--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I ... started out to become a jazz…" description: "\"I ... started out to become a jazz pianist; in the meantime I started singing and I sang the way I felt and that's just the way it came out.\" — Nat Kin..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/481/nat-king-cole-15878_felt_i-started-out-to-become-a-jazz-pianist-i_2224037.jpg" --- # I ... started out to become a jazz pianist; in the… ![“I ... started out to become a jazz pianist; in the meantime I started singing and I sang the way I felt and that's just the way it came out.” quote by Nat King Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/481/nat-king-cole-15878_felt_i-started-out-to-become-a-jazz-pianist-i_2224037.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/481/nat-king-cole-15878_felt_i-started-out-to-become-a-jazz-pianist-i_2224037.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/481/nat-king-cole-15878_felt_i-started-out-to-become-a-jazz-pianist-i_2224037.jpg) > “I ... started out to become a jazz pianist; in the meantime I started singing and I sang the way I felt and that's just the way it came out.” [Nat King Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nat-king-cole/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He shifted from piano to singing, following his instinctive expression of music. **In simple terms:** He followed his feeling, becoming a singer. Key Takeaway Embrace unexpected paths. Themes creativity career self‑discovery Mood reflective inspirational Type personal artistic When to use this quote - Music practice - career change - personal growth Key Concepts Jazz instinct artistic evolution Questions to Reflect On - What hidden talents could you explore? - How does intuition guide your choices? A Different Perspective May lack formal training; risk of inconsistency. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Jazz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jazz/) [Pianist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pianist/) [Singing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/singing/) ## Related quotes > [Frankie Randall is a consummate performer. He is an exquisite jazz pianist and wonderful singer. I had the great pleasure to work with him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lainie-kazan/frankie-randall-is-a-consummate-performer-he-is-an-exquisite-jazz/) [Lainie Kazan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lainie-kazan/) > [When I hear the words jazz pianist, that just means I have the skills to do most things. Because to be a jazz pianist,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-glasper/when-i-hear-the-words-jazz-pianist-that-just-means-i-have-the-skills/) [Robert Glasper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-glasper/) > [I took some lessons as a kid but trained myself by ear. I did it the way jazz musicians used to learn years ago,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-fagen/i-took-some-lessons-as-a-kid-but-trained-myself-by-ear-i-did-it-the/) [Donald Fagen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-fagen/) > [Bill Evans is a real serious jazz pianist who, in my book, crossed over boundaries in terms of color. He used the piano as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberta-flack/bill-evans-is-a-real-serious-jazz-pianist-who-in-my-book-crossed-over/) [Roberta Flack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberta-flack/) > [I don't regard myself as a great classical or jazz pianist. I like country music, but I'm not a great player. I just like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-emerson/i-don-t-regard-myself-as-a-great-classical-or-jazz-pianist-i-like/) [Keith Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-emerson/) > [What I would really like to have been, given a perfect world, is a jazz pianist. I mean jazz. I don't mean rock and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/what-i-would-really-like-to-have-been-given-a-perfect-world-is-a-jazz/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [The first jazz pianist I heard was Thelonious Monk. My father was listening to an album of his called 'Monk's Dream' almost every day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benny-green/the-first-jazz-pianist-i-heard-was-thelonious-monk-my-father-was/) [Benny Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benny-green/) > [Do you think Duke Ellington didn't listen to Debussy? Louis Armstrong loved opera, did you know that? Name me a jazz pianist who wasn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-brubeck/do-you-think-duke-ellington-didn-t-listen-to-debussy-louis-armstrong/) [Dave Brubeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-brubeck/) > [Jazz is a constant theme in my life. My father is a jazz pianist, and from an early age I have been surrounded by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nat-wolff/jazz-is-a-constant-theme-in-my-life-my-father-is-a-jazz-pianist-and/) [Nat Wolff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nat-wolff/) > [In Montreal, there is a friend of mine at school who is a jazz pianist with an amazing voice, and we sort of have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-epstein/in-montreal-there-is-a-friend-of-mine-at-school-who-is-a-jazz-pianist/) [Jake Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-epstein/) > [I'm a classically trained jazz pianist - I've been playing since I was 3 years old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daya/i-m-a-classically-trained-jazz-pianist-i-ve-been-playing-since-i-was/) [Daya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daya/) > [Jazz stopped being creative in the early '80s. After your acoustic era, where you had the likes of the Miles Davis Quintet, when it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-glasper/jazz-stopped-being-creative-in-the-early-80s-after-your-acoustic-era/) [Robert Glasper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-glasper/) > [I started as a jazz musician, not a singer, then I became a rock 'n' roll artist with Aphrodite's Child.