名人轶事:Nat King Cole
英语课
By Yenni Djahidin Grow
Broadcast: January 2, 2005
(THEME)
VOICE ONE:
I’m Shirley Griffith.
VOICE TWO:
And I’m Steve Ember with the VOA Special English program, PEOPLE IN AMERICA.
Every week, we tell the story of someone important in the history of the
United States. Today we will tell about Nat King Cole, one of America’s most
popular singers.
(THEME)
VOICE ONE:
Nat King Cole was born in the southern city of Montgomery, Alabama, in
Nineteen-Nineteen. His parents named him Nathaniel Adams Coles. His father
was a Christian 1 minister.
When Nathaniel was four years old, his parents moved the family north to
Chicago, Illinois. Nat learned 2 to play the piano when he was very young. His
mother was the only piano teacher he ever had. He gave his first public
performance when he was four. By the time he was twelve, Nat was playing
piano at his father’s church.
VOICE TWO:
Nat played piano in New York City and in Los Angeles, California when he was
a young man. In Nineteen Thirty-Seven, he formed a group that played jazz
music. Oscar Moore played the guitar and Wesley Prince played the bass 3. The
trio reportedly did not need a drummer because Nat’s piano playing kept the
beat so well. They named the group, The King Cole Trio. At the same time, Nat
also changed his name into Nat King Cole. The trio soon became very popular.
Nat sang some songs, but mostly played the piano.
VOICE TWO(cont):
By the middle Nineteen-Forties, Nat King Cole was beginning to be known as a
popular singer as well as a jazz piano player. He was one of the first
musicians to record with new Capitol Records.
The first song he recorded for Capitol was “Straighten Up and Fly Right.”
He wrote the song. The words were based on his father’s teachings 4. The song
became one of the biggest hits of Nineteen-Forty-Three. It sold more than
five-hundred-thousand copies.
(MUSIC)
VOICE ONE:
Nat recorded hundreds of songs. Some of the most popular include “Sweet
Lorraine,” “Nature Boy,” “Those Lazy-Hazy-Crazy Days of Summer,” “When
I Fall in Love,” and “Mona Lisa.” In Nineteen-Fifty, the American film
industry gave him an award for his recording 5 of “Mona Lisa.” That song made
him famous as a singer.
(MUSIC)
Broadcast: January 2, 2005
(THEME)
VOICE ONE:
I’m Shirley Griffith.
VOICE TWO:
And I’m Steve Ember with the VOA Special English program, PEOPLE IN AMERICA.
Every week, we tell the story of someone important in the history of the
United States. Today we will tell about Nat King Cole, one of America’s most
popular singers.
(THEME)
VOICE ONE:
Nat King Cole was born in the southern city of Montgomery, Alabama, in
Nineteen-Nineteen. His parents named him Nathaniel Adams Coles. His father
was a Christian 1 minister.
When Nathaniel was four years old, his parents moved the family north to
Chicago, Illinois. Nat learned 2 to play the piano when he was very young. His
mother was the only piano teacher he ever had. He gave his first public
performance when he was four. By the time he was twelve, Nat was playing
piano at his father’s church.
VOICE TWO:
Nat played piano in New York City and in Los Angeles, California when he was
a young man. In Nineteen Thirty-Seven, he formed a group that played jazz
music. Oscar Moore played the guitar and Wesley Prince played the bass 3. The
trio reportedly did not need a drummer because Nat’s piano playing kept the
beat so well. They named the group, The King Cole Trio. At the same time, Nat
also changed his name into Nat King Cole. The trio soon became very popular.
Nat sang some songs, but mostly played the piano.
VOICE TWO(cont):
By the middle Nineteen-Forties, Nat King Cole was beginning to be known as a
popular singer as well as a jazz piano player. He was one of the first
musicians to record with new Capitol Records.
The first song he recorded for Capitol was “Straighten Up and Fly Right.”
He wrote the song. The words were based on his father’s teachings 4. The song
became one of the biggest hits of Nineteen-Forty-Three. It sold more than
five-hundred-thousand copies.
(MUSIC)
VOICE ONE:
Nat recorded hundreds of songs. Some of the most popular include “Sweet
Lorraine,” “Nature Boy,” “Those Lazy-Hazy-Crazy Days of Summer,” “When
I Fall in Love,” and “Mona Lisa.” In Nineteen-Fifty, the American film
industry gave him an award for his recording 5 of “Mona Lisa.” That song made
him famous as a singer.
(MUSIC)
adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒
- They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
- His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。
adj.有学问的，博学的；learn的过去式和过去分词
- He went into a rage when he learned about it.他听到这事后勃然大怒。
- In this little village,he passed for a learned man.在这个小村子里，他被视为有学问的人。
n.男低音(歌手)；低音乐器；低音大提琴
- He answered my question in a surprisingly deep bass.他用一种低得出奇的声音回答我的问题。
- The bass was to give a concert in the park.那位男低音歌唱家将在公园中举行音乐会。
n.教学( teaching的名词复数 )；教学工作；教诲；学说
- We must never be unworthy of our teachers' untiring and sincere teachings. 我们决不要辜负老师的谆谆教导。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
- The Party's teachings were ringing in her ears. 党的教导在她耳边回响。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
n.录音，记录
- How long will the recording of the song take?录下这首歌得花多少时间？
- I want to play you a recording of the rehearsal.我想给你放一下彩排的录像。
vt.批评(criticize的过去式)v.评论，批评( criticize的过去式和过去分词 )
- The decision was criticized by environmental groups. 这个决定受到了环保团体的批评。
- The movie has been criticized for apparently legitimizing violence. 这部电影因明显地美化暴力而受到了指责。
v.声明( protest的过去式和过去分词 )；坚决地表示；申辩
- He protested he was being cheated of his rightful share. 他提出抗议说他被人骗取了他依法应得的份额。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- Amy protested she was being cheated of her rightful share. 艾米提出抗议，说有人骗取了她依法应得的份额。 来自《简明英汉词典》
v.（使）停下来( halt的过去式和过去分词 )
- The terrorists have halted their bloody campaign of violence. 恐怖分子已经停止了他们凶残的暴力活动。
- She walked towards him and then halted. 她向他走去，然后停下。
n.抑郁，沮丧；布鲁斯音乐
- She was in the back of a smoky bar singing the blues.她在烟雾弥漫的酒吧深处唱着布鲁斯歌曲。
- He was in the blues on account of his failure in business.他因事业失败而意志消沉。
adj.方便的；手边的，近便的；手巧的
- A few more traveler's checks may come in handy on holiday.多带几张旅行支票，度假时会有用的。
- She is a handy girl who can turn her hand to anything.她是个心灵手巧的姑娘。
n.管弦乐队；vt.命令，定购
- He plays the violin in an orchestra.他在管弦乐队中演奏小提琴。
- I was tempted to stay and hear this superb orchestra rehearse.我真想留下来听这支高超的管弦乐队排练。
管弦乐队( orchestra的名词复数 )
- The orchestras, the choruses, the drama and opera casts, will be cut to pieces. 各个管弦乐队、合唱队、戏剧和歌剧的演员名单都将支离破碎。
- In Indonesia, gamelan orchestras play music on gongs, drums, and xylophones. 印度尼西亚，佳美兰乐队用锣、和木琴演奏音乐。
n.记录( recording的名词复数 )；录音；录像；唱片
- a boxed set of original recordings 一套盒装原声录音带
- old jazz recordings reissued on CD 以激光唱片重新发行的老爵士乐