DID YOU KNOW HE WAS A FREEMASON ?
NAT KING COLE
In 1944, Nathaniel Adams Coles (A.K.A Nat King Cole) joined Thomas Waller Lodge No. 49 in California, a Prince Hall lodge named after jazz musician Fats Waller. He later became a Scottish Rite Freemason and a 32nd Degree Mason.
Cole's commitment to bringing people together through his music demonstrated his Masonic values. When criticized for playing to segregated audiences as a young man, he said, “I may be helping to bring harmony between people through my music”
Cole was born in Montgomery, Alabama on March 17th, 1919. When he was four years old the family moved to Chicago, Illinois where his father became a Baptist minister. His mother, who was the church organist, began teaching Cole how to play the organ. Shortly after he gave his first performance of Yes! We have no bananas. He began formal lessons at the age of 12. He eventually learned gospel, jazz and Western classical music. He attended Wendell Phillips High School in Chicago. At night he snuck out to listen to music outside clubs.
It was in the 1930's Cole began his performing career. He also adopted the stage name of Nat Cole. His older brother eventually join Cole's band. It was during this time Cole added King in his name. It is believed it was reinforced by the nursery rhyme of Old King Cole.
His recording of "The Christmas Song" still receives airplay every holiday season, even hitting the Billboard Top 40 in December 2017. In 2020, Cole was inducted into the National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame
In 1991, Natalie Cole recorded a new vocal track that was mixed with her father's 1961 stereo re-recording of his 1951 hit "Unforgettable"
If you would like to be part of a global community that has and still has so many famous members, that has its roots firmly in the ground in Buckinghamshire, please join us by following this link:
https://buckspgl.org/join
After filling in the short form, our Membership Team will be in touch.
In 1944, Nathaniel Adams Coles (A.K.A Nat King Cole) joined Thomas Waller Lodge No. 49 in California, a Prince Hall lodge named after jazz musician Fats Waller. He later became a Scottish Rite Freemason and a 32nd Degree Mason.
Cole's commitment to bringing people together through his music demonstrated his Masonic values. When criticized for playing to segregated audiences as a young man, he said, “I may be helping to bring harmony between people through my music”
Cole was born in Montgomery, Alabama on March 17th, 1919. When he was four years old the family moved to Chicago, Illinois where his father became a Baptist minister. His mother, who was the church organist, began teaching Cole how to play the organ. Shortly after he gave his first performance of Yes! We have no bananas. He began formal lessons at the age of 12. He eventually learned gospel, jazz and Western classical music. He attended Wendell Phillips High School in Chicago. At night he snuck out to listen to music outside clubs.
It was in the 1930's Cole began his performing career. He also adopted the stage name of Nat Cole. His older brother eventually join Cole's band. It was during this time Cole added King in his name. It is believed it was reinforced by the nursery rhyme of Old King Cole.
His recording of "The Christmas Song" still receives airplay every holiday season, even hitting the Billboard Top 40 in December 2017. In 2020, Cole was inducted into the National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame
In 1991, Natalie Cole recorded a new vocal track that was mixed with her father's 1961 stereo re-recording of his 1951 hit "Unforgettable"
If you would like to be part of a global community that has and still has so many famous members, that has its roots firmly in the ground in Buckinghamshire, please join us by following this link:
https://buckspgl.org/join
After filling in the short form, our Membership Team will be in touch.