(NBC Primetime, 1956 - 1957) [The 1950s may have been a "Classic" period of television music, remembered fondly by many; but socially it was a backward time; for those entertainers who were not white there was a struggle for acceptance in television that seemed to take longer than in other entertainment mediums such as night clubs, vaudeville, Broadway musical theatre or even radio; The first network TV variety show hosted by an African American was a short-lived 1952 series by the energetic entertainer Billy Daniels on ABC; the brave effort was a 15 minute show Sunday nights which only lasted half a season (13 weeks) but it was historic; Four years later the recording star Nat "King" Cole was given this half-hour NBC series that lasted 64 weeks, and had many top guest stars; But Madison Avenue was afraid to alienate customers who lived in the South, so advertisers failed to materialize; the network couldn't justify continuing to air it without revenues; After it was cancelled, Nat was heard to quip, "Madison Avenue is afraid of the dark..."]
[THEME verified as seen on excerpt broadcast on the "TVLand" cable network 2/24/2002; Alternate unofficial vocal title: "May I Come And Sing To You..." arranged by Nelson Riddle] Composers: music by Harry Warren (ASCAP) [pseudonym of Salvatore Anthony Guaragna], and lyric by Al Dubin (ASCAP) 1978 Publisher: Remick Music Corp. (ASCAP) 2001 Publisher: Remick Music Corporation (ASCAP) c/o Warner Bros., Inc. of Los Angeles, CA Copyright Date: Renewal Date: Recording: