The Remarkable Nat King Cole Through the All-Encompassing Lens - American Popular Song Society
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VOLUME 42, NUMBER 6 Formerly New York Sheet Music Society www.APSSinc.org MARCH 2021
The Remarkable Nat King Cole indignities and racism.
Nat Cole was also very close to Jack
Through the All-Encompassing Lens Benny and Perry Como. He was
embraced by three presidents: Dwight
By Marilyn Lester
of Will Friedwald Eisenhower, John Kennedy and Lyndon
Johnson. He sang at Kennedy’s inaugural
If Will Friedwald were in a court of clubs to filling concert halls, and gala, which was produced by Sinatra,
law pleading a case for the immense ultimately, stadiums. At a late 1940s who made sure to include three other
greatness of Nat King Cole, he’d win a benefit for the Harlem YMCA, he filled people of color: Ella Fitzgerald, Harry
unanimous “yes” verdict Belafonte and Mahalia
hands down. In his February Jackson. Later, in Los
12 presentation, Straighten Up Angeles, Kennedy surprised
and Fly Right: The Life And Cole by spontaneously
Music of Nat King Cole, showing up at his house for
Friedwald offered a tight and the coming-out cotillion of
cogent presentation, filled one of his daughters. “It was a
with visual goodies, including huge statement,” observed
photos from the Cole Family’s Friedwald.
personal collection. Nat Cole In matters of racial
is a subject he clearly loves discrimination Cole
and admires, and, who, he maintained his composure and
says, is his favorite performer. his dignity. In his first film
His recently released book Nat King Cole with Sombrero appearance, in 1943, in which
about Cole, upon which this he sang and played piano, he
program was based, was one he’d wanted the Savoy Ballroom with a remarkable was made to appear dressed as a railroad
to write for many years. It was a labor of 5,000 people. By 1959 he was the top porter. During this time Blacks were cast
love. “Nat brought joy to the world and earning attraction at the Sands Hotel in in white films in subordinate roles,
to me,” Friedwald said. “I feel like I owe Las Vegas. So, is it any wonder that King reflected in their costuming. For Cole,
it to him.” Cole was born on March 17, Cole was so tremendously popular? The that turn was the first and last. In
1919 and died on February 15, 1965, subsequent film appearance he was
so the book was almost in sync with dressed in a tuxedo or other form of
his centenary, and the program with “white apparel.” In 1948, Cole
his death date. purchased a home (through a proxy)
Friedwald has no doubt opened in the all-white Hancock Park section
up a lot of eyes to Cole’s greatness. I of Los Angeles; the transaction was
certainly had no idea of the legal and aboveboard. Some residents
immensity of it. Pianist-singer- were glad to welcome the Cole
songwriter Cole jam-packed quite a family, but others not so much. No
bit into his 45 short years on Earth. In crosses burned on his lawn, but other
Friedwald’s opinion, Cole, with Ella indignities were perpetrated. He
Fitzgerald and Frank Sinatra, had the stood his ground. Cole’s career
greatest influence on how the Great Nat King Cole with Frank Sinatra suffered the indignity of racism at
American Songbook was presented several turns. In Birmingham,
and sung. In the 1950s, Cole sold more charismatic singer had a beautiful smile, Alabama in the early 1950, members of
records than anyone, even Sinatra, with a winning personality and was a natural an ultra-right white supremacy group, the
whom he was close. He was the first on the stage. He was loved and White Citizens Council, breached the
performing artist to move from night beloved—triumphing over Jim Crow Continued on page 3
PAGE 2 AMERICAN POPULAR SONG SOCIETY MARCH, 2021
President’s Message... American
Popular Song
Linda Amiel Burns, President Society
President:
Warm Greetings to our APSS Members, Family, Linda Amiel Burns
(212) 315-3500
Friends and Fans:
Vice Presidents:
Joan Adams
It is wonderful that the American Popular Song Society is Sandi Durell
thriving and continuing through this pandemic. Our Zoom meetings Treasurer & Membership:
continue to be valuable, lively, and well-attended. Glen Charlow
Of course, we all hope eventually to resume our live programs, Secretary:
but I feel that this unusual season has been very successful, and I Marilyn Lester
am grateful that we are still up and running.
