When you hear Nat King Cole’s soothing, velvet voice belting out “Chestnuts roasting on an open fire – Jack frost nipping at your nose….” you know it’s the Christmas season, as “The Christmas Song” appropriately named, is the one that signals glorious memories, placing listeners in that special mood, generally called the `Christmas Spirit.’ It’s one of Nat King Cole’s many hits that frame his illustrious career journey. Now, in celebration of his 100th anniversary, Nailor Wills Publishing is releasing the first photography book on the legendary performer titled; “NAT KING COLE; STARDUST.”

LIMITED EDITIONThe luxurious limited edition of 1000 copies, with a release date in June 2021, is housed in a lavish clamshell case, with a soft cashmere lining. In 272 pages, featuring over 200 photographs, Nat King Cole’s story comes to life with words from major names in the music and political arena including, Presidents John F.Kennedy and Lyndon B.Johnson, Eartha Kitt, Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr, Harry Belafonte, and Quincy Jones. But it’s the volume’s powerful pictorial images that polish the story. Many of these images were never published and digitally restored. Most of the rare images are from the Capitol Records archives from their original negatives and transparencies. 

INTRODUCTION Opening with a dazzling introduction by fellow legend Johnny Mathis, and a foreword by Cole’s lovely twin daughters, Timolin and Casey Cole, “Nat King Cole: Stardust” is a treasure trove of spectacular images and mounds of historic information about one of the world’s legendary entertainers. Nat King Cole came on the scene during the Civil Rights Movement of which his involvement was no secret. His daughter Timolin reveals in the book: “My father’s music tends to reach that sense of spirituality, it tends to get into our souls and it just kinda stays there. He was so loved not only as an artist but as a human being. His humility and his goodwill really resonated. And all the while he’s struggling to do this in a country that was so politically and racially divisive.”    

OVERCOMINGNat King Cole dealt with racial inequities throughout his career with grace and dignity, never letting the issues affect his strong will to move forward in a sometimes cruel world. Although he played in the big rooms of Las Vegas, he was not allowed to walk through the casinos, as big a star he was, he was not allowed to stay in the hotels he appeared in. Nat King Cole was the first Black to have his own television show. His all-star guests included; Harry Belafonte, Tony Bennett, Peggy Lee, and Eartha Kitt. His show was the number one in that time slot, yet it died in 1957 because the big money companies did not support it. The book revealed that people in the south weren’t happy about Nat being on national television, as a result, the show could never find a national sponsor. This was despite the efforts of NBC and the support of the biggest stars of that time appearing on the show. Nat said: “Madison Avenue is afraid of the dark.” On racial prejudice, Nat told actress/singer Debbie Reynolds: “It’ll pass. The years will go by and it will go away.” Nat definitely broke the color barrier on several levels. For instance, he was the first Black person to purchase a house in California’s Hancock Park, where Jews, Asians, and people of color were not allowed to live in.

STYLE ICONJust from viewing the beautiful images in this stellar volume, there is no doubt about Nat King Cole’s style. From the porkpie hats and sleek pleated trousers, his signature slicked hair, and fine leather shoes, NKC was always impeccably dressed. He set the fashion tone, not just for musicians of that time, but for Black men in general. The term “Natty dressed” came from his name, Nat. He exuded classic elegance even when casually dressed. There is a whole chapter on his fashion and style – his hats, mohair trousers, tuxedos, and such. “It’s the details that make one style ‘unforgettable’ and nobody knows it better….along with his voice, Cole’s understated coolness spoke volumes and his sense of style was no different,” said stylist and fashion expert Todd Snyder. Johnny Mathis in his stunning introduction noted. “Not always looked so tall and slender and elegant, impeccably dressed in his razor-sharp suits by Devore. He used his personal style to enhance his performance. It didn’t come from arrogance or narcissism.” His daughter Carol Cole Saks noted amidst some pictures of her father…..”Dad’s influence can still be seen among the best menswear fashions of today.”

