Cole, Nat King (1919?-1965), was an American singer and pianist. During the early 1940's, Cole was considered one of the leading jazz pianists of his day. His trio, with guitar and bass, inspired Ahmad Jamal, Oscar Peterson, Art Tatum, and other pianists to form groups with the same instruments. Cole's vocal recording of "Straighten Up and Fly Right" (1943) won him fame as a singer. He continued to perform as a jazz musician, but his image as a singer dominated the rest of his career. Cole's many vocal hits include "Straighten Up and Fly Right" and "It's Only a Paper Moon" (both 1943), "Route 66" and "The Christmas Song" (both 1946), "Nature Boy" (1948), "Mona Lisa" (1950), "Unforgettable" (1951), "Ramblin' Rose" (1962), and "Those Lazy-Hazy-Crazy Days of Summer" (1963).