Dorian Harewood: A Tribute to Nat King Cole at Herb Alpert’s Vibrato Grill & Jazz
Dorian Harewood, Tony Award nominee (The Notebook: The Musical) and film and television star, paid tribute to the legendary Nat King Cole on Wednesday, July 9, 2025, at Herb Alpert’s Vibrato Grill & Jazz.
"Tonight, we pay tribute to that glorious artist and all that he did to help enlighten the world," said Harewood.
Not only did Dorian Harewood perform the songs of Nat King Cole, but he also reminded us of Cole’s historical significance. In these clips, Harewood explains how Nat King Cole came into prominence with his very own talk show on NBC, which featured guests like Mel Tormé, Pearl Bailey, Ella Fitzgerald, Mahalia Jackson, Tony Bennett, and many more.
What he lacked was sponsorship, and due to the racial climate at the time, Cole canceled his own show because no major national sponsor would step forward. “Big companies that backed white entertainment shows feared, at that time, that their products would be boycotted—particularly in the South—if they backed The Nat King Cole Show,” Harewood explained.
He went on to tell the amazing tale of the hit song “Nature Boy.” Written by Eden Ahbez, the song became a No. 1 hit for eight weeks in 1948 for Nat “King” Cole.
This was a night to remember, also because I was able to reconnect with Dorian Harewood for the first time in 48 years. He was my first on-screen father in the miniseries Roots.
Special thanks to @Diyanu for my amazing wardrobe, Judy Katz for the invitation, and Lapacazo Sandoval for allowing me to contribute this to @TheNYAmsterdamNews.
#theNYamsterdamnews @hermanosssooouuulll @venusdemilothomas @herbalpertofficial @NatKingColeMusic
#NatKingCole #NatureBoyNatKingCole #NatureBoy #Legacy #BlackHistory
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