Song #351: "Ballerina"--Nat King Cole (1957)

From the year before my older brother was born, the year that saw Perry Mason defeat Hamilton Burger for the first time, plus saw the second inauguration of President Eisenhower, here's a little something from one of the giants of pop, jazz and adult standards from the middle of the 20th Century.

Imagine how much more work, how much more genius we could have received had cancer not interrupted our love affair with this man and his music.

Again, here's a song I was first exposed to thanks to playing the best hits of the Big Band and Adult Standards era on "The Music Of Your Life" radio format in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. The time spent on the air at WUHN-AM was priceless, giving me so much exposure to great music and artists I either knew in passing, or didn't know at all.

This won't be Mr. Cole's only contribution to our countdown. In fact, he makes a major contribution later on. How much later remains to be seen. In the meantime, enjoy Ballerina!