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The World Of Nat King Cole

With global release preparations in full swing for The World Of Nat King Cole CD and DVD, Capitol / EMI Music Catalog Marketing is pleased to announce an extensive global digital release plan for the title.  On January 25, marking the 40th Anniversary of Cole’s passing in February 1965, Capitol/EMI will release The World Of Nat King Cole, a career-spanning single CD collection of 28 remastered Cole classics, and four digital versions of the title, including a 52-track digital box set.  This spring, Capitol/EMI will release a new documentary of the same name on DVD and a deluxe, limited edition CD/DVD set.  Domestically, the Nat King Cole Estate and Capitol/EMI have partnered with VH1’s Save The Music Foundation, making donations in Cole’s name to the nonprofit organization.  The World Of Nat King Cole CD, DVD and digital packages will receive simultaneous global release via Capitol/EMI’s international branches. 

Around the globe, The World Of Nat King Cole CD will be presented in six region-specific versions, with some variations in the tracklists for the U.S., U.K., France, Italy, Japan, and Southeast Asia to feature Cole’s most enduring hits in different countries around the world.  Digitally, The World Of Nat King Cole will be available in the following four configurations:  US Tracklist (28 tracks); UK Tracklist (27 tracks); Core Tracks, a digital-only release comprised of the 16 tracks contained on all six regional CD versions; and a 52-track Digital Box Set, a digital-only release encompassing all tracks contained in the six CD versions.  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. 

Featuring a who’s who of music greats and other world-famous luminaries, The World Of Nat King Cole documentary presents a moving portrait of one of the world’s most beloved entertainers, shedding new light on Cole’s universal appeal and his most pioneering achievements during his music and television career.  Produced by Kari Lia for the UK-based Double Jab Productions, the film, to be televised around the world, includes archival performance and behind the scenes film footage of Cole, with inspired and informative interviews with members of the Cole Family, Stevie Wonder, film director Baz Lurmann, B.B. King, hip-hops Andre 3000 of Outkast, Harry Connick, Jr., Whoopi Goldberg, Les Paul, Quincy Jones, Eartha Kitt, Isaac Hayes and many more.  

In conjunction with the release of The World Of Nat King Cole, the Nat King Cole Estate and Capitol / EMI Music Catalog Marketing have partnered with the VH1 Save The Music Foundation.  Donations in Cole’s name have been made to the nonprofit organization, dedicated to improving the quality of education in America's public schools by restoring music programs in cities across the country, and raising awareness about the importance of music participation for our nation's youth. 

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 catalog continues to sell in excess of one million albums per year around the world.