Natalie Cole Official Website :: Biography Shop Multiple Grammy-winning recording artist Natalie Cole was just 8 years old when her father, legendary crooner Nat King Cole, recorded his first album in Spanish, scoring an unexpected international smash in 1958. Her father’s foreign-language success was a culturally captivating experience for little Natalie, who got to travel outside the country for the first time with her famous father. She vividly recalls a trip to Mexico during which she saw her first piñata, posed for pictures “as a señorita” in folkloric dress, and most memorably, witnessed first-hand the adulation and esteem that Latin American fans showed for the King, a pioneering African-American superstar. “They loved, loved, loved him,” she recalls. “And I loved what he loved. So I fell in love with the culture.” Now, 55 years later, the accomplished R&B and jazz vocalist breaks new ground of her own with her first Spanish-language album, “Natalie Cole En Español,” released June 25 on Verve/Universal. In this, her first new studio album in five years, Natalie revisits the rich repertoire of ageless Latin standards that once opened new vistas for her father.

The 12 lushly orchestrated tracks, produced by Rudy Perez, Billboard’s Latin Music Producer Of The Decade, features Natalie’s distinctive take on some classics from her father’s catalog, plus several other carefully chosen selections from the Latin American Songbook. The album features a haunting father/daughter duet on the sensual bolero “Acércate Mas,” employing the same recording techniques used for their posthumous pairing on 1991’s “Unforgettable,” which won Record of the Year for the singer and producer David Foster. Now, as chairman of Verve Music Group, Foster was instrumental in bringing to fruition Natalie’s long-time dream of making a Latin album. This project, which Natalie has envisioned for at least the past decade, marks a stunning accomplishment for an artist who has never before sung in Spanish. Although her new album borrows the Pan-American spirit and the alliterative title of the Nat Cole original, Natalie’s personal, committed performance earns the right to stand on its own. “This album is not so much a tribute to my father as it is to Latin music,” she says.

“My whole thing was, if I'm going to do this as a first-timer, a non-Spanish-speaking American, I need to pay tribute to the music. I need to honor it because I'm not entitled to just sing it any kind of way. I have a duty to make it real, to pick authentic, beautiful, traditional Latin songs. And that's what we went for.” The road to making this record, however, was far from easy. Natalie, like her father, had many obstacles to overcome. Nat King Cole was a trailblazer. He went from playing LA beer joints for $5 per night to scoring chart-topping hits (“Ramblin’ Rose,” “The Christmas Song,” “Mona Lisa”) that put him on a par with superstar peers such as Frank Sinatra. Starting as a jazz pianist in the 1940s, his King Cole Trio was the first African-American act to have a sponsored network radio show. And in 1956, he became the first African-American performer to have his own network television show, on NBC. He also appeared in films, including the comedy Western “Cat Ballou,” completed just before his death.

In its obituary, The New York Times called him “one of the most durable figures in American popular music.” Yet, even as an established celebrity, Cole faced racism at home and abroad. He wasn’t allowed to perform in certain clubs, especially in the South, and in 1948, when he bought a new home in LA’s upscale Hancock Park neighborhood, racial epithets were left in his yard, his dog was poisoned and neighbors signed a petition against “undesirables.” (To which he famously responded that he’d be the first to report any undesirables if he found them.) Despite all the adversity, Cole continued to build his remarkable career. His pioneering foray into Latin music set a bilingual trend that would be imitated by many of his fellow American singers. Cole made his first Spanish record, 1958’s “Cole Español,” at the urging of his Honduras-born manager, Carlos Gastel. Its success led to two well-received sequels, "A Mis Amigos" (1959) and "More Cole Español" (1962). The trio of hit albums on Capitol Records added “cultural ambassador” to his accomplishments.

