LOS ANGELES (EMI) - Marking the 40th Anniversary of Cole's passing in February 1965, January 30 sees the release of 'The World Of Nat King Cole', a newly-compiled, career-spanning single CD collection of 28 remastered Cole classics.
Following on 6 March is the release of a DVD of DoubleJab Productions' ground-breaking and definitive Cole documentary of the same name. 'The World Of Nat King Cole' documentary will be televised around the world, and the companion CD and DVD packages will receive simultaneous global releases.
Philip Quartararo, President of EMI Music Marketing and Executive Vice President of EMI Music North America, said, 'The World Of Nat King Cole tells the story of Cole's illustrious recording career with Capitol Records through the music itself, while Double Jab's exceptional documentary also explores Cole's continued influence in the world today. From musicians and artists to sport stars and, actors, impacting on figures from all walks of life and diverse cultural backgrounds, the film shows the incredible range of people who draw inspiration from Nat King Cole's gracious and tolerant way of living as well as his beautiful music.'
From February 2005, The World Of Nat King Cole documentary is due to be televised in both the U.S. and in the U.K., with additional broadcasts planned for other countries around the world including Australia on the ABC. National television broadcast details will be announced soon. DoubleJab Productions brings together some of the UK's leading, award winning documentary filmmakers including Stuart Watts (Emmy-nominated for Christopher Reeve: Courageous Steps (ABC & BBC1) & Royal Television Society-nominated Muhammad Ali: Through the Eyes of the World (PBS / ITV), Ian Hunt (also Emmy-nominated for Christopher Reeve: Courageous Steps) and Kari Lia, who has just finished production on the Emmy-nominated The Colonial House (PBS).
Kari Lia, Producer of the new Cole documentary for DoubleJab Productions, explains, 'The themes we explore in The World Of Nat King Cole include Cole's celebrity during his lifetime and the universal, timeless appeal of his music, with a special focus on Nat's influential role within the Civil Rights movement in the United States. Nat King Cole was one of the first African Americans to break through major race barriers in the entertainment industry, and we found that to be an area of his life that has never been fully explored until now.'
In 1942, Nat King Cole was one of the first artists to sign with Capitol Records. Cole recorded over 150 charting singles on the Pop, R&B and Country charts, a staggering record that remains unbroken by any other artist ever signed to the label, which led to Capitol becoming known as 'The House That Nat Built.' At the time of his death in 1965, it was reported that Capitol Records had sold over nine million Nat King Cole records. Cole's catalogue continues to sell in excess of one million albums per year around the world.
The World Of Nat King Cole CD will be presented in several region-specific versions, with some variations in the tracklists for the U.K., France, Italy, Japan, and Southeast Asia to feature Cole's most enduring hits in different countries around the world. 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.
'We are very enthusiastic about working with DoubleJab and EMI Music on this production to commemorate the life and times of our father, Nat King Cole. This ambitious multimedia project explores the variety of ways Nat continues to inspire people around the world. After forty years, his incomparable influence sings across and between cultural and generational lines,' said Carole Cole, daughter of Nat King Cole.
