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Nat King Cole’s promise if he survived lung cancer

Nat King Cole

Musician and singer Cole smoked up to three packs of cigarettes a day because he believed it gave his singing voice a rich sound.

After he was diagnosed with lung cancer in December 1964, he vowed to his wife that if he recovered he would go on television to urge people to stop smoking. However, three weeks after his entire left lung was surgically removed, Cole died in February 1965 at age 45.

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