He was embraced by Latin American fans, despite his marked American accent in Spanish. They found his “gringo” lingo endearing, because it underscored his effort at cultural outreach. In short, remarks Perez, Latinos loved him for trying. Cole did not survive to see his daughter follow in his footsteps with her own solo career. He died of cancer in 1965 at age 45. Ten years later, Natalie won the first of her nine career Grammy Awards as Best New Artist of 1975, the year she debuted with the hit “This Will Be,” which also won for Best R&B Vocal Performance, Female. In 1991, her tribute album, “Unforgettable… With Love,” won Album of the Year and marked a mid-career comeback. In the wake of that album’s success, Natalie kicked around ideas for a follow-up, along with her cousin, Carole, who was also her adoptive sister. They wondered: “What else can we do that dad did that was kind of interesting and different?” Their answer: an album of Latin standards. But hardship, loss and tragedy would get in the way before their plans could be finally realized.

Four years ago, Natalie was diagnosed with kidney failure and started getting dialysis treatments three times a week. Appearing on “Larry King Live,” she made an appeal for a kidney donor. Watching at home was a nurse named Esther who “serendipitously” had been on duty at the hospital one day when Natalie was in for treatment. “Oh, I took care of that lady,” the nurse told her niece, Jessica, who was also watching. “She's so nice, I wish I could help her find a kidney.” Less than two months later, Jessica, who was only 30 years old and eight months pregnant, died unexpectedly of a stroke. Her aunt came forward and offered the kidney, because her niece was an organ donor. She was a perfect match with Natalie. As fate would have it, the donor and her family were immigrants from El Salvador. The experience brought Natalie even closer to the culture. “I wouldn't put it past the possibility that there is a spirit of Latino inside of me, because of this family,” says Natalie. “Ever since then, my passion for Spanish and everything Latin, all of a sudden became more intense. I couldn't even figure it out myself.” There’s one final coincidence to add to the saga.

When Natalie got the news that a kidney was available, she was at bedside of her beloved sister, Carole, who was dying of cancer. Natalie had to rush into surgery and wasn’t there when her sister passed away. The new album is also a tribute to her. “I know it's something that she would have loved as well,” says Natalie. “She would be so proud.” Yet another family hardship came last year. Natalie lost her mother, Maria, who died of cancer at age 89. Under the stress of that difficult time, Natalie lost her appetite and a lot of weight. But she bounced back, as she has from all the challenges in her life. “You know,” she says with a light laugh, “I may be down for a minute, but once I figure it out, I can't stay there for too long.” Perez, her Cuban-American producer, marvels at the energy and devotion Cole poured into the new project. At first, they hired a language coach who, coincidentally, is the daughter of the late Olga Guillot, a revered Cuban singer who had coached Nat Cole during his Havana sessions. But the language came so naturally to Natalie, they decided formal coaching was superfluous.

“I found out she has an incredible ability to sing in Spanish phonetically, as you can hear on the album,” says Perez. “I couldn’t believe it, she was so good…She could roll her “r’s”, just unbelievable.” Natalie says her relationship with Perez was “simpático” from the start. She calls it “a perfect partnering.” Perez, president of the newly formed Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame, sent over 120 songs for Natalie to consider. He gave her background on all the tunes and their composers, then later screened clips for her from classic black-and-white movies where some songs were featured. “Rudy had a story for every song,” says Cole, still with excitement. “I mean his knowledge of Latin music is huge. So it's been educational as well as pleasurable.” The abundance of riches made the process of elimination excruciating. In the end, a balance was struck between songs her father had recorded (Cuba’s "Quizás, Quizás, Quizás,” Mexico’s “Noche de Ronda”) and others specifically chosen for Natalie (Argentina’s “El Día Que Me Quieras,” Brasil’s “Mañana de Carnaval”).