FELLOW PERFORMERS TELL ALLA welcomed attraction was, throughout the book, a number of luminaries relate stories and memories about their friend Nat King Cole. There are printed telegrams from Dr. Martin Luther King, President John Kennedy, and comedian Jack Benny. There is a handwritten note from Jackie Kennedy. Daughter Natalie Cole recalled that the day Kennedy was killed in 1963 in Dallas, Texas was the first time she saw her father cry. Daughter Casey Cole wrote; “Politically, the breakthrough in their relationship was special.” Sammy Davis Jr. said of Nat: “He was really a gentleman. And he commanded respect. He didn’t have to demand it, he commanded it.” Ray Charles noted: “I used to sleep Nat King Cole, drink Nat Cole, eat Nat Cole…I mean his voice and his piano were so much in harmony together. That’s what I wanted to do…..sound like Nat Cole….and get hired.” Nat also had a glowing movie career, appearing in movies including: “St Louis Blues” “Night of the Quarter Moon” and “China Gate.” “I can’t bear to see myself, even in the movies. The feeling is complex. I can’t stand the sight of myself,” said Nat, Actor Harry Belafonte said Nat was never really comfortable as an actor. “He was the personification of cool – he was cool before it was cool to be cool.”

TONY BENNETTLegendary balladeer Tony Bennett is pictured in the book with Nat on several occasions and had a lot to say about his talented friend who he claims actually built Capitol Records because every record he made went to number one on the Billboard charts. “These records today sound like they were recorded yesterday. It’s always remembered and each year it gets bigger and bigger. 35 years from now, they will not only call what Nat Cole was doing jazz, they’ll call it America’s classic music. His music will live forever because it will never sound dated, it will never become old fashioned.”

QUINCY JONESIn a stunning tribute legendary musician Quincy Jones chronicled: “Nat King Cole was truly the King of the Game period! He was an incredibly talented, highly intelligent man with the perfect pitch on top of it all….I’ll never forget having the honor of opening for him on his first European tour in 1960 and recording `Nat King Cole & The Quincy Jones Big Band’ – absolutely beautiful memories I’ll treasure for long as I live.”

DIAHANN CARROLL His songs: `Mona Lisa’ `Nature Boy’ `Unforgettable’ ‘Dinner for One ‘Moon River’ ‘Paper Moon’ ‘Route 66’ ‘Rambling Rose’ ‘Lazy Hazy Crazy Days of Summer’ and ‘Straighten Up’ come to mind when you think of Nat Cole’s musical genius. From his beginnings as The Nat King Cole Trio at the Zanzibar night club in Manhattan to world tours and gala performances in Japan, England, and Scotland among them, Nat King Cole’s legacy is covered completely in this brilliant volume. The beautiful  actress/singer Diahann Carroll who died a few years ago contributed these words for this historic book: “In the mid-1960s, I was a part of a group of Blacks who were breaking into the entertainment industry in new ways, Sammy Davis Jr., Harry Belafonte, Nat King Cole, Sidney Poitier, Lena Horne, Eartha Kitt – we were riding something wonderful and giving a guilty and conflicted nation what they wanted to see.”

HARRY CONNICK Jr.Every picture in this book is a page from Nat King Cole’s life. More on the musical tip, Harry Connick Jr. wrote; “The Christmas Song” by Nat King Cole is not only a masterful performance to me, it just sounds like the holidays. I never sang it because Nat’s version is so perfect I’ve got to leave it alone.” Another singing star of yesteryear; Leslie Uggams, who re-surfaced as “Leah Walker” the mother of the Lucious Lyon character, on the television series `Empire’ said she was thrilled to know that Nat Cole was in the audience for her Coconut Grove show back in the day, but was “over the moon” she recalled when he introduced her to the audience. A stunning image of this memorable occasion is among the featured photographs in `Nat King Cole: Stardust.’

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WHAT THE AUTHOR SAID
The author of “NAT KING COLE: STARDUST” is David Wills who is described as a photographic preservationist, curator, author, and editor. He’s accrued one of the world’s largest independent archives of original negatives and transparencies. He’s authored 15 books including ‘Hollywood Beach Beauties’ and ’70s Glamor’ as well as pictorials of Marilyn Monroe, Marie Osmond, and Audrey Hepburn. David has also served as Project Manager and Photo Editor of ‘Natalie Wood: Reflections of a Legendary Life”Fellini: The Sixties and ‘Sharon Tate: Recollections.’ His work has been featured in several museum exhibitions and Photosensitive companies including the MET, Palm Springs Art Museum, Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Museum of Modern Art, Richard Avedon Foundation, Bruce Weber, 20th Century Fox, and the Phoenix Art Museum. 
We caught up with David and asked a few questions about this amazing Nat King Cole book.

