The Singer

NPR profiles Nat King Cole:

Although Nat King Cole the vocalist soon became an American pop icon, his nimble singing clearly betrayed his jazz sensibilities, especially in his rhythmic flexibility. But for all of his technical dexterity, he was a superb balladeer, paying close attention to the lyrics while keeping the melody simple. His bewitching rendition of the Hoagy Carmichael/Mitchell Parish classic “Stardust” provides just one example of Nat’s sublime instinct for ballads.