Some Facts about Nat King Cole - I posted some of the most interesting but u can peep the entire list by clicking the link
Nat King Cole had a grin that charmed both Black and white audiences—yet few people know the incredibly dark history that lay behind that playful smile.
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12. He Was Accused Of Being A Sellout
As Cole’s singing career took off, his music started to move from traditional jazz tunes to a more widely enjoyed genre, something more pop than classic jazz. It wasn’t anything like what we’d call pop today, but many jazz musicians still considered him a sellout, angrily insisting that he was now making music just for the money.
Cole seemed mostly unbothered by these accusations, and continued to feature jazz in his own ways, even creating an all-jazz album called
After Midnight as late as 1956. Cole’s new success was starting to open doors, some more taboo than others.
16. He Had An Affair
After a few electric interactions, Cole invited Maria to join him on the road. Maria knew he was married, and has even said she did feel guilty for spending so much time with Cole. She clearly didn’t feel
that guilty, because she only made one stop before joining Cole on the road—at a drugstore to get a toothbrush. Cole was head over heels—and
it spelled the end for his marriage.
21. His Neighbors Hated Him
The disgruntled residents of the neighborhood took up where the Klan left off, continuing to harass Cole and his wife. They poisoned Cole's dog, and even shot a bullet through a window when the Coles were out. Cole could have certainly moved to another location, but he seemed to have other ideas.
26. He Smoked Like A Chimney
Nat King Cole took up smokes at the age of 14. It wasn't long before the habit took its toll. When Cole showed up to a performance looking like death warmed up, a member of his team insisted that he go to the hospital. Doctors there immediately took him in and treated him for a bleeding ulcer. While he survived and would return to work, his doctors said that for him to heal completely he’d need to stop lighting up for at least three months.
So, Cole stopped gave up the habit...for exactly three months. The doctors wanted him to quit, but he had unique ideas about the habit.
30. He Was Attacked Onstage
Nat King Cole always felt at home on stage—but
one night in 1956, one of his performances took a chilling turn. While singing for an all-white audience, several white men attacked Cole. This attack followed the circulation of photos featuring Cole and white female fans, which enraged many in the white community.
Thankfully, law enforcement was on the scene and quickly apprehended the men. As it turns out, the men had much more sinister plans than a mere beating.
31. He Was Nearly Murdered
The authorities indicted six men for the incident, revealing that nearly 150 more men from Birmingham and other surrounding towns were in on the plan, which was ultimately to abduct and murder Cole. The experience must have frightened and shocked him. Cole noted that he didn’t understand why the men targeted him, as he wasn’t necessarily an active member of any civil rights protests or organizations.
However, Cole's response to the attack didn't exactly win him any friends in the Black community.
32. He Was Called An Uncle Tom
Cole denounced the incident, but he said he didn't hold anything against the men and was not “bitter” against them. This response was too diplomatic with many persons in the Black community. Thurgood Marshall, who would later become the first Black supreme court justice, called him an Uncle Tom and even satirically joked that Cole should perform with a banjo. And Marshall wasn’t the only person who spoke out against Cole.
34. He Became An Activist
Even though he would never perform in Alabama again, these losses seemed to inspire Cole. He began to actively engage in the civil rights fight, becoming an official member of the NAACP, boycotting segregated venues, and even helping to plan the March on Washington. Cole had his sights set on making a difference and using his opportunities to help the Black community—but the further he tried to go, the more resistance he would face.
45. He Had A Secret Lover
A few years before his hospitalization, in 1963, Cole was on the road with his show
Sights and Sound when he first encountered Gunilla Hutton, a young white dancer. He had been growing distant from Maria for some time, and was spending more time on the road and with Hutton. Before long, he fell out of love with his wife, and into love with his dancer.
This romance continued even into Cole’s final sickness, threatening his marriage.
The woman who he was having an affair with
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47. His Secret Lover Wanted Him To Herself
During these last months of Nat King Cole’s life, Hutton must have felt the need to be by his side, as she called Cole’s wife directly. Hutton told Maria about the extramarital relationship, and recommended that Maria divorce him. When Maria brought the situation to Cole, he confessed and officially ended his affair with Hutton. Many people make reconciliations when their days are numbered, but Cole expected something more.
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