Why now? Why wasn’t this book done before?

“That’s a very good question. I was originally approached about doing a book by the representative for Nat King Cole’s family. I was so honored. At the time I was surprised to learn that the definitive photographic retrospective had never been published, As no one deserves a time more than Nat King Cole, we decided to go big.” 

Do the whole ‘Black Lives Matter movement have anything to do with the timing and release of this book?

“No, I can’t say that it does. This book was essentially a labor of love to commemorate Cole’s 100th birthday. That said, Nat King Cole had a significant role in the civil rights movement. Though not exactly on the front lines, he brought black and white people together through his music. For millions of white Americans, Nat King Cole was their first experience of a Black person being part of their household, their daily soundtrack – whether it was watching him on TV or listening to his records. Also, just by being himself, he broke certain stereotypes unfairly placed on Black people through decades of injustice. He was sophisticated, he was elegant, he was charming – he was extraordinarily talented. Some may have criticized him at the time for being a white person’s idealized version of what a Black person should be. But I don’t agree. He was just himself – a beautiful and refined human being. One of the most profound statements Nat King Cole ever made was; “The important thing is for negros and whites to communicate. Even if they sit on separate sides of the room, maybe at intermission a white fellow will ask a negro for a match or something, and maybe he will ask the other how he likes the show. That way, you have started them to communicate, and that’s the answer to the whole problem.” 

 
How long did it take for you to put together the historic words and stunning images that make up this book?

“Approximately two years. Johnny Mathis wrote a beautiful introduction for the book and Cole’s daughters, Casey and Timolin provided a heartfelt foreword. As the book is extremely large in format – 14×17.75 inches – it was very important that the images be of the most exceptional quality. For this reason, we went back to original negatives, transparencies, and photographs. In some cases, images had to be scanned and laboriously cleaned and color corrected to restore them to their original vibrancy. Capitol Records was wonderful in their understanding of our need for first-generation source material, and the book contains many never-before-seen or published images from their archive.”  Were you a fan of Nat King Cole?”Absolutely. There’s something about Nat King Cole’s voice that reaches into your heart and just stays there – it’s a warmth, a comfort, like being lullabied by a beautiful whisper. Every time I hear “Nature Boy” my eyes well up. Being able to extract emotion through your art is an extraordinarily powerful gift. Music is healing, and Nat King Cole was – still is – one of the greatest healers of our time.”

You’ve authored and contributed to several books on Hollywood legends. What attracted you to this project?”Primarily my love for Nat King Cole and his music. Also, as an author, it’s always an interesting challenge to do a photo book on a man. This may sound odd, but with women like Marilyn Monroe and Audrey Hepburn, your work is done for you – because of the variation in hairstyle, make-up, and costume. With men, you have to work harder. In the case of Nat King Cole, I was extremely fortunate that the body of photography was so strong and varied – and of such beautiful quality.”

Can you tell our readers what you think of Nat King Cole’s personal style?

“By the height of his fame, Mr. Cole would earn a reputation as one of the most sharply-dressed men in the business. In fact, the term “natty dresser” was apparently coined in reference to Nat. His personal style in particular – sleek polo shirts paired with super slim-trousers and dark suede shoes; luxe cardigan sweaters in neutral shades; precise blazers in blue, black, or gray has had considerable influence. He’s now a sartorial role model: dapper, debonair, snappy in sportswear, elegant in black-tie. Always sharply tailored – usually by “tailor to the stars” Sy Devore – even in the studio, his tweed porkpie hat and black horn-rim shades are now considered the essence of ’60s cool.”  

If Nat King Cole was alive today, what do you think he will say about this book?

“I really hope he would like it. He may have been much too modest to endorse it but inwardly gratified. I’m sure he would be particularly proud of Casey and Timolin and their lovely contribution. Casey and Timolin have done an extraordinary job carrying on their father’s legacy with their non-profit foundation Nat King Cole Generation of Hope, which provides access to music education for children with the greatest need. This book was essentially their idea and was made possible because of them and their love for their father and dedication to preserve his legacy.”