TRIBUTE TO GRAMMY AWARD SINGER, NATALIE COLE
Natalie Cole, the Grammy-winning daughter of Nat “King” Cole” who carried
on her late father’s musical legacy and, through technology, shared a duet with
him on “Unforgettable,” has died. She was 65.
Cole died Thursday evening at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles
due to compilations from ongoing health issues, her family said in a statement.
on her late father’s musical legacy and, through technology, shared a duet with
him on “Unforgettable,” has died. She was 65.
Cole died Thursday evening at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles
due to compilations from ongoing health issues, her family said in a statement.
“Natalie fought a fierce, courageous battle, dying how she lived … with
dignity, strength and honor. Our beloved Mother and sister will be greatly
missed and remain UNFORGETTABLE in our hearts forever,” read the statement from
her son Robert Yancy and sisters Timolin and Casey Cole.
dignity, strength and honor. Our beloved Mother and sister will be greatly
missed and remain UNFORGETTABLE in our hearts forever,” read the statement from
her son Robert Yancy and sisters Timolin and Casey Cole.
Natalie had battled drug problems and hepatitis that forced her to undergo
a kidney transplant in May 2009. Cole’s older sister, Carol “Cookie” Cole, died
the day she received the transplant. Their brother, Nat Kelly Cole, died in
1995. In her 2000 autobiography, “Angel on My Shoulder,” Cole discussed how she
had battled heroin, crack cocaine and alcohol addiction for many years. She
spent six months in rehab in 1983.
a kidney transplant in May 2009. Cole’s older sister, Carol “Cookie” Cole, died
the day she received the transplant. Their brother, Nat Kelly Cole, died in
1995. In her 2000 autobiography, “Angel on My Shoulder,” Cole discussed how she
had battled heroin, crack cocaine and alcohol addiction for many years. She
spent six months in rehab in 1983.
When she announced in 2008 that she had been
diagnosed with hepatitis C, a liver disease spread through contact with
infected blood, she blamed her past intravenous drug use.
diagnosed with hepatitis C, a liver disease spread through contact with
infected blood, she blamed her past intravenous drug use.
Natalie received chemotherapy to treat the hepatitis and “within four
months, I had kidney failure,” she told CNN’s Larry King in 2009. She needed
dialysis three times a week until she received a donor kidney on May 18, 2009.
The organ procurement agency One Legacy facilitated the donation from a family
that had requested that their donor’s organ go to Natalie if it was a match. Natalie
toured through much of her illness, often receiving dialysis at hospitals
around the globe.
months, I had kidney failure,” she told CNN’s Larry King in 2009. She needed
dialysis three times a week until she received a donor kidney on May 18, 2009.
The organ procurement agency One Legacy facilitated the donation from a family
that had requested that their donor’s organ go to Natalie if it was a match. Natalie
toured through much of her illness, often receiving dialysis at hospitals
around the globe.
Natalie was born in 1950 to Nat “King” Cole and his wife, Maria Ellington
Cole, a onetime vocalist with Duke Ellington who was no relation to the great
bandleader. Her father was already a recording star, and he rose to greater
heights in the 1950s and early ’60s. He toured worldwide, and in 1956 he became
the first black entertainer to host a national TV variety show, though poor
ratings and lack of sponsors killed it off the following year. He also appeared
in a few movies and spoke out in favor of civil rights.
Cole, a onetime vocalist with Duke Ellington who was no relation to the great
bandleader. Her father was already a recording star, and he rose to greater
heights in the 1950s and early ’60s. He toured worldwide, and in 1956 he became
the first black entertainer to host a national TV variety show, though poor
ratings and lack of sponsors killed it off the following year. He also appeared
in a few movies and spoke out in favor of civil rights.
Natalie Cole grew up in Los Angeles’ posh Hancock Park neighborhood, where
her parents had settled in 1948 despite animosity from some white residents
about having the black singer as a neighbor. Natalie Cole started singing
seriously in college, performing in small clubs.
her parents had settled in 1948 despite animosity from some white residents
about having the black singer as a neighbor. Natalie Cole started singing
seriously in college, performing in small clubs.
Natalie Cole was inspired by her dad at an early age and auditioned to sing
with him when she was just 11 years old. She was 15 when he died of lung cancer,
in 1965. She began as an R&B singer but later gravitated toward the smooth
pop and jazz standards that her father loved. Cole’s greatest success came with
her 1991 album, “Unforgettable … With Love,” which paid tribute to her father
with reworked versions of some of his best-known songs, including “That Sunday
That Summer,” ”Too Young” and “Mona Lisa.”
with him when she was just 11 years old. She was 15 when he died of lung cancer,
in 1965. She began as an R&B singer but later gravitated toward the smooth
pop and jazz standards that her father loved. Cole’s greatest success came with
her 1991 album, “Unforgettable … With Love,” which paid tribute to her father
with reworked versions of some of his best-known songs, including “That Sunday
That Summer,” ”Too Young” and “Mona Lisa.”
Her voice was spliced with her dad’s in the title cut, offering a delicate
duet a quarter-century after his death. The album sold some 14 million copies
and won six Grammys, including album of the year as well record and song of the
year for the title track duet.
duet a quarter-century after his death. The album sold some 14 million copies
and won six Grammys, including album of the year as well record and song of the
year for the title track duet.
While making the album, Cole told The Associated Press in 1991, she had to
“throw out every R&B lick that I had ever learned and every pop trick I had
ever learned. With him, the music was in the background and the voice was in
the front.”
“throw out every R&B lick that I had ever learned and every pop trick I had
ever learned. With him, the music was in the background and the voice was in
the front.”
She was also nominated for an Emmy award in 1992 for a televised
performance of her father’s songs. Another father-daughter duet, “When I Fall
in Love,” won a 1996 Grammy for best pop collaboration with vocals, and a
follow-up album, “Still Unforgettable,” won for best traditional pop vocal
album of 2008.
performance of her father’s songs. Another father-daughter duet, “When I Fall
in Love,” won a 1996 Grammy for best pop collaboration with vocals, and a
follow-up album, “Still Unforgettable,” won for best traditional pop vocal
album of 2008.
Cole made her recording debut in 1975 with “Inseparable.” The music
industry welcomed her with two Grammy awards- one for best new artist and one
for best female R&B vocal performance for her buoyant hit “This Will Be (An
Everlasting Love).”
industry welcomed her with two Grammy awards- one for best new artist and one
for best female R&B vocal performance for her buoyant hit “This Will Be (An
Everlasting Love).”
She also worked as an actress, with appearances on TV’s “Touched by an
Angel” and “Grey’s Anatomy.” But she was happiest touring and performing live.
Angel” and “Grey’s Anatomy.” But she was happiest touring and performing live.
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