Montgomery in Montgomery County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)
Unforgettable
Montgomery Public Art
Photographed by Mark Hilton, July 12, 2020
1. Unforgettable Marker
Inscription.
Unforgettable. . This mural honors the late Grammy Award winner Nathaniel Adams Coles (1919-1965) later known as Nat King Cole, who was born in Montgomery, Alabama. Cole was an American jazz pianist and vocalist. He acted, performed on Broadway, recorded over 100 songs and was the first African-American to host an American television show. Cole originally recorded "Unforgettable" in 1951, which was written by Irving Gordon. In 1991, the song was edited and remixed to create a duet with his daughter, Natalie Cole. The duet won 3 Grammy Awards in 1992. As an African-American performer, Cole struggled to find his place in the civil rights movement. He had encountered racism firsthand, especially while touring in the South. In 1956, Cole had been attacked by white supremacists during a mixed-race performance in Alabama. He was rebuked by other African-Americans for his less-than-supportive comments about racial integration made after the show. Cole basically took the stance that he was an entertainer, not an activist, but he paved the way for many African-American performers. In his later years he joined the civil rights movement in support of the African-American community.
This mural honors the late Grammy Award winner Nathaniel Adams Coles (1919-1965) later known as Nat King Cole, who was born in Montgomery, Alabama. Cole was an American jazz pianist and vocalist. He acted, performed on Broadway, recorded over 100 songs and was the first African-American to host an American television show. Cole originally recorded "Unforgettable" in 1951, which was written by Irving Gordon. In 1991, the song was edited and remixed to create a duet with his daughter, Natalie Cole. The duet won 3 Grammy Awards in 1992. As an African-American performer, Cole struggled to find his place in the civil rights movement. He had encountered racism firsthand, especially while touring in the South. In 1956, Cole had been attacked by white supremacists during a mixed-race performance in Alabama. He was rebuked by other African-Americans for his less-than-supportive comments about racial integration made after the show. Cole basically took the stance that he was an entertainer, not an activist, but he paved the way for many African-American performers. In his later years he joined the civil rights movement in support
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of the African-American community.
Artists: Gerald Gentemann
Corey Spearman
Sunny Paulk
LC Alexander
Medium: Latex Paint
Wood Panels
Dimensions: 22' x 120'
Erected 2019 by Montgomery Public Arts Commission.
Location. 32° 22.653′ N, 86° 18.973′ W. Marker is in Montgomery, Alabama, in Montgomery County. It is on Maxwell Boulevard north of North Goldthwaite Street, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 425 Maxwell Boulevard, Montgomery AL 36104, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Alabama’s Tri-Counties River Region. It is also in the American South, specifically in the Deep South, and in the Black Belt. Globally, it is in North America, a Gulf of Mexico state, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the Confederate
Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. Birthplace of Nat "King" Cole in Montgomery, Alabama.
Photographed by Mark Hilton, July 12, 2020
3. Left side of large mural.
Photographed by Mark Hilton, July 12, 2020
4. Nat King Cole "Unforgetable" Mural.
Public Domain, June 1947
5. Nathaniel Adams Coles (3/17/1919 – 2/15/1965) aka Nat King Cole.
William P. Gottlieb (Library of Congress)
Credits. This page was last revised on July 12, 2020. It was originally submitted on July 12, 2020, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 552 times since then and 12 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on July 12, 2020, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.
