To understand why Natalie Cole feels her new Spanish language album “title?” is
one of the most personally satisfying projects of her illustrious career, one must only look
to her greatest inspiration, namely her father, the legendary Nat King Cole.
Consider the following quote by Cuban recording artist Isaac Delgado: “ For Latin’s
music lovers, Nat King Cole is a myth, an icon for all generations. When he came to
Cuba, he seduced everyone. He had the uncanny ability to make you feel he was singing
especially for you. There’s no self-respecting Latin who comes from the world of music
who does not know Nat King Cole."
From a historical perspective, it's difficult to overstate Nat King Cole's cultural
importance, not only as a world class singer, multi-million selling recording artist
and extraordinary pianist, but also as a pioneer for racial equality. There were, of
course, other artists such as Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday
who helped to bridge the social divide, but it was Nat King Cole who, in the
forties, became the first black performer to have his own regular radio show and
in the fifties became the first to have his own regular TV show. In this way, he
eventually gained acceptance in all strata of society. Though he did not wear the
mantel of political activist, through the sheer understated elegance of his music
and manner, he broke through many spoken and unspoken barriers.
Cole’s big break came in 1943 while playing at the Radio Room Club in Los
Angeles. He was heard by legendary songwriter Johnny Mercer who was one of
the founders of the newly formed record company, Capitol Records. Nat joined
Capitol and was to become their most successful artist . In 1956, the company
opened their new premises - the Capitol Tower on Hollywood and Vine, which
became known throughout the recording industry as 'The House That Nat Built’.
Such was his fame that in the late 1950s, at the encouragement of his
manager Carlos Gastel, a native of Honduras, he made the pioneering decision
to become the first American superstar to record an album of all Spanish
standards. Even so, when he was contracted to perform in Cuba and wanted to
stay at the Hotel Nacional de Cuba in Havana, Cole was allowed to perform but
not stay overnight at the their because of the color of his skin. Nevertheless, he
honored his contract, and the concert at the Tropicana was a huge
success. Today there is a tribute to him in the form of a marble bust and a
jukebox in the Hotel Nacional.
Nat King Cole eventually recorded three all-Spanish language records which
were tremendously successful with English speaking and Spanish speaking
audiences alike.
Growing up, Natalie was well-aware of this aspect of her father’s career, and
eventually felt compelled to record her own Spanish language album -- in part to
acknowledge her father’s contribution to the genre and also to put her own
unique stamp on a dozen of the finest and most beloved songs in the “the Latin
songbook”.
For “title?” Natalie joined forces with musician, composer, arranger and producer
Rudy Perez. Winner of the title “Producer of the Decade” in 2010 by Billboard
Magazine, Perez is best known for his production work with the cream of Latin
recording artists like Julio Iglesias, Luis Miguel, Luis Fonsi, Marc Anthony and
Jennifer Lopez. He’s also worked extensively with celebrated American artists
who want to record in Spanish like Christina Aguleria and Beyonce. In the past
20 years he’s written or produced a staggering 300 top-10 hits on Billboard’s
Latin charts. He’s the winner of 5 Latin Grammy Awards and nominated for an
additional 14 others.
Together, Natalie and Rudy chose some of the world’s best loved Spanish
language standards -- several which Nat recorded himself -- then added a few
translations of English language standards to round out the package. Each song
has a fascinating history. Some like “Frenesi,” Cuando Vuelva A Tu Lado,
Quizas, Quizas, Quizas, and "Solamente Una Vez” are familiar to English
speaking listeners because they were successfully translated into hit songs and
records for the American market.
“Frenesi” (“Frenzy”) is a musical piece originally composed by Albero Dominguez
for the marimba, and later adapted as a jazz standard by Leonard Whitecup and
others. A smash hit version recorded by Artie Shaw reached #1 on the Billboard
pop charts in December of 1940. It has since been recorded by such luminaries
as Dave Brubeck, June Christy, Betty Carter, Tommy Dorsey, Eydie Gorme,
Woody Herman, Glenn Miller, Frank Sinatra and Linda Ronstadt.