Latin standards such as “Bésame Mucho,” featuring Andrea Bocelli, will be familiar to music lovers everywhere. And Americans are sure to recognize the melodies of songs popularized in English, especially Maria Grever’s “Cuando Vuelva A Tu Lado (What a Diff'rence a Day Makes)." Finally, of course, who doesn’t recognize “Oye Como Va,” the Carlos Santana/Tito Puente salsa/rock hit? It was Natalie’s personal choice, which Perez turned into a four-song tropical medley featuring the piano of guest artist Arthur Hanlon. “Bachata Rosa,” another more recent upbeat dance tune, features a duet with its contemporary composer, Dominican superstar Juan Luis Guerra. The end result is a win-win, in any language. “I'm very proud of this album and I think it does speak for itself.” Natalie Cole Career Highlights Natalie Cole rocketed to stardom in 1975 with her debut album, Inseparable, earning her a #1 single, "This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)" and her first two Grammyï¿½ awards for Best New Artist and Best Female R&B Vocal Performance In 1977, Cole scored a No.

1 R&B hit with "I've Got Love on My Mind" from her third release, Unpredictable, which became her first platinum album. Cole continued her winning streak that same year with her fourth album, Thankful, which also went platinum and featured another signature hit, "Our Love." The singer expanded her success with her own TV special in 1977. It was the first of more than 300 major television appearances in her career, including dramatic roles on "Law and Order" and "Touched by an Angel" as well as guest spots on talk shows with Oprah Winfrey, Ellen DeGeneres, and Larry King. In 1979, Cole was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. After overcoming personal challenges, Cole returned in peak form with 1987's Everlasting, an album which garnered three hit singles: "Jump Start (My Heart)," the Top 10 ballad "I Live For Your Love," and her dance-pop cover of Bruce Springsteen's "Pink Cadillac." Cole marked a career milestone in 1991 with the release of Unforgettableï¿½With Love, featuring the celebrated duet with her late father, Nat King Cole.

The album spent five weeks at No. 1 on the pop charts, earned six Grammyï¿½ awards, and sold more than 14 million copies worldwide. In 1996, Cole released a follow-up album of American standards, Stardust, which featured another duet with her father on "When I Fall in Love." The album went platinum and won another Grammy for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals. Subsequent albums, Snowfall on the Sahara (1999) and Ask a Woman Who Knows (2002), both merited the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Jazz Artist Cole took home her ninth career GRAMMYï¿½ award for 2008's Still Unforgettable, which won for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album. It also earned Natalie a NAACP Award for Best Jazz Artist." In 2001, she starred as herself in "Livin' for Love: the Natalie Cole Story," based on her autobiography, Angel on My Shoulder, which detailed her harrowing drive to overcome drug addiction. She received the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special.

As an actress, Natalie starred in director Delbert Mann's "Lily in Winter" and co-starred with Laurence Fishburne and Cicely Tyson in Walter Mosley's "Always Outnumbered Cole released a second memoir in 2010 titled "Love Brought Me Back," the heart-wrenching chronicle of her quest for a kidney transplant. Natalie Cole now serves as spokesperson for the University Kidney Research Organization, a nonprofit organization supporting medical research related to the prevention, treatment, and eradication of all form of kidney disease. -- Compiled by Agustin Gurza Natalie Cole dies at 65; 'Unforgettable' singer was daughter of legendary Nat King Cole - LA Times Natalie Cole dies at 65; 'Unforgettable' singer was daughter of legendary Nat King Cole Natalie Cole, daughter of jazz great Nat King Cole who carried on his legacy, has died. Josh Rottenberg Contact Reporter It isn't easy being the child of an icon, and early in her singing career, Natalie Cole resisted the legacy of her famous father, crooner Nat King Cole .

In the early 1970s, when one club owner billed her on the marquee as “The daughter of Nat King Cole,” she became angry, insisting she wanted to succeed under her own name. In concerts, she refused to sing her father's songs. “People said when I started, ‘Why don't you just copy your father's style?' I had to be myself, singing my songs in my own way,” she told Jet magazine in 1976. Early on, she also told the magazine, people had tried calling her Natalie “Queen” Cole. Join the conversation on Facebook >> With a jazz-and-gospel-inflected voice whose power was undeniable, Cole eventually managed to emerge from the shadow of her legendary father, overcoming struggles with drug addiction and health problems to stake out her own successful career, selling more than 30 million albums and earning nine Grammy Awards. Yet Cole's greatest triumph — both commercially and perhaps artistically — would come when she embraced her family history with the 1991 album “Unforgettable … With Love,” in which she recorded a series of her father's favorite standards and sang a duet of one of his signature songs with him decades after his death.

