Tag Archives: Nat King Cole

George Benson: Inspiration: A Tribute to Nat King Cole

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On June 4, 2013, “Concord Jazz” label released “Inspiration: A Tribute to Nat King Cole”, the 36 George Benson studio album. It was recorded in 2013, and was produced by John Burk.

Personnel:

  • George Benson- vocals, guitar
  • Tim May – guitar
  • Michael O’Neill- baritone guitar, banjo
  • Lil’ Georgie Benson- vocals, ukulele
  • Randy Waldman- piano
  • Chuck Berghofer- bass
  • Gregg Field – drums
  • Michael Fisher – percussion
  • Sheila E.- percussion
  • Wynton Marsalis– trumpet
  • Till Brönner– trumpet
  • Idina Menzel– vocals
  • Judith Hill- vocals
  • Janey Clewer, Alvin Chea, Don Chelton – background vocals
  • Chris Papastephanou, Randy Waldman- backing vocals

Henry Mancini Institute Orchestra:

  • Ryan Chapman, Chris Burbank, Gilbert Paz, Jared Hall – trumpet
  • Chris Gagne, Kendall Moore, Stephen Szabadi, Major Bailey p trombone
  • Neil Carson, Kevin McKeown – alto saxophone
  • Mark Small, Alex Weitz – tenor saxophone
  • Derek Smith – baritone saxophone
  • Cassandra Eisenreich – flute
  • Jon Anderson – French horn
  • Steffen Zeichner (concertmaster and soloist), Abby Young, Adam Diderrich, Karin O’Keefe, Zack Piper, Michelle Godbee, Patricia Jancova, Tomas Cotik, Victor Colmenares, James Reynolds, Jonah Osawa, Rob Patrignani, Arianne Urban, Michelle Mlacker, Katrina Schaeffer – violin
  • Robyn Savitzky, Kathryn Severing, Marcela Fernandez, Lauren Miller – viola
  • Joy Adams, Cecilia Huerta, Andrew Kromholz, Chia-Li Yu, Sarah Gongaware – cello
  • Rachel Hershey, Jeff Kipperman, Yen-Ling Lin – bass
  • Christina Hardister – harp
  • Shelton Berg – dean
  • Terence Blanchard – artistic director
  • Scott Flavin – artistic coordinator
  • Stephen Guerra – managing director

Track listing:

  1. Mona Lisa – (as Lil’ Georgie Benson)
  2. Just One of Those Things – Cole Porter
  3. Unforgettable – Irving Gordon
  4. Walkin’ My Baby – Roy Turk, Fred E. Ahlert
  5. When I Fall in Love – Victor Young, Edward Heyman
  6. Route 66 – Bobby Troup
  7. Nature Boy – Eden Ahbez
  8. Ballerina – Carl Sigman, Bob Russell
  9. Smile – Charlie Chaplin, John Turner, Geoffrey Parsons
  10. Straighten Up and Fly Right – Nat King Cole, Irving Mills
  11. Too Young – Sidney Lippman, Sylvia Dee
  12. I’m Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter – Joe Young, Fred E. Ahlert
  13. Mona Lisa – Jay Livingston, Ray Evans

Nat King Cole: Where Did Everyone Go?

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In May 1963, “Capitol” label released “Where Did Everyone Go?” the 34th Nat King Cole album. It was recorded in August 1962, and was produced by Lee Gillette.

Personnel:

  • Nat King Cole– vocal
  • Gordon Jenkins Orchestra – instrumentation
  • Gordon Jenkins– arranger, conductor
  • Ken Veeder – photography

Track listing:

  1. Where Did Everyone Go? – Mack David, Jimmy Van Heusen
  2. Say It Isn’t So – Irving Berlin
  3. If Love Ain’t There – Johnny Burke
  4. (Ah, the Apple Trees) When the World Was Young – Philippe Gerard, Angela Vannier, Johnny Mercer
  5. Am I Blue – Harry Akst, Grant Clarke
  6. Someone to Tell It To – Sammy Cahn, Dolores Fuller, Van Heusen
  7. The End of a Love Affair – Edward Redding
  8. I Keep Going Back to Joe’s – Marvin Fisher, Jack Segal
  9. Laughing on the Outside (Crying on the Inside) – Ben Raleigh, Bernie Wayne
  10. No, I Don’t Want Her – Joe Bailey
  11. Spring Is Here – Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers
  12. That’s All There Is (There Isn’t Anymore) – Gordon Jenkins

Billy Preston

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On June 6, 2006, William Everett “Billy” Preston, died aged 59. He was musician (keyboards, Hammond organ), Grammy-winning artist,  recorded and performed with some of the greatest names in the modern music history, including the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Sam Cooke, Nat King Cole, Little Richard, Ray Charles, George Harrison, Elton John, Eric Clapton and Bob Dylan. Preston also had a successful solo career, his best known songs include “That’s the way God planned it”, “Outa-Space”, “Will it go round in circles”, “Space Race”, and “Nothing from nothing”.

Capitol Records

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Capitol Records

On June 4, 1942, “Capitol Records” was founded by Johnny Mercer, Buddy DeSylva, and Glenn Wallichs. Over the decades, the label became home to artists such as Frank Sinatra, The Beatles, The Beach Boys, Eddie Cochran, Gene Vincent, Bobby Darin, Glen Campbell, Steve Miller, Dr. Hook, Bob Seger, Tina Turner, Heart,  Nat King Cole, the Four Knights, Tennessee Ernie Ford, Stan Kenton, June Christy, Louis Prima, Keely Smith, the Louvin Brothers, Judy Garland, the Andrews Sisters, Harry James, Andy Griffith, Shirley Bassey, the Kingston Trio, Dean Martin, The Four Freshmen, Helen Reddy, Anne Murray, April Wine, Blondie, Bloodrock, Burning Spear, Buzzcocks, David Bowie, Kim Carnes, Rosanne Cash, Max Webster, Lee Clayton, Natalie Cole, The Goose Creek Symphony, Sammy Hagar, The Knack, Maze, Mink DeVille, Juice Newton, Raspberries, Minnie Riperton, Diana Ross, Sweet, The Specials, The Sylvers, Ten Wheel Drive, The Stranglers, Tavares, George Thorogood, Triumvirate, Little River Band, Wings, The Persuasions, Richard Marx, The Motels, Billy Squier, Crowded House, Peter Blakeley, Depeche Mode, Duran Duran, The Doobie Brothers, Willie Dixon, Glass Tiger, Katrina & The Waves, Grace Jones, Lloyd Cole, Pet Shop Boys, Sawyer Brown, Queen, Roxette, Brian Setzer,The Smithereens, Spandau Ballet, The Tubes, Paul Westerberg, Butthole Surfers, Concrete Blonde, Billy Idol, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Megadeth, Exodus, W.A.S.P., Poison, Iron Maiden, Queensrÿche,  Beastie Boys, King Tee, Mantronix, Mellow Man Ace, Robbie Robertson, Dave Koz, Ashford and Simpson, Freddie Jackson, BeBe & CeCe Winans, Skinny Puppy and others.

 

Nat King Cole

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On February 15, 1965, Nathaniel Adams Coles alias Nat King Cole died aged 46. He was musician (piano), singer and songwriter, became widely popular for his soft, baritone voice and had more then 20 US and UK Top 40 singles. In 1956, he became the first black American to host a television variety show “The Nat King Cole Show”. Father of singer Natalie Cole.