Award-winning artist Duane Forrest blends the timeless music of Nat King Cole with powerful storytelling in a captivating exploration of legacy, identity, and quiet resistance.

From Off-Broadway to international festivals, Forrest invites audiences into an intimate journey through the life of one of the 20th century’s most iconic voices. Through soulful renditions and personal reflection, he explores how a Black artist in 1950s America became a cultural pioneer while navigating a world that celebrated him onstage but resisted him off it.

Tenderly is a moving meditation on influence, dignity, and the power of simply showing up.