Find Natalie Cole's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame Open link Cole died Thursday from congestive heart failure at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. The singer, who had recently been forced to cancel several tour dates because of poor health, suffered from hepatitis C and various health complications from a 2009 kidney transplant from which she never fully recovered, according to her publicist, Maureen O'Connor. She was 65. “Natalie fought a fierce, courageous battle, dying how she lived … with dignity, strength and honor,” the singer's son Robert Yancy and her sisters Timolin and Casey Cole said in a statement. “Our beloved mother and sister will be greatly missed and remain unforgettable in our hearts forever.” In a statement released Friday, Neil Portnow, president and chief executive of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, called Cole “one of music's most celebrated and iconic women” and “a wonderful, highly cherished artist.” As news of Cole's death spread Friday morning, many who had known her — whether up close or from afar — including fellow performers Cher, Patti LaBelle and Tony Bennett, took to social media to offer their tributes to a singer who had experienced both triumphs and tragedies.

“As the new year was ushered in, an angelic instrument moved on,” singer Lenny Kravitz wrote on Instagram. “Natalie Cole's voice was perfection. And what a lady.” Cole's success spanned four decades and multiple genres. She achieved fame in the mid-1970s as an R&B artist with the hits “This Will Be,” “Inseparable” and “Our Love.” She later saw her career wane as she privately battled drug addiction. (Susan King) But in 1987 Cole returned to the charts with the comeback album “Everlasting” and then found even greater success a few years later with “Unforgettable … With Love,” which sold more than 6 million copies and won six Grammy Awards, including album of the year. Cole was born Feb. 6, 1950, the second of five children to Nat King Cole and Maria Hawkins Cole, a jazz singer who had sung with the Duke Ellington Orchestra. She grew up in a house filled with music. Luminaries such as Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington and Count Basie were regular guests.

“Not only did I meet and get to know some of these great singers and musicians, but I fondly recall addressing them as ‘aunt' and ‘uncle,'” Cole told Jet magazine in an interview years later. Natalie Cole saw both sides of the coin of fame from an early age. Cole's father had been propelled to stardom in the 1940s thanks to his silky baritone, only to face virulent racism that would follow him throughout his career. In 1948, when he and his wife bought a house in Hancock Park, members of the property owners association told Cole they didn't want any undesirables moving into the area. “Neither do I,” Cole responded. “And if I see anybody undesirable coming in here, I'll be the first to complain.” Join the conversation on Facebook >> As much as she loved all kinds of music, from traditional jazz to Janis Joplin, Cole's own professional singing career came about somewhat accidentally. She was working toward a pre-med degree at the University of Massachusetts when a friend who was singing with a local group became ill one evening and asked if she would stand in for him at one of the band's performances.

And that seems to have done it for her. From the archives: 11 year-old Natalie Cole duets with her father Nat King Cole Open link Setting aside her plans for a medical career, Cole joined the R&B and rock band Black Magic in the early 1970s and within a few years began staking out her own distinctive musical terrain. Her debut album, “Inseparable,” featuring the exuberant R&B hit “This Will Be,” won two Grammys and earned Cole comparisons to Aretha Franklin. Her sophomore album, 1976's “Natalie,” earned her another Grammy for the song “Sophisticated Lady.” But Cole's growing success was soon derailed by a worsening addiction to heroin and crack cocaine. In 1983, with her health and her work suffering, the singer entered rehab. “I was breaking down physically,” she told The Times in 1985. “I had been into drugs over a number of years and it was starting to take its toll, both mentally and physically — and I had to go away.

