King Cole Trio

The King Cole Trio was an American jazz group formed in Los Angeles in 1937 by pianist Nat King Cole, guitarist Oscar Moore, and bassist Wesley Prince. They were known for their swing music, characterized by a delicate touch as they did not use a drummer. The unique voicings of the piano and guitar often created the sound of a single instrument.12

While the trio made instrumental recordings and songs with harmonizing vocals, their greatest success came when Cole began singing. Their first chart hit was "Straighten Up and Fly Right" in 1943, followed by other successes like "Route 66". Nat King Cole's piano playing eventually took a backseat to his singing career, and he became a renowned vocalist.12