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demis-roussos/i-started-as-a-jazz-musician-not-a-singer-then-i-became-a-rock-n-roll/) [Demis Roussos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demis-roussos/) > [But my dad was a jazz pianist and plays by ear, and all my family are musical. And that bizarrely, is quite off-putting when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhod-gilbert/but-my-dad-was-a-jazz-pianist-and-plays-by-ear-and-all-my-family-are/) [Rhod Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhod-gilbert/) > [My little brother is just an amazing Jazz pianist and sax player.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-freese/my-little-brother-is-just-an-amazing-jazz-pianist-and-sax-player/) [Josh Freese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-freese/) ## More by Nat King Cole > [The people who know nothing about music are the ones always talking about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nat-king-cole/the-people-who-know-nothing-about-music-are-the-ones-always-talking/) [Nat King Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nat-king-cole/) > [Critics don't buy records. They get 'em free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nat-king-cole/critics-don-t-buy-records-they-get-em-free/) [Nat King Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nat-king-cole/) > [When I first organized the King Cole Trio back in 1937, we were strictly what you would call an instrumental group. To break the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nat-king-cole/when-i-first-organized-the-king-cole-trio-back-in-1937-we-were/) [Nat King Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nat-king-cole/) > [I'm in the music business for one purpose - to make money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nat-king-cole/i-m-in-the-music-business-for-one-purpose-to-make-money/) [Nat King Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nat-king-cole/) > [Get me well so I can get on television and tell people to stop smoking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nat-king-cole/get-me-well-so-i-can-get-on-television-and-tell-people-to-stop-smoking/) [Nat King Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nat-king-cole/) > [I make no claim to being a business genius. You can make so much money in this business that it loses its value.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nat-king-cole/i-make-no-claim-to-being-a-business-genius-you-can-make-so-much-money/) [Nat King Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nat-king-cole/) > [If you smile through your fear and sorrow, smile and maybe tomorrow you'll see the sun come shining through for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nat-king-cole/if-you-smile-through-your-fear-and-sorrow-smile-and-maybe-tomorrow/) [Nat King Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nat-king-cole/) > [Smile and maybe tomorrow you'll see that life is still worth while if you just smile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nat-king-cole/smile-and-maybe-tomorrow-you-ll-see-that-life-is-still-worth-while-if/) [Nat King Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nat-king-cole/) > [Although it's been said many times, many ways...Merry Christmas to you!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nat-king-cole/although-it-s-been-said-many-times-many-ways-merry-christmas-to-you/) [Nat King Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nat-king-cole/) > [I'm a musician at heart. I know I'm not really a singer. I couldn't compete with real singers. But I sing because the public…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nat-king-cole/i-m-a-musician-at-heart-i-know-i-m-not-really-a-singer-i-couldn-t/) [Nat King Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nat-king-cole/) > [“Oh, my darling, it’s incredible, that someone so unforgettable should think I am unforgettable, too.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nat-king-cole/oh-my-darling-it-s-incredible-that-someone-so-unforgettable-should/) [Nat King Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nat-king-cole/) > [Madison Avenue is afraid of the dark.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nat-king-cole/madison-avenue-is-afraid-of-the-dark/) [Nat King Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nat-king-cole/) > [Primarily I'm a meat man, although once in a while I toy with a few vegetables.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nat-king-cole/primarily-i-m-a-meat-man-although-once-in-a-while-i-toy-with-a-few/) [Nat King Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nat-king-cole/) > [The Supreme Court is having a hard time integrating schools. What chance do I have to integrate audiences?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nat-king-cole/the-supreme-court-is-having-a-hard-time-integrating-schools-what/) [Nat King Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nat-king-cole/) > [If you ever plan to motor west, travel my way, take the highway that is best. Get your kicks, on Route Sixty-six.