I started taking smaller jobs so that I wouldn't be as visible.” Her years of substance abuse left her with health issues that would plague her for the rest of her life, but Cole's career eventually rebounded, peaking with “Unforgettable,” which saw her trading phrases with a recording of her father singing his signature hit decades earlier. “No one really knew what to expect,” Cole told CNN's Larry King of the duet recording in 2010. “Technologically, we had never done anything like that. Nothing had been attempted like that, to lift Dad's voice, literally, off of that track and put it on a brand-new one, and then line it up, match it up, get the phrasing right. I remember listening — everyone listening at the end, and we were just enthralled. It was really wonderful.” 'Unforgettable' singer Natalie Cole dead at 65 'Unforgettable' singer Natalie Cole dead at 65 By Bill Trott Share View photos Natalie Cole poses backstage during the 14th Latin Grammy Awards in Las Vegas, Nevada, in this file photo taken November 21, 2013.

REUTERS/Steve Marcus/Files More By Bill Trott REUTERS - Grammy-winning singer Natalie Cole, whose biggest hit came in a virtual duet with her late father, pop legend Nat King Cole, of his decades-old hit "Unforgettable," has died at the age of 65, her family said on Friday. The family's statement said Cole died on Thursday night at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles from "ongoing health issues." Cole's career spanned five decades in the R&B, soul, jazz and pop genres. In 2015, she had canceled appearances citing medical reasons. "It is with heavy hearts that we bring to you all the news of our Mother and sister's passing," the Cole family statement said. "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.” The statement was signed by Cole's only child, Robert Yancey, and her twin sisters, Timolin and Casey Cole.

Tributes quickly poured in for Cole, with singer Tony Bennett saying on Instagram he was "deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Natalie Cole, as I have cherished the long friendship I had with her, her father Nat, and the family over the years." Bennett added: "Natalie was an exceptional jazz singer and it was an honor to have recorded and performed with her on several occasions." "UNFORGETTABLE" COMEBACK Cole broke out in 1975 with the hit "This Will Be," which won the Grammy for best R&B female performance and also earned her the Grammy for best new artist. Critics compared her to Diana Ross and Aretha Franklin but her career floundered in the 1980s when she ran into problems with heroin. She bounced back, and her career reached the superstar level in 1991 when she recorded "Unforgettable ... With Love." The album contained songs associated with her father, the silky-voiced baritone who was one of the most popular performers of the 1940s and '50s but died before his daughter began her solo career.

Using technology that was cutting edge at the time, studio engineers merged her voice with her father's in the song "Unforgettable," which had been a hit for Nat King Cole in 1951. The result was a moving, sentimental No. 1 hit 40 years later, that actually sounded as if the two were singing a duet. The song and the album it came from earned Cole three Grammy Awards. "I thank my dad for leaving me such a wonderful, wonderful heritage," Cole said in accepting her awards. Cole's other hits included "Everlasting," "Sophisticated Lady," "I've Got love on My Mind," and "Good to Be Back." In all, she won nine Grammys. The success of "Unforgettable" capped her comeback after a dark period of heroin, crack and alcohol abuse. In "Angel on My Shoulder," her 2000 memoir, Cole said she turned to drugs because of unresolved issues in her life, including being molested as a child and her father's death when she was 15.

She spent six months in a rehabilitation program at the Hazelden Clinic in Minnesota and told CBS in 2006 that "those people gave me my life back one day at a time." Cole was diagnosed with hepatitis in 2008 from sharing needles with drug addicts, and underwent kidney transplant surgery in 2009. This past autumn, she canceled several concerts scheduled for November and December, citing a recent medical procedure. Her 2008 album of pop standards, "Still Unforgettable," included another duet with her father, "Walkin' My Baby Back Home." Her most recent work was 2013's "Natalie Cole en Espanol." Cole was only 11 when she first sang professionally, with her father. But she went to the University of Massachusetts in Amherst with no plans of an entertainment career. While in college, she performed with bands and set aside plans for being a child psychologist. Cole's mother, Maria Cole, also had been a singer with the Duke Ellington and Count Basie bands. Cole portrayed herself in "Livin' for Love: The Natalie Cole Story," a 2000 television movie that depicted her drug addiction. She was married three times.

