Nat King Cole, made his last Gig at the Circle Star Theater in San Carlos Ca.I was working there at the time, and was able to spend a few minutes with him. those minutes , I will always treasure...
Wow, Kenneth , that must have been magical, although so sad...Ralph Carmichael was his arranger for the last several years of Nat’s life and he has shared a lot of stories with me! Nat is my biggest influence as a singer. What an otherworldly musician, singer and human being!
Absolutely sublime. A perfect marriage of songs and artists: the studly grace of Como, the steely beauty of Horne, both artists genuinely moved and mournful as they give a thoroughly elegant vocal tribute to the late Cole. And there are astonishing TV moments, like the a'cappella rendition of the 'Trinidad' song Lena does into with Perry's finger-tap percussion- and, of course, the stunning final 2-shot of them both doin' it at the end. More tears from a 46-year old male TV junkie. Thank you.
What a class performance from Perry & Lena. They never had to say Nats name just that it was for "a friend". He was an icon and his music will live forever.
+Lorraine Chandler Yes, he was. And truer words were never spoken. I think Como was a quiet, behind the scenes supporter who had gone through some rough political times as evidenced by her continuous appearance on his show.
This is simply a wonderful arrangement of a medley of songs made popular by by the incomparable Nat King Cole performed excellently by two of the greatest singers of that generation. Absolutely fantastic,
My late mother loved Nat King Cole.She named me after a NKC song,Sweet Lorraine.I was born in 1955.Perry C and Nat King Cole are two of my special favorite singers.
Nat was a trailblazer, for the community and for music in general. He crossed the barrier with ease and did it with a little diddy ☺️ what a lovely tribute and such beautiful talent to pay respects
This is from one of Perry's monthly "KRAFT MUSIC HALL" specials, probably March 4, 1965- because at that time, he usually appeared at the beginning of the month (on Thursdays), pre-empting "KRAFT SUSPENSE THEATER". Nat died on February 15th, so there would have been time for Perry and his staff to prepare a "proper" tribute to him....this is the black & white "kinnie" of the original color telecast.
I don't know if many people at the time realized what a rare, exquisitely magical and beautiful a piece like this by these two immensely talented and special artists was and is. Special people like this only come along every so often and, being artists, they channel something from another place that no other person could. Where can we experience beauty and class at this level on television today?
Wow. What a performance by both of them. And I've never been a big Lena Horne fan (ego) but here, wow. Right on the money. God bless them both. And Nat.
There were songs of Nat Cole that was well known and some not so well known. I learn something every day. That show was taped weeks after Cole's death.
@less01 "Calypso Blues" - a song Cole co-wrote, appeared on "The Nat King Cole Story" in 1961. Quite a moving tribute by two very relevant artists....RIP to them all. Music of each, lives on......
A great tribute to Nat "King" Cole, one of the huge selling singer's singers. He sold so many records that the Capitol records building in Hollywood that resembles a stack of LPs was know as the 'building that Nat Cole built". All 3 of these singers sing with such ease compared to today's hot-wired, arm-waving, grimacing singers. (no disrespect intended, just a comparison.) Still missing Nat Cole.
Perry and Mitch parted company, professionally, after the 1963-'64 season of "KRAFT MUSIC HALL" specials {Ayres went on to conduct "THE HOLLYWOOD PALACE"'s orchestra}- Nick Perito became Como's conductor for the rest of the "KRAFT" series, including this excerpt.
A wonderful eulogy in song to Nat King Cole. Remember, Nat King Cole's show was canceled because of ratings. "Jim Crow" South banned his show from airing! I am grateful his voice and piano playing have been preserved. Artists continue to honor Nat in song; see Diana Krall sing "Unforgettable".
I've never ever thought Lena Horne was much of a singer. Listening to this again reinforces mine and Frank Sinatra's opinion that "this broad was a lightweight" or something to that end. I adored this tribute though! Very very nice, as is anything with that handsome Mr. Como
Nat was one of the best and Perry Como was one of the best also. I wish this type of music would come back into the mainstream. You don't hear black or white singers with the voices of Lena Horne and Perry Como anymore. I loved Johnny Mathis whose voice is incomparable. Not picking on black singers but ALL singers do not have the true voices of these two.
You're probably right T. I was only 5 when this came out so I had no idea. But it was standard for stations, especially local ones, to erase video to save on costs. Ask Soupy Sales and Paul Winchell (thanks WNEW). And it took a BBC special to get colorization of a Nat cole performance.