Board Of Directors:
Many thanks to the one and only Will Friedwald for his Elliott Ames
remarkable program on Nat King Cole last month. I hadn’t realized Danny Bacher
Bill Boggs
how much this great singer/musician accomplished in his short life Will Friedwald
and this program made me an even bigger fan. If you missed it, Michael Lavine
Sandy Marrone
please enjoy reading the lead story in this month’s issue. You will Jerry Osterberg
also find information on how to purchase Will’s terrific book. Andrew Poretz
Judy Stewart
We are all eagerly looking forward to Nancy McGraw’s award- Tom Toce
winning presentation on the great Johnny Mercer on Saturday,
Mark William
March 13th from 12:00-2:00. The Zoom link is in this Newsletter N E W S LE T T E R
mailing. I don’t want you to miss this remarkable afternoon, as I Editor/Publisher: Jerry Osterberg
osterbergg@aol.com
know it will be as special as Nancy herself is. She has assembled a Contributing Editor: Marilyn Lester
talented cast, and could there be anything better than spending mlester@marilynlester.com
time listening to the Magic of Mercer? Associate Editor: Joan Adams
joan.adams@corcoran.com
I hope that you are all well Graphic Designer: Glen Charlow
while getting through these APSSinc.org@gmail.com
Photographer: Rose Billings
trying times. Happily, Winter rosephoto18@gmail.com
is almost over and Spring is
Membership Mailing Address:
on its way. American Popular Song Society
Sending good wishes, and P.O. Box 5856
looking forward to seeing you Pikesville, MD 21282
on March 13th. Why is that the mailing address?
Because the treasurer lives
in Baltimore, Maryland.
APSSinc.org@gmail.com
Linda This email address goes to Glen Charlow
Linda Amiel Burns, President Memberships can
be paid with:
The American Popular Song
Society ❤ Condolences to Linda on the passing of her cousin Joseph Robert Amiel
pictured here (l) with Linda and her brother Joseph J. Amiel (r).
MEETING LOCATION:
Our programs during the via Paypal
inside the
2020 pandemic are being (570 10th Ave. 4th fl) at www.APSSinc.org
brought to you by... 11:00am - 2:00pm
www.zoom.us
Come early to look thru Sheet Music & CD’s & stuff, all FREE.
MARCH, 2021 AMERICAN POPULAR SONG SOCIETY PAGE 3
stage and physically assaulted him. He
was given a variety show in the 1956-57
television season. It was hugely popular,
but beyond the regional sponsor,
Rheingold Beer, no national sponsor
would take the show on. It was cancelled,
to which Cole famously responded, “I
guess Madison Avenue is afraid of the
dark.”
Cole grew up in Chicago within a
large, musical family. He was essentially
self-taught as both a pianist (he was a
devotee of Earl “Fatha” Hines) and
vocalist. In his early career, it was jazz
that was his medium. He led a band
dubbed the “Royal Dukes” and then
created what was at the time an
innovation in jazz—the small group
format. His innovative trio featured
guitar player Oscar Moore and bassist
Wesley Prince. As the King Cole Trio, Cole and Family Go Latin
they played night clubs, scoring a hit in
1940 with “Sweet Lorraine.” Cole began said, “I could do a whole program.” including Sinatra. With guidance from
to penetrate the white record market at Another back-story to a Nat Cole hit is his manager and close friend, Carlos
this time, and went on to have a hit per that of 1949’s “Mona Lisa.” The Castell (who was originally from the
year during the 40s. In 1946 “For recording was arranged by a then Dominican Republic), Cole began to
Sentimental Reasons” gave him the unknown Nelson Riddle. Cole brought make records in Spanish and Portuguese,
distinction of being the first Black artist him back to handle more music, Riddle’s successfully penetrating the large
to have a hit on the mainstream (white) career took off and “the rest is history.” international Latin market. Ever eager to
charts. In 1949, Cole also essentially disbanded broaden his range, particularly with the
A highlight of the presentation was a the trio, now working with Latin British invasion of music and a shift in
very rare clip from the “We the People” percussion and achieving solo billing as popular tastes, Cole entered the Country
radio show in 1948, of Cole with the an independent artist. music scene from 1962-1964. But by
creator of “Nature Boy,” eden ahbez In the 1950s, Cole began turning out 1963 it was becoming apparent that his
(sic). Of the fascinating story of “Nature hit after hit, as many as 10 to 12 per year, chain smoking was catching up to him.
Boy” and its intriguing author, Friedwald more than any other contemporary artist, Friedwald showed the last photo of Cole
ever taken, with two nurses as he entered
the hospital where he would die in 1965.
His last hit broke when he was in this
same hospital growing weaker and
weaker. His funeral was huge, with a
who’s who of Hollywood in attendance.
