Nat King Cole

Learning to play the piano at an early age, Nathaniel Adams Cole secured a residency at Chicago's Panama Club with his brother Eddie while still in his teens. 

They recorded their first single as The Nat King Cole Trio and were soon offered a record deal by Capitol.

He would become their most successful recording artist - indeed, their headquarters on the corner of Hollywood and Vine would be later be referred to as "The house that Nat built".

In 1947 alone, Cole recorded over 80 songs - and many became hits. His version of Nature Boy stayed at number one for two months in 1948.

In 1964 Cole began to lose weight for no apparent reason. Always a heavy smoker (up to 60 a day), he was informed he had a malignant tumour in his lung. 

Cole succumbed to cancer on 15 February 1965, dying quietly in his sleep. He was 48.