Nat King Cole is primarily remembered as a vocalist and jazz pianist, but he also wrote a number of original songs during his early career leading the King Cole Trio in the late 1930s and 1940s. His best-known composition, Straighten Up and Fly Right, was written in 1937 based on a folk tale his father used in sermons. It became a hit upon its 1943 recording and entered the popular repertoire as a swinging novelty standard. Cole composed under several pseudonyms, including Shorty Nadine and Eddie Laguna, to work around exclusive recording contracts with Capitol Records. His original songs, including I'm an Errand Girl for Rhythm, reflect the trio's compact, piano-driven swing style, with catchy melodic hooks and playful lyrics suited to the small-group format. Though his compositional output was modest compared to his vast catalog of recorded performances of other writers' material, his originals captured the same rhythmic ease and melodic charm that defined his playing and singing.