"We’ve lost a wonderful, highly cherished artist and our heartfelt condolences go out to Natalie’s family, friends, her many collaborators, as well as to all who have been entertained by her exceptional talent," Neil Portnow, president of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Singer Patti LaBelle tweeted “Sending prayers and condolences to all the loved ones of my friend #NatalieCole! She will be truly missed but her light will shine forever!” Singer Lenny Kravitz posted on Instagram: "As the new year was ushered in, an angelic instrument moved on. Natalie Cole's voice was perfection. And what a lady... You will be missed my dear.

Love." (Reporting by Sandra Maler and Bill Trott in Washington and Barbara Goldberg in New York; Writing by Bill Trott and Peter Cooney; Editing by David Gregorio) Reblog Natalie Cole: Unforgettable singer and daughter of legend Nat 'King' Cole dies at 65 - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) Natalie Cole: Unforgettable singer and daughter of legend Nat 'King' Cole dies at 65 Updated January 02, 2016 13:51:36 Map: United States Singer Natalie Cole, the daughter of jazz legend Nat "King" Cole who overcame substance abuse to find success in her own right, has died at age 65. Cole, who had longstanding health issues including complications from a kidney transplant, died on New Year's Eve at a Los Angeles hospital. Cole's career spanned five decades in the R&B, soul, jazz and pop genres. In 2015, she had cancelled appearances citing medical reasons. "It is with heavy hearts that we bring to you all the news of our mother and sister's passing," the Cole family statement said.

"Natalie fought a fierce, courageous battle, dying how she lived - with dignity, strength and honour." Natalie fought a fierce, courageous battle, dying how she lived — with dignity, strength and honour. Cole family statement Quoting her most identifiable song, the family added: "Our beloved mother and sister will be greatly missed and remain UNFORGETTABLE in our hearts forever." The statement was signed by Cole's only child, Robert Yancey, and her twin sisters, Timolin and Casey Cole. Tributes quickly came in. Civil rights leader Jesse Jackson mourned Cole on Twitter as a "sister beloved ... of substance and sound", adding: "May her soul rest in peace." Singer Tony Bennett said he was "deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Natalie Cole, as I have cherished the long friendship I had with her, her father Nat, and the family over the years". "Natalie was an exceptional jazz singer and it was an honour to have recorded and performed with her on several occasions," he added. External Link: Tony Bennett's tribute for Natalie Cole In contrast to the rags-to-riches stories of many other artists of her generation, Cole was raised in relative affluence in Los Angeles.

She was only 11 when she first sang professionally, with her father. But she went to the University of Massachusetts in Amherst with no plans of an entertainment career. While in college, she performed with bands and set aside plans for being a child psychologist. Cole broke out in 1975 with the hit This Will Be, which won the Grammy for best R&B female performance and also earned her the Grammy for best new artist. Critics compared her to Diana Ross and Aretha Franklin but her career floundered in the 1980s when she ran into problems with heroin. She bounced back, and her career reached the superstar level in 1991 when she recorded Unforgettable ... With Love. The album contained songs associated with her father, the silky-voiced baritone who was one of the most popular performers of the 1940s and '50s but died before his daughter began her solo career. Using technology that was cutting edge at the time, studio engineers merged her voice with her father's in the song Unforgettable, which had been a hit for Nat King Cole in 1951.

The result was a moving, sentimental number one hit 40 years later, that actually sounded as if the two were singing a duet. The song and the album it came from earned Cole three Grammy Awards. "I thank my dad for leaving me such a wonderful, wonderful heritage," Cole said in accepting her awards. Cole's other hits included Everlasting, Sophisticated Lady, I've Got love on My Mind, and Good to Be Back. In all, she won nine Grammys. The success of Unforgettable capped her comeback after a dark period of heroin, crack and alcohol abuse. In Angel on My Shoulder, her 2000 memoir, Cole said she turned to drugs because of unresolved issues in her life, including being molested as a child and her father's death when she was 15. She spent six months in a rehabilitation program at the Hazelden Clinic in Minnesota and told CBS in 2006 that "those people gave me my life back one day at a time". Cole's final album, in 2008, was entitled Still Unforgettable" and expanded on the theme of her 1991 work by adapting classic American tunes in addition to those of her father.

