‘Nat King Cole Show’ Debuts on NBC – Black History Month

Nat King Cole caused a stir in the entertainment world when his self-titled show debuted on NBC on Nov. 5, 1956.

The popular jazz musician and vocalist was the first African-American to host a variety show on network television.

During the first and only season, Ella Fitzgerald, Harry Belafonte, Eartha Kitt and other black musicians joined their friend Nat for little to no pay to help the show stay afloat.

National advertisers refused to sponsor him because they did not want to upset their southern customers who did not want to see Cole or other black artists in a prime-time show of its kind.

“Madison Avenue is afraid of the dark,” Nat said after lack of support for the show caused him to pull the plug on it a year later.

Watch Nat King Cole Perform 'Autumn Leaves' on 'Nat King Cole Show'