Nat King Cole in Chester?

Bill Hollis

Come on you folks who were around when Chester was a part of the chitlin' circuit. Who remembers Bill Hollis?

Throughout his career (Bill) Hollis performed with Lester “The Prez” Young, Little Jimmy Scott, the Ravens and Sarah Vaughan. 

Nat King Cole was always a big influence in Hollis’s music and often times he would imitate him. 

Once in Chester, Pa., Hollis fond himself performing “Straighten Up and Fly Right,” a Cole song, while Nat King Cole was in the audience.

“His style of writing was a lot like Basie, Ellington and Nat King Cole early on,” said Kauffman. “He wanted to write music and lyrics that people could understand and enjoy.”

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