“(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66” was written by Bobby Troup, but it was Nat King Cole‘s performance that made that song — and the road — famous.
It went to No. 11 on the pop charts and No. 3 on the R&B charts in 1946. That sounds somewhat modest. But it helped cement Cole’s career, and “Route 66” has been covered by more than 200 performers.
A news release today announced that a new CD/DVD deluxe edition on Cole will be coming out in May. A CD anthology on his music career also will be released. A documentary on Cole’s life will air on PBS’ “American Masters” series on May 17. Cole’s massive success and the signficant impact he made on race relations, I’m sure the documentary will be fascinating.