+Reginald I Kelly Jr ...Nat "King" Cole and Perry Como were not label mates. Nat recorded for Capitol Records and Perry recorded for RCA Victor Records. The latter recorded for Decca Records before moving on to RCA Victor Records.
lena's chip came about during the war.she was doing a bunch of uso shows and they were strictly for white officers and this happened about three or four times.during this time she kept wondering how come there were no black GI'S in the audience.finally when black GI'S where allowed she took notice of the seating arrangements, but this time nazi pow's had seats in front of the black GI'S.she walked off stage and did the whole show in the rear seats just for the black GI'S.(gov't blacklisted her)
Sinatra and Lena got along until she was separated from her husband abd having an affair with Ray Ellis and then her husband was with sinatra and he had a heart attack and sinatra called her and she said said she would be there later and sinatra said "you will get your ass on the next plane..."
@tomayahokov Did you know that these show were ALL in beautiful NBC Living Color? They didn't save them, so all we have now is the Kinecsope version that looks like sh*t!
+BeatleD Evans It apparently had something to do with Lena's friendship with Sinatra's wife Ava Gardner. Lena & Ava became friends when they were both under contract to MGM & after Sinatra & Ava separated/divorced & she remained friends with Lena, Sinatra acted coolly towards her.
He didn't like her mainly for the reason Lizzie gave--he also didn't think much of her singing chops either. He simply adored Ella and Billie --cited Billie as an influence
@NYCguys2007 I will never be a fan of Ms. Horne's singing--that's a fact. I'm aware that he didn't care for her personally, I've read probably every book written about him....She wasn't everyone's cup of tea when it came to singing though. Lena Horne's looks had a LOT to do with her becoming popular--but IMO and others, she didn't have a great voice--it was ok at best. I give her props for using her looks and Lennie Hayton to get to where she got...but she was not a great singer
I'm a Bing guy (and by definition, also a Perry guy) with no dog in the fight, but it seems on various venues I've seen Lena, that she had sorta a "racial" chip on her shoulder; I can't confirm that, only after 55 years of appreciating Crooners, seen MYRIAD videos, read LP covers, books, etc, that Lena was a very competent singer in her own right, but I just get the feeling that before the Obama period, that she was on the front end of the "chip" I mentioned earlier, before Jessie & Rev. Al.
Como was the perfect host because he was dull -- he made the guest look good. Btw, he made fun of how 'boring' I'm not dissing him. He and Lena are perfect together, his steadiness calms down her intensity.
this whole lena looks and complextion thing is childish nonsense.there are many great female singers and lena was one of them and had a tremendous voice.by the way a strong black women.(see previous post)
Sinatra's rival? You have got to be on drugs, LMAO that's too funny to be for real! Yeah, she's always mentioned as Sinatra's rival-- nevermind Ella, Sarah or Nat or Perry-- yeah, it was Lena! What a joke, that man had NO rivals, least of all Lena Horne!
Son-- please stop. You're making a fool of yourself. Lena Horne didn't have a great voice, period. She "made it" based 90% on her LOOKS. Her talent could fill a thimble and I say that based on FACTS. Ella and Sarah made it based on their amazing talent and will forever be revered for that. Lena's looks and marrying Lennie Hayton are the 2 reasons we're even discussing her now. If she looked like Ethel Waters or Ella--please. She had no talent to speak of. Now, give it a rest.
Sinatra didn't like her as a person AND he didn't think much of her as a singer--no one did! He adored Ella, Sarah and Billie-- Lena's name is NOT in the same class as any of them--and YOU know it
Lena Horne had more talent than Sarah Jones and Ella Smith--ok, I'll give you that, and it's only because I don't know those people. GTFOH and come back when you have an argument sonny...
I should follow up by saying, I like Lena Horne's interpretations just fine, it has nothing to do with race; I love Nat, Louis, Ink Spots, Paul Robeson, Mills Brothers, and too many Doo-Wop and R & B groups to possibly name, but Lena's persona, was not always conducive to "getting along," as the ever-present "chip" seemed to outweigh her performance, to me. Same thing with Dionne Warwick, who I have many albums, CD's, etc-and she ruined it for me with "Racism" claims under every rock. Gets old.
BigBingFan the woman put her toe into a pool at the hotel she was working at and they drained it. I mean really honestly is basic history that black people in America didn’t have the best time especially during this time.
