Now here’s the performer who put America’s favorite road song on the map: the great Nat King Cole with his version of “Route 66.” 

Funny how times and tastes change. These days, musicians on stage sometimes carry on like their instruments weigh hundreds of pounds, grimacing in pain with each note they play. Now check out Nat King Cole and his combo in the 1947 reel below. They make their work look so easy, like they could play in their sleep if you asked them. Like they were born playing this tight, smoking jazz. Just watch and listen: Is this greatness or what?

People might never guess it listening to his smooth baritone, but Cole wasn’t originally known as a singer. He first found fame as a jazz pianist—that was him on piano in the 1944 Jazz at the Philharmonic concert, performing as Shorty Nadine.

So far at Mac’s Motor City Garage, we’ve featured “Route 66” as perfomed by Bobby Troup, who wrote the song, and the classic country swing interpretation by Asleep at the Wheel. However, it was Cole’s 1946 version that first introduced the song to America. Please enjoy.