Details:
The King Cole Legacy Experience is a 21st-century theatrical concert that celebrates the life, accomplishments, and classic recordings of the legendary artists Nat King Cole and his daughter, Natalie Cole. Featuring recreations of the Coles’ most well-known recordings—some of which mirror the original recorded versions, while others represent creative renderings with changes in style—this show is rooted in previous Nat King Cole tribute concerts staged over the past decade. These concerts featured our principal founder and Musical Director/Arranger, Horace Alexander Young, a native Houstonian, in the role of Nat King Cole. In 2019, Alexander Young created a series of concerts labeled “NAT@100” to commemorate the centennial of Mr. Cole’s birth. During that time, a featured spot was created for a “Natalie” character to sing the famous “Unforgettable” duet that appeared on Ms. Cole’s iconic album of the same name. In the various U.S. and Canadian cities where the show was performed, a local singer was found to bring this element to life. When Mr. Young relocated to Houston in 2022, he met and began working with Laura Jane Jones, a veteran music industry touring and recording artist who had recently established dual residency between Houston and Los Angeles. This led to a collaboration and the creation of the show in its current form as a “theatrical concert.” The first performance with Young as Nat and Jones as Natalie took place at The Ensemble Theatre of Houston in February 2023, in celebration of Black History Month. A second performance at St. Mark Lutheran Church was staged for a Juneteenth celebration, followed by a Christmas show was presented at The Historic Eldorado Ballroom. In June of 2024, The King Cole Legacy Experience made its debut performance at Miller Outdoor Theatre in collaboration with the Dinkins Music and Arts Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Young and Jones were supported by a stunning 22-piece orchestra, three background singers, and a host/narrator. The music was seamlessly interwoven with a story written by Jones about the lives and legacies of these two legendary performers. Join us on a trip down Route 66 honoring these two icons, capturing a nostalgic atmosphere with some stunning twists. The Dinkins Music & Arts Foundation’s mission is to be a funding source for music and arts education for underserved communities and public and private educational institutions with minimal resources. They aim to maintain and replenish the art-oriented population of underserved communities in the Greater Houston metropolitan area. All performances at Miller Outdoor Theatre are FREE!
