NAT KING COLE

Nat King Cole was a legendary vocalist and pianist.  He is regarded as one of the most influential musical personalities and swing leaders in American history.  His family moved to Chicago when he was four, and he attended Wendell Phillips Academy.  He showcased his piano skills at the savoy ballroom and the Regal Theater while living at 4023 South Vincennes Avenue.

He formed his first jazz group, the Royal Dukes, and began performing in jazz clubs in Los Angeles in 1937.  He later created the King Cole Trio, a group that specialized in swing music. It was when the trio began featuring Nat King Cole’s voice that they found their greatest success.  

From the Encylopedia Britannica: “Cole was noted for his warm tone and flawless phrasing. He was regarded among the top male vocalists, although jazz critics tended to regret his near-abandonment of the piano. He first recorded with a full orchestra (the trio serving as rhythm section) in 1946 for “ The Christmas Song,” a holiday standard and one of Cole’s biggest-selling recordings. By the 1950s, he worked almost exclusively as a singer, with such notable arrangers as Nelson Riddle and Billy May providing lush orchestral accompaniment. “Nature Boy,” “Mona Lisa,” “Too Young,” “A Blossom Fell,” and “Unforgettable” were among his major hits of the period. He occasionally revisited his jazz roots, as on the outstanding album After Midnight (1956), which proved that Cole’s piano skills had not diminished.”

Nat King Cole passed away from lung cancer on February 15, 1965. He was 45 years old.

THE STROLL BEER - 18TH STREET BREWERY + MOORS BREWING COMPANY

The two breweries selected Nat King Cole as their inspiration for their Stroll beer. A Bronze Ale made with barrel aged maple syrup. 6% ABV.

The ingredients and connection: Nat King Cole’s Chicago roots and his music are synonymous with class and timelessness. The addition of the barrel aged maple syrup to our bronze ale signifies the timeless and elevated class personified by Nat "King" Cole.