Nat King Cole CD and DVD Releases and National Television Broadcast Set for May

Nat King Cole CD and DVD Releases and National Television Broadcast Set for May

Cole's Life and Career Explored in New Film, The World of Nat King Cole and New Capitol/EMI CD Collecting His Most Beloved Songs

Definitive Documentary to Debut in May With New Capitol/EMI DVD Collections and National Television Premiere on PBS' 'American Masters' Series

The World Of Nat King Cole DVD and Limited Deluxe Edition DVD/CD - in Stores May 16

New CD Anthology, The Very Best Of Nat King Cole Includes Previously Unreleased Track - in Stores May 2

AMERICAN MASTERS: The World Of Nat King Cole Premieres Nationally May 17 on PBS

HOLLYWOOD, Calif., March 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Nat King Cole resides near the top of a very short list of the most identifiable and most memorable voices in American music. 41 years after the 1965 release of Cole's Unforgettable and his premature death at the age of 47, a new documentary film, The World Of Nat King Cole, explores his 30-year recording and television career and transformative events in his life. The film's debut includes DVD and limited edition deluxe DVD/CD packages scheduled for release on May 16 by Capitol/EMI Music Catalog Marketing and a national television premiere on PBS' "American Masters" series on Wednesday, May 17 at 9:00PM ET/PT (check local listings). On May 2, Capitol/EMI will release The Very Best Of Nat King Cole, a career-spanning single-disc anthology of 28 remastered Cole classics, from his 1940s cuts with his Trio to his 1960s solo singles. The new anthology also includes a previously unreleased version of "Morning Star," as it was originally recorded for the classic film St. Louis Blues.

PBS is airing The World Of Nat King Cole as part of the 20th anniversary season of the acclaimed AMERICAN MASTERS series, which is produced by Thirteen/WNET New York. To coincide with the PBS premiere broadcast, Capitol/EMI will release an expanded, 90-minute edit of the documentary, plus 30 minutes of bonus footage, on DVD and in a deluxe, limited edition DVD/CD package. The trailer for The World Of Nat King Cole is available for viewing at www.natkingcolemusic.com.

The World Of Nat King Cole completes the portrait of a groundbreaking American icon whose impact continues to surmount the world's cultural and physical boundaries. Featuring a who's-who of music greats and other world-famous entertainment luminaries, the documentary presents a moving portrait of one of the world's most beloved entertainers, shedding new light on Cole's enduring universal appeal and his most pioneering achievements.

Produced by UK-based Double Jab Productions in conjunction with the Cole family's King Cole Productions and Capitol/EMI Music Catalog Marketing, the film includes archival performance and behind the scenes film footage of Cole, as well as inspired and informative interviews with members of the Cole family, Stevie Wonder, film director Baz Luhrmann, B.B. King, Andre 3000 of Outkast, Harry Connick, Jr., Whoopi Goldberg, Les Paul, Quincy Jones, Eartha Kitt, Isaac Hayes and many more.

In 1942, Nat King Cole was one of the first artists to sign with Capitol Records, and he recorded nearly 700 songs for the label, becoming the first No.1 artist on Billboard's first album chart. During his 30-year recording career, Cole recorded more than 150 charting singles on Billboard's Pop, R&B and Country charts, a staggering record that remains unbroken by any other artist ever signed to Capitol Records, which led to the label becoming known as "The House That Nat Built." In 1956, Cole also became the first person of color to host his own national network television show, NBC's "Nat King Cole Show." At the time of his death, it was reported that Capitol Records had sold more than nine million Nat King Cole records. Cole's catalog continues to sell in excess of one million albums per year around the world.

Despite his many accomplishments and historical 'firsts' as one of America's most beloved entertainers, Cole and his family endured overt racism close to home as the first African American residents in Los Angeles' Hancock Park neighborhood, and Cole was regularly met with Klan protests at his concert appearances in the South. The World Of Nat King Cole honors a man who challenged and rose above arbitrary limitations placed on his way of life by others, with grace and fortitude that unified Americans during a divisive time in the country's history.

It is difficult to contemplate a holiday season without the warmth of Nat King Cole's rendition of "The Christmas Song" -- from "Mona Lisa" to "Unforgettable," his songs are incomparable. With annual album sales topping the one million mark around the world, Cole continues to be one of Capitol Records' best-selling artists. Nat King Cole's global success was bolstered by his open embrace of the world's cultures and languages, and many of the songs he recorded with lyrics in different languages became major international hits, including his single "L-O-V-E," sung in Spanish, Italian, French, German, and Japanese.

In January 2005, Nat King Cole made his first return in 40 years to Billboard's Top 50 with the #41 debut of The World Of Nat King Cole CD (Capitol/EMI). Cole's last album to reach the Top 50, Unforgettable, peaked at #30 in 1965.