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nat-king-cole/if-you-ever-plan-to-motor-west-travel-my-way-take-the-highway-that-is/) [Nat King Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nat-king-cole/) [Explore all 41 Nat King Cole quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nat-king-cole/) ## More Felt quotes > [I put myself in the student's place and remember the frustrations, doubts, determination, and desires I felt when I was going through the initial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-martinez/i-put-myself-in-the-student-s-place-and-remember-the-frustrations/) Ted Martinez > [I wrote when I was a young teen, but I didn't put an eye on the available markets until I was seventeen. The next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reed/i-wrote-when-i-was-a-young-teen-but-i-didn-t-put-an-eye-on-the/) [Robert Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reed/) > [I have long felt that the way to keep children out of trouble is to keep them interested in things. 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I know my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-horgan/hackney-gets-a-bit-of-a-bad-rap-but-it-s-the-only-place-i-ve-ever/) [Sharon Horgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-horgan/) > [I have that need in me, I want everyone to love me, but I'm embarrassed by that need, so I wanted to cover it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-that-need-in-me-i-want-everyone-to-love-me-but-i-m-embarrassed/) [Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/) > [The more I read about feeding times, sleep times and waking-up times, the more inadequate and miserable I felt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-porter/the-more-i-read-about-feeding-times-sleep-times-and-waking-up-times/) [Gail Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-porter/) > [I have touched with a sense of art some people-they felt the love and the life. Can you offer me anything to compare to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-cassatt/i-have-touched-with-a-sense-of-art-some-people-they-felt-the-love-and/) [Mary Cassatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-cassatt/) > [ I went to a mosque in Philadelphia with \[my wife\] in December 24, 1999. And we we went to this mosque in Philly, and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahershala-ali/i-went-to-a-mosque-in-philadelphia-with-my-wife-in-december-24-1999/) [Mahershala Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahershala-ali/) > [When I made it, I still didn't wave the flag and say, Yeah go Asian people. I do want people to know that about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-hugo/when-i-made-it-i-still-didn-t-wave-the-flag-and-say-yeah-go-asian/) [Chad Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-hugo/) > [Most people are sensitized to animals through their cats and dogs, but for me it was a flounder. I used to go fishing with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-mathews/most-people-are-sensitized-to-animals-through-their-cats-and-dogs-but/) [Dan Mathews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-mathews/) > [My life was incoherent to me. I felt it quivering, spitting out broken teeth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-fox/my-life-was-incoherent-to-me-i-felt-it-quivering-spitting-out-broken/) [Paula Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-fox/) > [I felt pretty good growing up. I didnt feel a lot of prejudice or racism. But I do remember, if there was going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-henry-hwang/i-felt-pretty-good-growing-up-i-didnt-feel-a-lot-of-prejudice-or/) [David Henry Hwang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-henry-hwang/) > [I never felt like running away from my dreams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paresh-rawal/i-never-felt-like-running-away-from-my-dreams/) [Paresh Rawal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paresh-rawal/) > [When I discovered drama, I felt a connection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-fearon/when-i-discovered-drama-i-felt-a-connection/) [Ray Fearon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-fearon/) Browse all 9,592 Felt quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I ... started out to become a jazz pianist; in the meantime I started singing and I sang the way I felt and that's just the way it came out.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Nat King Cole" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nat-king-cole/i-started-out-to-become-a-jazz-pianist-in-the-meantime-i-started/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Felt" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nat-king-cole/i-started-out-to-become-a-jazz-pianist-in-the-meantime-i-started/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/481/nat-king-cole-15878_felt_i-started-out-to-become-a-jazz-pianist-i_2224037.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/481/nat-king-cole-15878_felt_i-started-out-to-become-a-jazz-pianist-i_2224037.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/481/nat-king-cole-15878_felt_i-started-out-to-become-a-jazz-pianist-i_2224037.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I ... started out to become a jazz pianist; in the meantime I started singing and I sang the way I felt and…” — Nat King Cole", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Nat King Cole", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nat-king-cole/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I ... started out to become...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nat-king-cole/i-started-out-to-become-a-jazz-pianist-in-the-meantime-i-started/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nat-king-cole/i-started-out-to-become-a-jazz-pianist-in-the-meantime-i-started/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```