A tribute to American music icon Nat King Cole will arrive in bookstores this autumn. Titled Christmas With Nat King Cole: A Legacy of Merry Music and Holiday Memories, the book comes from Allison McGevna.
“I feel so blessed to have been able to celebrate the King of Christmas and one of the greatest voices in music history,” McGevna said in her announcement post on Instagram (@alliemcgev).
Nat King Cole’s estate has officially licensed the book. The cosy 144-page title also features a foreword from his daughters, Timolin and Casey Cole.
“It is all about the recording of his Christmas album which we all know and love, and of course, chestnuts roasting on an open fire,” McGevna said.
“There is nothing that gets you into the Christmas spirit more than the sound of that phrase.”
The book celebrates Cole’s strong connection with the holiday season. It will also feature recipes from the Cole family kitchen and style tips inspired by the “king of dapper himself.”
Going solo
In 1950, Cole moved from jazz piano to a solo pop career. He achieved mainstream success with songs such as Unforgettable, Mona Lisa and Too Young.
Ten years later, his successful solo career earned him a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 1990, he received a posthumous Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
However, many listeners know the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer best as the King of Christmas.
The Christmas Song
Cole first recorded The Christmas Song in 1946. The track later became one of the most recognisable holiday songs of all time.
Songwriting duo Robert Wells and Mel Tormé wrote the classic melody during the heat of July.
Years later, Mel’s son James discussed the song’s creation in an interview with NPR.
“My father went to the house of his then-writing partner, a guy called Bob Wells. And Wells was nowhere to be seen. But there was a spiral pad at his piano.”
“There were a few lines sort of scribbled down in pencil, ‘chestnuts roasting on an open fire, Jack Frost nipping at your nose, yuletide carols being sung by a choir, and folks
But Mel saw something more, he saw a hit.
“And about 45 minutes later, no more than that, the song was born.”
The pair rushed over to Nat King Cole’s house the same day, where the singer proclaimed it as “his song.”
In fact, Cole recorded the timeless tune 4 times over his career.
A love letter to the festive season
First recorded with the King Cole Trio in June 1946, Capitol Records insisted that the song should not include strings, anxious they might lose R&B listeners, Cole’s main audience.
However, after putting his foot down, strings were included in a recording 2 months later.
Despite Capitol Records’ concern, the string version reached #3 on the R&B music chart, with the original not seeing the light of day until 1989.
But that was only because it was accidentally included in Billboard’s Greatest Christmas Hits (1935-1954).
Cole recorded two more versions, the first in 1954, and the most recognised in 1961.
The latter would become the title track on the 1963 reissue of his only Christmas album, The Magic of Christmas.
Bringing classic Christmas into the 21st century
From behind-the-scenes access of his Christmas hits, to his family’s cherished memories with the man himself, Christmas with Nat King Cole promises to be the perfect book to devour this holiday season.
Pre-order is available here now.
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