Interest in Nat King Cole's story only grows as new generations discover his role as an unlikely catalyst in a host of musical and social movements. The arc of Cole's life is a study in success despite adversity, and the triumph of civility, respect and raw talent in equal measure with political, cultural and business savvy.

www.natkingcolemusic.com

The Very Best Of Nat King Cole (CD) -- May 2, 2006
Sequence Not Final
1) Straighten Up And Fly Right #9 Pop, #1 R&B, #1 Country (1944)
2) Sweet Lorraine (1945)
3) (Get Your Kicks On) Route 66 #11 Pop, #3 R&B (1946)
4) (I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons #1 Pop, #3 R&B (1946)
5) What'll I Do? #2 Pop, #8 R&B (1948)
6) Nature Boy #1 Pop, #2 R&B (1948)
7) Mona Lisa #1 Pop, #1 R&B (1950)
8) Unforgettable #12 Pop (1951)
9) Somewhere Along The Way #8 Pop (1952)
10) Walkin' My Baby Back Home #8 Pop (1952)
11) Penthouse Serenade [instrumental] (1952)
12) Can't I? #16 Pop, #7 R&B (1953)
13) Almost Like Being In Love (1953)
14) Smile #10 Pop (1954)
15) A Blossom Fell #2 Pop (1955)
16) Autumn Leaves [French version] (1956)
17) Candy (1956)
18) Ballerina #18 Pop (1957)
19) When I Fall In Love (1957)
20) Stardust (1957)
21) Looking Back #5 Pop, #2 R&B, #27 AC(1958)
22) Let's Face The Music And Dance (1964)
23) I'm Gonna Sit Right Down (And Write Myself A Letter) (1961)
24) Let There Be Love (1962)
25) That Sunday, That Summer #12 Pop, #19 R&B, #3 AC (1963)
26) L-O-V-E [multi-lingual version] (2003)
27) I Wish You Love [live at The Sands, LV, 1/14/60] (1960)
28) Morning Star* [original film version from St. Louis Blues] (1958)
*Previously unreleased track

The World Of Nat King Cole (DVD) -- May 16, 2006
The World Of Nat King Cole documentary (90-minute edit) + Extras
DVD extras:
* Full-length performance of "Quizas, Quizas, Quizas" by Omara
Portuondo, Imbrahim Ferrer and Roberto Fonesca of the Buena Vista
Social Club)
* Nat and Friends (bonus material!)
* Trailers for films starring Nat King Cole: China Gate and St. Louis
Blues
* Cole's Rhiengold Beer radio jingle
* Nat Behind the Camera (home movies)
* The World of Nat King Cole DVD Trailer
* 40 Ways to Describe Nat King Cole
* Extended Interviews from The World of Nat King Cole
* The Man
* The Style
* The Voice
* The Stories
* The Memories
* The Legacy

The World Of Nat King Cole: Limited Deluxe Edition (expanded DVD/CD) --
May 16, 2006
DVD:
The World Of Nat King Cole documentary (90-minute edit) + DVD Extras + CD
CD tracklist:
1. Smile #10 Pop (1954)
2. It's Only A Paper Moon #5 R&B (1944)
3. Straighten Up And Fly Right #9 Pop, #1 R&B, #1 Country (1944)
4. (Get Your Kicks On) Route 66 #11 Pop, #3 R&B (1946)
5. (I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons #1 Pop, #3 R&B (1946)
6. Nature Boy #1 Pop, #2 R&B (1948)
7. Too Young #1 Pop, #3 R&B (1951)
8. Unforgettable #12 Pop (1951)
9. Walkin' My Baby Back Home #8 Pop (1952)
10. Orange Colored Sky #5 Pop (1950)
11. Send For Me #6 Pop, #1 R&B (1957)
12. A Blossom Fell #2 Pop (1955)
13. Quizas, Quizas, Quizas (Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps) (1958)
14. On The Street Where You Live (1964) - from "My Fair Lady"
15. Almost Like Being In Love (1953)
16. Darling, Je Vous Aime Beaucoup #7 Pop (1955)
17. Mona Lisa #1 Pop, #1 R&B (1950)
18. Ramblin' Rose #2 Pop, #7 R&B, #1 AC (1962)
19. Let There Be Love (1962)
20. L-O-V-E #17 AC (1964)
21. You Stepped Out Of A Dream (1956)
22. Just One Of Those Things (1957)
23. Let's Face The Music And Dance (1964)
24. Day In - Day Out (1964)
25. Thou Swell (live at The Sands) (1965)
26. When I Fall In Love (1957)
27. Unforgettable (virtual duet w/ Natalie Cole) #14 Pop (1991)
28. Stardust (1957)

Source: Capitol/EMI

CONTACT: Jennifer Ballantyne of EMI Music Catalog Marketing,
+1-323-871-5494, jennifer.ballantyne@emicap.com; or Patti Mitsui,
+1-818-766-0443, prpgroup@aol.com, or Cori Chill, +1-805-480-0139,
cori@prp-stp.com, both of PRP Group, for King Cole Productions; or Donna
Williams of Thirteen/WNET New York, +1-212-560-8030, williamsd@thirteen.org,
for American Masters

Web site: http://www.natkingcolemusic.com/

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