Natalie Cole, chart-topping legendary R&B singer and daughter of the great Nat King Cole, has died. Cole, who struggled with various health issues in recent years died at a Los Angeles Hospital on New Year's Eve, December 31, 2015. She was 65 years old.
She scored a major hit in 1991 with "Unforgettable." The song was a virtual duet with her late father, who unfortunately never saw the start of his daughter's solo career. According to reports, Ms. Cole died from congestive heart failure and complications of ongoing medical issues.
It was also noted that Ms. Cole struggled with substance abuse and was the victim of several health problems--one being liver disease--and was in dwindling health after undergoing chemo treatments for Hepatitis C.
At age six, she recorded the duet "I'm Good Will, You're Christmas Spirit" and by age 11 was performing alongside him on his television show. At 15, when she was attending boarding school, her father died of lung cancer. She studied psychology at the University of Massachusetts and continued performing around the area. It was here that R&B producers Chuck Jackson and Marvin Yancy discovered her.
She married Mr. Yancy in 1976 and gave birth to her son Robbie the following year in 1977. She charted her first hit "This Will Be" in 1975, which won her the Grammy for Best New Artist in 1975. She would continue to win 9 more.
Ms. Cole is a testament to optimism in times of strife. Throughout her career, Ms. Cole would combat an inner-conflict with drug addiction and in 2000 wrote about it in her autobiography Angel On My Shoulder. In one instance, she was so high that she barely escaped a fire in 1981 that claimed the Las Vegas hotel in which she was staying.
In hear later years her health began to dwindle and soon she would receive dialysis treatment three times a week between performances.
She told AARP magazine in 2009, "The volume of work that I've had before, I can't do it. Instead of 90-minute shows, maybe I'll only do 60. Instead of dancing around the stage, maybe I'll just walk elegantly."
An inspiration to many but certainly a voice for the ages, our condolences to Ms. Cole's family and loved ones in the difficult time.
Remember her fondly below and feel free to leave condolence messages and notes of memory in the comments.
