Nat King Cole’s Grandnephew Tracy Cole Stabbed to Death in Atlanta: Relative of Jazz Legend, 31, Found With Multiple Wounds in Apartment Complex
- Tracy Cole was found after being stabbed to death multiple times in Atlanta early Thursday morning.
- He blazed his trail in the cigar industry and was a great enthusiast and salesman.
- No suspects have been found and no motive has been revealed
The great-nephew of legendary American singer Nat King Cole has been stabbed to death in downtown Atlanta as police continue to search for a suspect in the brazen murder.
Tracy Cole, 31, was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital around 2 a.m. Thursday after being found at an apartment complex, but was later pronounced dead due to the severity of her stab wounds.
Police did not say whether they had identified a suspect or a motive for the crime.
Tracy was the grandson of Freddy Cole, the brother of Nat King Cole, also an American jazz singer and pianist.
“He brought an abundance of joy wherever he went,” said his pastor Kevin Murriel.
Tracy Cole, 31, was found stabbed to death in Atlanta last week. Police have not identified a suspect in his murder
Tracy Cole was the great-nephew of the late American singer, jazz pianist and actor Nat King Cole.
Tracy’s father, Freddy Cole (left) and first cousin, Natalie Cole (right), were also prominent figures in the music industry.
Tracy was extremely active on social media and used it to promote his passion and business as a cigar seller. He worked part-time at the Fellowship Cigar Lounge in downtown Atlanta, as well as the Cigar City Club in Sandy Springs.
Atlantic Cigar Week took place September 11-17, and festival members spoke out about Tracy’s sudden death.
“The Atlanta cigar community is deeply saddened by the loss of such a vibrant soul. We at ACW extend our deepest condolences to the family and close friends of @tc_smokes,” Atlantic Cigar Week captioned a photo of Tracy.
Tracy’s friend Octavia Oliver said Fox 5 that he was an integral part of the Atlanta community.
“Always laughing, always smiling with his corny jokes. Everyone loved him,” Oliver said.
He was also a longtime member of Atlanta’s Cascade United Methodist Church, and senior pastor Kevin Murriel praised the 31-year-old.
Tracy was considered a “cigar lover” by many of his friends and family and worked as a salesman and consultant in the industry.
He was also a longtime member of Cascade United Methodist Church in Atlanta, and senior pastor Kevin Murriel had nothing but great things to share about Cole.
“Tracy had this personality that really transcended culture, she transcended race, she transcended class. Tracy became everyone’s friend. He was part of the family. He was more than a young man in the community. It was this kid that was running up and down the floors and aisles of the church,” Murriel told Fox 5.
Tracy was not only the great-nephew of the Route 66 singer who died in 1965, but he was also the first cousin of Natalie Cole, a Grammy-winning singer who died in 2015.
Tracy also reportedly traveled the world with her musician grandfather Freddy, who died in 2020. He was one of Freddy’s four grandchildren.
Tracy also had a passion for music due to his talented musical roots and was very proud of where he came from.