This reportage of Will Friedwald’s
excellent program can’t really touch the
scope of it, nor could Friedwald
compress his magnificent book into such
a short time. The solution? Why, buy the
book, of course. It’s called Straighten Up
and Fly Right: The Life And Music of Nat
King Cole—and think about supporting
an independent book seller.
PAGE 4 AMERICAN POPULAR SONG SOCIETY MARCH, 2021
Johnny Mercer: First, Last, and Always “Sister Susie,
Strut Your Stuff” to “When October Goes”
By Jerry Osterberg
with music of every kind. He wrote his songs of 1933. It was recorded by a
“My Aunt Hatty once said that when first song “Sister Susie, Strut Your Stuff” countless number of artists, from Paul
I was six months-old she hummed at me while still in school. Songs that Mercer Robeson to the Supremes to Nellie
and I hummed right back.” By the age of especially loved – jazz and blues – were McKay. For the next twenty years,
three or four Johnny Mercer was Mercer songs dominated the
already listening to records. One charts. In one 12-month period
of the most prolific lyricists in stretching from March 1945 to
history, Mercer’s hugely March 1946, he had four
successful run lasted more than number one hits as an artist:
four decades. His songs had a “Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the
greater range and took in more Positive,”
of America than those of any “Candy” (with Jo Stafford),
other songwriter. Writer and “On the Atchison, Topeka, and
educator Philip Furia, author of the Santa Fe,” and “Personality.”
biographies of Irving Berlin, Ira Mercer accepted an offer to
Gershwin and Mercer, wrote go to Hollywood in 1937, where
“He could be hiply urbane in “Satin booming in Harlem and on Broadway. he collaborated with Richard Whiting at
Doll,” elegantly sensuous in “That Old He arrived with a song written for Eddie RKO, writing over twenty songs,
Black Magic,” down-home folksy in “In Cantor which the star turned down. But, including “Too Marvelous for Words,”
the Cool, Cool, Cool of the Evening,” Cantor, impressed by the young man’s Horray for Hollywood,” and “Have You
excitedly childlike in “Jeepers Creepers,” obvious talent, encouraged him to keep Got Any Castles, Baby?” Following
and achingly nostalgic in “Days of Wine trying. He soon wrote “Out of Breath and Whiting’s death, Mercer teamed up with
and Roses.” Scared to Death of You,” which was used Harry Warren at Warner Brothers. Two of
During the course of his lifetime, in the Garrick Gaieties. the most successful of their forty songs
Mercer wrote more than one-thousand Mercer began his career as a singer were “Jeepers Creepers,” and “You Must
songs, collaborated with two-hundred and songwriter for Paul Whiteman. Have Been a Beautiful Baby.” Perhaps
composers, including Jerome Kern, Apprenticed with Yip Harburg, he because Mercer wrote lyrics with so
Richard Whiting, Harold Arlen, Harry many different composers, his songs
Warren, Gordon Jenkins, Jimmy Van were most often identified with him
Heusen, Hoagy Carmichael, David rather than the composer.
Raksin, Arthur Schwartz, Andre Previn, The World War II era was a
and Henry Mancini, and earned 18 Oscar productive period for Mercer: “That Old
nominations between 1938 and 1969. He Black Magic,” “This Time the Dreams on
won the top prize four times: ”On the Me,” “Accentuate the Positive,” “Come
Atchison, Topeka, and the Santa Fe,” “In Rain or Come Shine,” and “Hit the Road
the Cool, Cool, Cool of the Evening,” to Dreamland,” all written with Harold
“Moon River,” and “Days of Wine and Arlen. Mercer and Carmichael reunited
Roses.” The latter two songs, both for “Skylark” and “How Little We
written with Henry Mancini, also won Know.” It was during this time that
Grammy Awards for Song of the Year. Mercer and Glenn Wallichs, a former
Oscar Hammerstein II, who won the radio repairman, and owner of Music
Academy Award in 1942 for “The Last City, a large record store in Hollywood,
Time I Saw Paris,” written with Jerome concluded that the West Coast needed a
Kern, sent a telegram to Mercer which learned a lot from the extraordinarily major record company comparable to the
read “Johnny, you was robbed.” The gifted lyricist. It was around this time he long established Decca, RCA, and
losing song was “Blues in the Night.” also met Hoagy Carmichael, who asked Columbia, which dominated the East
John Herndon Mercer was born in him to write the words for a song he had Coast. Mercer went to Buddy DeSylva, a
Savannah, Georgia on November 18, composed some years earlier. The result songwriter and producer, who agreed to
1909. Following college, he moved to was “Lazy Bones.” A recording by Ted put up all the capital to start the new
New York City, completely infatuated Lewis was among the five most popular company. Initially know as Liberty
MARCH, 2021 AMERICAN POPULAR SONG SOCIETY PAGE 5
Records, Capitol Records was formed on been won by rock and roll; Danny & The thrilled to work with such a long-
April 8, 1942 thanks to DeSylva’s Juniors on top with “At the Hop” established legend. Mercer was also
$25,000 investment. Two months later, followed closely by “The Purple People back on Broadway in 1964 with a
the first recording was released: “I Found Eater,” although Perry Como hung on comedy, Foxy,” starring Bert Lahr.
