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Jefferson Music Company

1948 “Lillette” Sheet Music | Nat King Cole Trio Portrait Plum Cover | Post-War Swing

1948 “Lillette” Sheet Music | Nat King Cole Trio Portrait Plum Cover | Post-War Swing

Regular price $6.00 USD
Regular price Sale price $6.00 USD
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AT A GLANCE

Title:
“Lillette”
Performance medium:
Piano & voice
Type:
Sheet music
Subject:
Swing | Jazz Standard
Artist:
Nat King Cole Trio
Composer:
Jack Gold
Era:
Post-War Popular (1946 - 1960)
Date:
1948
Publisher:
Jefferson Music Co., New York
Material:
Paper
Dimensions:
9" x 12"
Color:
Plum
Condition:
Very Good

Low stock: 1 left

Lillette Featuring the Nat King Cole Trio — Rich Plum Post-War Swing Edition

Collector’s Note

Published in 1948 during the Post-War Swing era, “Lillette” gained attention through a memorable recording by the Nat King Cole Trio on Capitol Records. The striking plum cover and studio portrait make this edition especially appealing to jazz and mid-century music collectors.

Original 1948 sheet music for Lillette, composed by Jack Gold (1921 - 1992) and published by Jefferson Music Co., New York. Gold was an American producer, composer and song writer who worked with among others--Tony Bennett, Gladys Knight, Ray Conniff, and Johnny Mathis.

The cover features a studio portrait of the Nat King Cole Trio, framed within a deep plum design accented by the silhouette head of Thomas Jefferson — the publisher’s logo. The dramatic monochromatic palette and structured layout reflect the refined visual style of late-1940s jazz publishing.

Jazz icon Nat King Cole (1919–1965), born Nathaniel Adams Coles, rose to prominence in the late 1930s as a jazz pianist with the King Cole Trio. As the sole Black act signed to Capitol Records at the time, the trio outsold many contemporaries in the 1940s and helped define the small jazz ensemble sound that influenced generations to come.

By 1950, Cole transitioned into a solo artist and later became the first Black American to host a nationally broadcast television variety show, The Nat King Cole Show. Despite widespread acclaim, he faced significant racial discrimination throughout his career.

The reverse advertises additional songs by Redd Evans. The 9" x 12" sheet music piece is in great condition with minimal signs of age and handling. Protective sleeve included.

Framing Appeal

The rich plum background and mid-century studio portrait create a bold, graphic statement. Stunning matted in ivory or black with a slim metallic or dark wood frame — ideal for a music room, lounge, office, or vintage jazz gallery wall.

Listen to the Nat King Cole Trio recording of Lillette here.

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