Customer Reviews

Nat King Cole

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is the most insightful, deeply moving biography of an American musician I have ever read. The first sixty pages is a gripping account of how the sixteen-year-old Nat Cole, wunderkind jazz pianist, found himself triumphing in a "battle of the bands" against his idol, bandleader Earl Hines in 1935. Epstein recreates the music and atmosphere of Chicago's golden age of jazz with sparkling detail in sentences that flow like Cole's piano riffs. He follows Cole close-up through two marriages and endless career challenges as he forms the first jazz trio and rises to fame, against all odds, to become the first black to have his own radio show, his own network T.V. show. And from the first scenes to the last, where 45-year old Cole is dying of cancer, caught between his loyalty to his wife Maria and his passion for his 20-year-old Swedish mistress, the narrative pace never lets up. Cole was an American hero of epic proportions. In capturing his amazing life in words Epstein proves himself a master storyteller.

I found this book to be revealing and enlightening about one of my favorite singers. Nat King Cole had a voice like no other before or since. With his calm demeanor you'd never think that he endured so much hell in his life. No wonder he smoked as much as he did. This book is one of the best I've ever read about the life of Nat Cole, but like some of the previous reviewers, I found little errors, too. I also felt that it had a strong sympathetic bent towards Nat's widow Maria, as if she were the heroine of the story. That isn't any wonder; this book was written in full cooperation with the Cole family, so I'm sure Mrs. Cole would have had to come out of it looking good, or she wouldn't have cooperated. Also Epstein says that shortly before Cole died, that he and his wife reconciled after Nat's torrid love affair with a twenty year old chorus girl. According to many other sources, though, they never did reconcile their differences. But this is what Maria Cole wanted people to believe. But still this book is very interesting. It reads like a juicy novel, but it's better, because it's a true story. It's engaging and will definitely hold your attention. You will feel like you knew the man personally. For anyone who loves Nat and his music, this book is a must.

From the moment I stumbled upon this book in the Library and read a few chapters, I was mesmorized by the detail captured in my uncles life. I think that when I started reading the book I was doing so with a curious and critical intent to see just how close the author would be to describing the realities of my grandfathers household. Moreso, the atmospher in which my father and his brothers and sister grew-up.

Needless to say, this book was an awakening for me. Over the past 10 years I have been trying to gather information on Nat's begining, but talking to my dad (IKE) and my uncle (Freddy), whom both are younger than Nat, the details have been very sketchy to say the least.

I am very impressed with the flow of the book, more especially with the authors ability to add glamor, excitment and reality where needed.

There were a couple of places where facts were miss-stated, but overall GOOD JOB!

Lawrence Coles

I finally got around to reading Nat King Cole, and like the previous reviewer, I, too, caught a few mistakes such as the one about Elvis. At least Mr. Epstein did have the family's approval to write this book, and to be interviewed by him as well. Like most baby boomers, I grew up listening to NKC's music but never really knew much about the man other than the fact that his wife's name is Maria, his daughter is Natalie Cole & that he died of lung cancer at age 45. This book enlightens us on Nat King Cole not just as a singer and musician but as a man. I really felt for the Cole family when they were subjected to prejudice while moving into their home in Hancock Park. I also felt anger while reading of how a group of radicals attacked NKC while performing onstage in Alabama, planning to kidnap him. Mr. Epstein also periodically mentions the warnings about cigarette smoking throughout the book, as it is heavy smoking(several packs a day)that eventually killed NKC. The book is still highly recommended for all fans of one of the greatest singers of romance, bar none.

This biography lets us view this gentleman and his music from his early days on the Chicago jazz circuit to mega star status as a pop singer, film and television artist. Daniel Mark Epstein, the author has been thorough in his research. We meet Maria and Natalie and a litany of Nat's friends, JFK, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Joey Bishop, Bobby Darin Buddy Greco and George Shearing. There is even an item about Marilyn Monroe. Nat's public image was one of poise and elegance. The author captures the hidden side of Nat's personal turmoil and anxiety. Nat died at age forty-five. So young, so talented, and very very unforgettable. I can still almost hear his trio and his smooth vocals crooning "Blue Velvet", "When Sunny Gets Blue" and of course, "Unforgettable". I liked this book. If you get a chance, listen to John Pizzarelli's version of "Straighten Up and Fly Right", a Nat King Cole favorite. It's on John's CD, "Dear Mr Cole." I liked this book and the CD

I enjoyed this book very much. I got into Nat King Cole's music when I was in my mid-teens (late '70s-early '80s) because I am a fan of Natalie's as well...There was a lot of info in the book that I did not know, so it was very enlightening to read something so detailed about Nat's life. He was not portrayed as a saint or a martyr, but merely as a man who had his faults, just like any other man. And you still end up liking him. I gave it four stars because I had problems with how Epstein interpreted several of Nat's songs, which I think had more to do with his personal opinion of them than what they actually meant (re: the "Nature Boy" and "Straighten Up and Fly Right" stories), and little errors that should have been caught during the final edit (like the one about "Capitol Records, the home of Elvis Presley" - hello, ELVIS NEVER RECORDED FOR CAPITOL). But for the most part, this book lets you get to know Nat Cole as he really was...Highly recommended.

Cole is an important pioneer in recent American cultural history. He believed in the power of the individual regardless of current trends, racist attitudes, social barriers. It's time he got his props. Good job.

Nat deserved a serious look at his life and this book is a noble attempt. On the whole, it's a nice balance of his life and his art. But there are too many stupid little mistakes that I caught, it makes me wonder how much more I missed. I'd be happy to help fix future editions of this book! Examples: Elvis Presley never recorded for Capitol (he recorded for RCA) Oscar Moore went left the trio top play with his brother's band. Epstein makes this sound like a step down into obscurity. He doesn't even mention the while white-hot member, Charles Brown.

This book was extremely long. I skipped through parts of the first half. It got interesting to me during the second half. I was disappointed with the selection of photos. I wanted to see more. The writer did cover a lot of information. The research was well done. Yes, I would recommend it to anyone interested in Nat King Cole.

this Man is a True African-American Pioneer.his voice is like silk.nobody has sung as smooth as him since.he was one of a kind Genius.this book talks about the highs&Lows of his Life Growing up and until his Untimely Death.his Importance to the Civil Rights Struggle&Movement.this Book comes correct.but no matter what the Good or the Bad this Man was A Class Act.this is a Essential Book for any fan of Music.