a New Baby” by the Paul Whiteman with “Catch a Falling Star” and Frank But, the true watershed moment for
band. Although it wasn’t a hit, the next Sinatra with “All the Way.” Mercer was when he teamed up with
two were: “Cow-Cow Boogie” by Ella Mercer did have one hit during the Henry Mancini in 1961, an association
Mae Morse and the Freddie Slack rock and roll era, Bernardine, sung by Pat which yielded two Oscar winning songs
Orchestra, and Mercer’s own recording Boone in a 1957 film. back to back: “Moon River” and “Days
of “Strip Polka.” It was the one and only time Mercer of Wine and Roses.” The team penned
Because Mercer had an ear for good attempted to enter the genre, not that he two additional Academy Award
songs and singers, he decided who sang didn’t keep busy. Mercer collaborated nominees: “Charade” and “The
which songs. Early on, he recruited with Gene DePaul for L’il Abner on Sweetheart Tree,” and another which was
Margaret Whiting, Jo Stafford, the Pied Broadway and the film Seven Brides for not nominated: “Whistling Away the
Pipers, Peggy Lee, Bobby Dark.” Mercer’s last nomination
Sherwood, Martha Tilton, and came in 1972 for “Life Is What
briefly, Billie Holiday, who You Make It,” written with Marvin
recorded “Trav’lin Light,” under Hamlisch. For The Good
the pseudonym “Lady Day.” Companion, which opened in
Mercer’s greatest discovery came London in 1974, Mercer teamed
about when he went to hear the with Andre Previn. There were at
King Cole Trio. He succeeded in least two young composers who
persuading Nat King Cole to sing came close to collaborating with
as well as play the piano and to Mercer: Paul McCartney and Barry
make a vocal recording of Manilow. McCartney expressed
“Straighten Up and Fly Right,” a genuine interest, but in-spite of
song written by Cole in 1937. Margaret Whiting’s advocating,
As a popular vocalist, Mercer Mercer gently turned down the
performed his own songs and some offer, possibly because his wife
written by other songwriters such Ginger was ill at the time. There
as Irving Berlin and Jerome Kern. was no doubt, on the other hand,
His included “G.I. Jive,” that Mercer wanted to work with
“Jamboree Jones,” “One For my Manilow. Following Mercer’s
Baby,” “Any Place I Hang My Hat death in 1976, Ginger gave several
is Home” “Day In Day Out” and of her husband’s lyrics to Manilow
“Fools Rush In.” Many of and asked him to finish them. Of
Mercer’s biggest hits were collaborations Seven Brothers. the dozen or so lyrics he composed the
with other artists: Jo Stafford, “Candy;” Beyond that, he was back on radio, music for, “When October Goes,” a hit
Bing Crosby, “Mister Meadowlark;” broadcasting for CBS five time per week. for Manilow in 1984, became a jazz
Margaret Whiting, “Baby, It’s Cold Mercer began the decade with standard.
Outside;” and the Nat King Cole Trio, “Autumn Leaves” and Broadway’s Top Once asked how it was possible for
“Harmony” and “Save the Bones for Banana, ended it with L’il Abner, which one person to write so many great songs,
Henry Jones.” turned in 693 performances, the lyrics to he answered ‘“When you get a tune like
By the end of the 1950’s, rock and Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn’s “One for My Baby,” and you find the
roll and television had seized the world “Satin Doll,” and appearances on TV right mood, it’s the luckiest thing that can
of popular music, starting as early as variety shows ( Bing Crosby, Dinah happen to a lyric writer. I’ve always
1956 for Elvis Presley. His songs “Don’t Shore, Perry Como, and Andy Williams). written what I think I want to do, and the
Be Cruel” and “Hound Dog” sold the The 1960’s were kind to Mercer. He way I want it to be.’” Margaret Whiting,
most records that year. Kay Starr bravely made an album with Bobby Darin, Two a friend and protégé of Johnny Mercer,
faced the onslaught with “Rock and Roll of a Kind, which featured a terrific duet wrote: “He was a poet, a spinner of
Waltz,” while future disc jockey Jim of “Bob White.” Darin, already a teen dreams, and he touched everyone with
Lowe offered up “Green Door,” both of idol via “Splish Splash, and raised on the his songs.”
