He was a big part of American music - particularly the evolution from Big Band to tight little combos. And he can be credited with making it more possible for "negro acts" to cross over into mainstream white people's culture.
I can hear his influence throughout the basic 3-chord Rock-n-Roll stuff, as well as with the players who're keeping his style of Jazz Standards alive (Diana Krall comes to mind).
And, as always, there were times he was in danger just for being who he was - a black man making his way in a society that considered itself superior simply because of its whites-only attitude.
In 1956 Cole was assaulted on stage during a concert in Birmingham, Alabama, with the Ted Heath Band while singing the song "Little Girl". Having circulated photographs of Cole with white female fans bearing incendiary boldface captions reading "Cole and His White Women" and "Cole and Your Daughter" three men belonging to the North Alabama Citizens Council assaulted Cole, apparently attempting to kidnap him. The three assailants ran down the aisles of the auditorium towards Cole. Local law enforcement quickly ended the invasion of the stage, but in the ensuing melée Cole was toppled from his piano bench and injured his back. He did not finish the concert and never again performed in the southern United States. A fourth member of the group was later arrested. All were tried and convicted.
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