A television pioneer who broke ground with his work as a producer on early variety shows has died, the Associated Press reports.

Bob Henry, known for producing "The Nat King Cole Show," was 92.

Henry worked in television for more than five decades, during which he helped bring black performers such as Cole and Flip Wilson, in "The Flip Wilson Show," to larger audiences, the story notes.

He also directed and produced variety shows for Andy Williams, the Carpenters and Glen Campbell, and directed telecasts of Emmy and Grammy awards shows, the piece adds.

“The Nat King Cole Show,” which aired on NBC from November, 1956 until Decmeber, 1957, met some resistance in the industry, with some network affiliates refusing to air it because its star was black, the story notes.