Born on March 17, 1919, in Montgomery, Alabama, Nat King Cole (Nathaniel Adams Coles) left an unforgettable mark on jazz and popular music. With his birthday approaching, it's the perfect time to explore the connection between music and philately, with a special focus on jazz legends.

A Brief Jazz History

Jazz originated in New Orleans in the late 1800s and early 1900s, blending African rhythms, blues, ragtime, and European musical influences. Created by African American musicians, it quickly spread across the U.S., evolving into distinct styles like swing, bebop, and cool jazz.

Legends like Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, and Charlie Parker (featured on the stamps below) helped shape jazz’s sound and bring it to a global audience. Over time, the genre continued to evolve, influencing many other styles of music while remaining a symbol of creativity, improvisation, and culture.

American Music Series: Popular Singers

USA - 1994/09/01

Al Jolson, Ethel Merman, Bing Crosby, Nat "King" Cole, Ethel Waters

Jazz has been closely linked to cultural and social movements, serving as a powerful voice for freedom, civil rights, and self-expression, particularly within African American communities. It is also a driving force in musical innovation, blending improvisation, rhythm, and diverse influences to create a constantly evolving and dynamic art form.

Most Important Jazz Musicians and Singers

You don’t need to be an expert in music, but if you’re not living in complete isolation, you’ve likely heard of most of these names. Of course, when listing the most important figures in any field, some may be left out, but I’ll do my best to provide a solid list here.

If I had to choose the top 5 most important jazz musicians, they would be:

• Louis Armstrong
• Duke Ellington
• Charlie Parker
• Miles Davis and
• John Coltrane.

American Music Series: Jazz Singers/Blues Singers

USA - 1994/09/17

Bessie Smith, Muddy Waters, Billie Holiday, Robert Johnson, Jimmy Rushing,

"Ma" Rainey, Mildred Bailey, Howlin' Wolf

And here’s my list of the 5 most famous jazz singers:

• Ella Fitzgerald
• Billie Holiday
• Sarah Vaughan
• Nat King Cole
• Nina Simone.

We could also include Frank Sinatra on this list, as he wasn’t just pop-oriented but also played a significant role in jazz and swing music.

American Music Series: Jazz Musicians

USA - 1995/09/16

Coleman Hawkins, Louis Armstrong,

James P. Johnson, Jelly Roll Morton,

Charlie Parker, Eubie Blake,

Charles Mingus, Thelonious Monk,

John Coltrane, Erroll Garner

I truly hope you’ve enjoyed seeing some of these famous jazz musicians and singers on stamps, as well as hearing their voices.