“Quizas, Quizas, Quizas” (also known as “Perhaps, Perhaps Perhaps”) is a
popular song written in 1947 by Cuban songwriter Osvaldo Farres. In 1958 Nat
King Cole recorded “Quizas” in Spanish for his album “Cole Espanol” which
introduced to the world. In subsequent years it’s been recorded in English and
Spanish by artists ranging from Doris Day to The Buena Vista Social Club and
most recently as a duet with Andrea Bocelli and Jennifer Lopez.
"Solamente Una Vez” is known to English speaking audiences as “You Belong
To My Heart.” Walt Disney heard the melody and decided to feature the song
with English lyrics in Disney’s 1945 animated motion-picture hit “The Three
Caballeros” with English lyrics by Ray Gilbert (Gilbert also wrote another Disney
classic “Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah”). That same year, “You Belong To My Heart” was
then recorded by Bing Crosby who took the song to #4 on Billboard’s chart. A
wide range of artists have also put their stamp on it, including Elvis Presley,
Gene Autry, Engelbert Humperdinck, country star Marty Robbins, and opera star
Jose Carreras.
"Cuando Vuelva A Tu Lado” is a popular song originally written in Spanish by
Maria Grever, a Mexican songwriter, in 1934. The song was translated into
English as “What A Difference A Day Makes” which topped the charts and won a
Grammy Award for singer Dinah Washington. It’s since been recorded by such
greats as Sarah Vaughan, Aretha Franklin, Luiz Miguel, Rod Stewart, Dean
Martin and Bobby Darin.
Other highlights include “Oye Como Vay” -- a Latin standard written by Tito
Puente jn 1963, which became a global smash in 1970 by Santana as featured
on their classic album “Abraxas”.
With the hit song "And I Love Her” (a Beatles ballad written by John Lennon and
Paul McCartney for the group's feature film “A Hard Day’s Night”) Natalie and
Rudy responded to its lilting Spanish influenced melody and decided to have the
song translated to Spanish.
Manhã de Carnaval” (translated into Spanish as "Mañana de Carnaval”) is the
most popular song by Brazilian composer Luiz Bonfa. It appeared as the
principal theme in the1959 Portuguese language film “Orfeu Negro” (“Black
Orpheus”) by French director Marcel Camus. It’s nomination in 1959 for an Oscar
brought the song to a larger international audience. Of greater significance, it’s
widely thought of as the first composition to be identified with the Bossa Nova
genre. It’s gone on to become a jazz standard recorded by instrumental
virtuosos such as Vince Guaraldi, Stan Getz, Paul Desmond, Stanley Turrentine,
Cannonball Adderley, Earl Klugh, George Benson, Wynton Marsalis, Antonio
Carlos Jobim, Dexter Gordon and dozens more. With English lyrics, the song
has been recorded as “A Day In The Life Of A Fool” by no less than Harry
Belafonte, Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett to name but three of dozens. With
Portuguese lyrics the song has been recorded by Luis Miguel, Julio Iglesias, The
Three Tenors (Placido Domingo, Luciano Pavarotti, Jose Carreras), and Brazilian
superstar Caetano Veloso.
Natalie is the first female vocalist to sing the song in Spanish.
Several songs Natalie recorded on her new album she first learned by listening
to Nat King Cole’s original Spanish recordings. These include the immortal
“Noche De Ronda” written by Agustin Lara, widely regarded as the most
important songwriter of Spanish language standards; “Quizas, Quizas, Quizas”
(from Nat King Cole’s "Cole Espanole”), “Perfida” (from Cole’s album “A Mis
Amigos”); “Solamente una Vez” (from “More Cole Espanol” ).
Just as she Natalie did with her Grammy winning, multi-platinum “Unforgettable”
duet with Nat King Cole, she once again created a “virtual duet” singing the
Spanish classic “Acercate Mas”, blending her father's trademark vocals with her
own.
Another stunning duet features Andrea Bocelli singing what is perhaps the most
famous Spanish language song of all, the timeless “Besame Mucho”. This track
is produced by 17 time Grammy winning recorded producers (and Verve Records
Chairman) David Foster in collaboration with Rudy Perez.