more here.