The Legacy of The Nat King Cole Show

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After the early success of American Bandstand, other television networks were eager to introduce similar variety programs to appeal to their audiences. The format of skits, entertainment acts, and musical performances kept viewers captivated. In 1956, The Nat King Cole Show made its debut on November 5th, introducing the eponymous star as the first black man to host a program on national TV.

Before he was an award-winning singer and jazz musician, Nathaniel Coles was born in Montgomery, Alabama on this day in 1919. The family soon moved to Chicago, where Cole’s father took a position as a minister. The family spent a lot of time in the church, where Cole found his passion for music. In high school, the young musician would sit outside of clubs to hear the sounds of his favorite jazz musicians play.

After dropping out of school, he and his brother went on the road to perform in the musical Shuffle Along, where he met his eventual wife, Nadine. Upon his return to Chicago, he started a trio called the King Cole Trio which gained local recognition, and materialized into a contract with Capital Records.

Between 1943 and 1950, the “All For You” singer gained widespread popularity with the release of several singles. His single “Mona Lisa” spent five consecutive weeks at #1 on the Billboard Top 100 in 1950. The song would also go on to win the Oscar for Best Original Song on the soundtrack of Captain Carey, U.S.A.

Cole’s career success bolstered his recognition as a household name. He became one of the highest paid African-American entertainers at that point in history. In the early 1950s, studio executives approached him with interest in having him host a variety show for NBC. The singer accepted the position and The Nat King Cole Show was born. Although the history-making show had high production value and A-list guest stars, it struggled to find ad sponsors as corporations were concerned that hitching their wagon to an African-American show would alienate white customers.

In December 1957, after a 14-month run, the “Unforgettable” songbird chose to end the show, famously saying, “Madison Avenue is afraid of the dark.” Though it was only on air for a year, the program found support with major names such as Ella Fitzgerald, Tony Bennett, Peggy Lee, Jane Russel, and Harry Belafonte. The lack of fiscal support from national brands was one act in a lifetime of racist experiences Cole faced throughout his career.

During his early career, while living in Los Angeles, active KKK members threatened Cole for buying a home in Hancock Park. In the 1950s, multiple men in Alabama attempted to kidnap the performer while on stage at a concert. In the later years of his life, choosing to face this racism head on, Cole joined the civil rights movement, including the historic 1963 March on Washington.

While his show may not have reached commercial success, the overall impact of Cole’s show was long overdue progress for the African-American community. In the decades that followed, shows like The Jeffersons and The Cosby Show would become cross-culturally and commercially successful programs depicting African-American families. Although there is still progress to be made, Cole’s pioneering remains a major part of the fight for civil rights and black representation on television.

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