Nat "King" Cole (March 17, 1919 – February 15, 1965) was a hugely popular American singer and jazz musician. Cole was born Nathaniel Adams Coles in Montgomery, Alabama. The year of his birth has been reported as 1917 and 1915, but according to Daniel Mark Epstein's biography, the 1920 Census reported Nat as an infant.

Inspired by the playing of Earl "Fatha" Hines, he began his performing career in the mid-1930s while he was still a teenager, and adopted the name Nat Cole (losing the "s" from his last name). His older brother, Eddie Coles, a bassist, soon joined Nat's band and they first recorded in 1936. They had some success as a local band in and around Chicago and recorded for race music labels. They were also regular performers at clubs. In fact, Nat got his nickname "King" performing at one jazz club.