which did well. By 1958, the battle had American Songbook, had to have been
PAGE 6 AMERICAN POPULAR SONG SOCIETY MARCH, 2021
By Glen Charlow Lucille Ball: How It All Began
Lucille Ball was a television children (a brother Fred, was born in who didn’t have much money to lavish
comedienne and film actress, born on 1915), Lucille’s childhood was a bit of a on her step-granddaughter. The family,
August 6, 1911 in Jamestown, New York hardscrabble affair, one shaped by Lucille would later recall, lacked enough
to Henry Durrell Ball and his wife tragedy and a lack of money. money even for school pencils.
Desiree. The oldest of the couple’s two Ball’s father Henry, or “Had” as he Finally, at age 11, Lucille reunited
was known to his family, was an with her mother when Desiree and Ed
electrician and not long after his returned to Jamestown. Even then, Ball
daughter’s birth he relocated the family had an itching to do something big and
to Montana for work. Then it was off to when she was 15, she convinced her
Michigan, where Had took a job as a mother to allow her to enroll in a New
telephone lineman with the Michigan York City drama school. But despite her
Bell Company. Life came undone in longing to make it on the stage, Ball was
February 1915 when Had was struck too nervous to draw much notice.
with typhoid fever and died. For Ball, “I was a tongue-tied teenager,
just three years old at the time, her spellbound by the school’s star pupil,
father’s death not only set in motion a Bette Davis,” said Ball. The school
series of difficult childhood hurdles, but finally wrote her mother. “Lucy’s wasting
also served as the young girl’s first real her time and ours. She’s to shy and
significant memory. reticent to put her best foot forward.”
“I do remember everything that She remained in New York City,
happened,” she said. “Hanging out the however, and by 1927 Ball, who had
window, begging to play with the kids started calling herself Montana and later
next door who had measles, the doctor Diane Belmont, found work as a model,
coming, my mother weeping. I remember first for fashion designer Hattie Carnegie,
a bird that flew in the window, a picture and then, after overcoming a debilitating
that fell off the wall.” bout of rheumatoid arthritis, Chesterfield
Desiree, still reeling from her cigarettes.
husband’s unexpected death and pregnant In the early 1930s, Ball, who had
with Fred, packed up and returned to dyed her chestnut hair blonde, moved to
Jamestown, New York, where she Hollywood to seek out more acting
eventually found work in a factory and a opportunities. Work soon followed,
new husband, Ed Peterson. Peterson, including a stint as one of the 12
however, wasn’t a fan of kids, especially “Goldwyn Girls” to promote the 1933
young ones, and with Desiree’s blessing, Eddie Cantor flick, Roman Scandles. She
he moved her to Detroit without his landed as an extra in the Ritz Brothers
wife’s young son or daughter. Fred film, The Three Musketeers, and then in
moved in with Desiree’s parents while 1937, earned a sizeable part in Stage
Lucille was forced to make a new home Door, starring Katherine Hepburn and
with Ed’s folks. For Ball that meant Ginger Rogers.
contending with Peterson’s stern mother
This article originaly appeared in the September, 2011 issue of TIMES SQUARE CHRONICLES. It
is rewritten here with permission from the Publisher of that paper.
Glen Charlow became a major Lucille Ball collector when he moved from Baltimore to New York
in 1983 and has since become recognized by many as having one of the largest “Lucy” collections
on the East Coast. Some may remember him from A & E’s Biography when they did their tribute to
Lucille Ball & Desi Arnaz. Many stills and photos of his are in that tribute as well as a few segments
of his interview. That biography only aired once, Thanksgiving night, 1994. Now, living back in Baltimore since 2013, Glen
occasionally performs his one-man show, "Loving Lucy: A Tribute To Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz & I Love Lucy". He performed
this show for us back in June of 2012 when we were the New York Sheet Music Society Read a review of that show:
Glen Charlow runs a website dedicated to Lucy: www.LucilleBall.net http://www.lucilleball.net/cabaret-nysms.html
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