[Cole, Nat King. (1919–1965)]
King Cole Trio Bow Tie Display with Six Bow Ties!
Extremely rare 1940's display piece holding six differently colored and patterned clip-on bow ties as worn by "Royal Rockin' Rhythm Stars," The King Cole Trio. With a glossy photo of the group, featuring Nat King Cole, Oscar Moore and Wesley Prince. The photo, showing the musicians in their bow ties with the caption "Slidewell Bows Worn By King Cole Trio" was part of the display, and has been mounted on cardboard with an easel back. It can be attached at the top of the rack or placed in the lower section for a fantastic presentation of this special piece.Corner tip wear and some scattered dust soiling to the photograph, overall in very good to fine condition, 7.75 x 10". Wire rack with allover light oxidation, in very good condition, 7 x 8 x 22.5". Ties have aged evenly and are in fine condition, each 5" wide.
Dating from ca. 1944 when the "Royal Rockin'" phrase was first used in the press for the Trio's tour with Benny Carter and His Orchestra, this is a rare celebrity endorsement by an African American at this time, and most probably the first endorsement undertaken by Nat King Cole. At this early date, the "celebrity game was in its infancy and there were few opportunities" for black entertainers and athletes "to cash in on their hard-won fame. Razor, beer, and cigarette ads featuring white sports stars in various guises weren't uncommon in the mainstream media; but black athletes, like black Americans in general, just didn't show up on Madison Avenue's radar. Even one of America's favorite pop singers, Nat King Cole, had an otherwise stellar variety show cancelled because of the lack of a national sponsor. In his day, Cole was as successful at vocalizing as Frank Sinatra, but the value of his name on anything but a record label wasn't even considered." (Kenneth Shropshire, "Being Sugar Ray," p. 10) (13224)
Ephemera Jazz