While recording the album Cole was found during a routine blood test to have Hepatitis C - a liver virus that she presumably contracted as a result of her past drug use. She underwent kidney transplant surgery in 2009. Cole's mother, Maria Cole, also had been a singer with the Duke Ellington and Count Basie bands. Cole portrayed herself in Livin' for Love: The Natalie Cole Story, a 2000 television movie that depicted her drug addiction. She was married three times. "We've lost a wonderful, highly cherished artist and our heartfelt condolences go out to Natalie's family, friends, her many collaborators, as well as to all who have been entertained by her exceptional talent," said Neil Portnow, president of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Singer Patti LaBelle tweeted "Sending prayers and condolences to all the loved ones of my friend #NatalieCole!

She will be truly missed but her light will shine forever!" 'Unforgettable' singer Natalie Cole dead at 65 'Unforgettable' singer Natalie Cole dead at 65 By Bill Trott Share View photos Singer Natalie Cole sings at "An Evening of SeriousFun Celebrating the Legacy of Paul Newman" event in New York March 2, 2015. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson More By Bill Trott (Reuters) - Grammy-winning singer Natalie Cole, whose biggest hit came in a virtual duet with her late father, pop legend Nat King Cole, of his decades-old hit "Unforgettable," has died at the age of 65, her family said on Friday. The family's statement said Cole died on Thursday night at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles from "ongoing health issues." Cole's career spanned five decades in the R&B, soul, jazz and pop genres. In 2015, she had canceled appearances citing medical reasons. "It is with heavy hearts that we bring to you all the news of our Mother and sister's passing," the Cole family statement said. "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.” The statement was signed by Cole's only child, Robert Yancey, and her twin sisters, Timolin and Casey Cole. Tributes quickly poured in for Cole, with singer Tony Bennett saying on Instagram he was "deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Natalie Cole, as I have cherished the long friendship I had with her, her father Nat, and the family over the years." Bennett added: "Natalie was an exceptional jazz singer and it was an honor to have recorded and performed with her on several occasions." "UNFORGETTABLE" COMEBACK Cole broke out in 1975 with the hit "This Will Be," which won the Grammy for best R&B female performance and also earned her the Grammy for best new artist. Critics compared her to Diana Ross and Aretha Franklin but her career floundered in the 1980s when she ran into problems with heroin. She bounced back, and her career reached the superstar level in 1991 when she recorded "Unforgettable ...

With Love." The album contained songs associated with her father, the silky-voiced baritone who was one of the most popular performers of the 1940s and '50s but died before his daughter began her solo career. Using technology that was cutting edge at the time, studio engineers merged her voice with her father's in the song "Unforgettable," which had been a hit for Nat King Cole in 1951. The result was a moving, sentimental No. 1 hit 40 years later, that actually sounded as if the two were singing a duet. The song and the album it came from earned Cole three Grammy Awards. "I thank my dad for leaving me such a wonderful, wonderful heritage," Cole said in accepting her awards. Cole's other hits included "Everlasting," "Sophisticated Lady," "I've Got love on My Mind," and "Good to Be Back." In all, she won nine Grammys. The success of "Unforgettable" capped her comeback after a dark period of heroin, crack and alcohol abuse.

In "Angel on My Shoulder," her 2000 memoir, Cole said she turned to drugs because of unresolved issues in her life, including being molested as a child and her father's death when she was 15. She spent six months in a rehabilitation program at the Hazelden Clinic in Minnesota and told CBS in 2006 that "those people gave me my life back one day at a time." Cole was diagnosed with hepatitis in 2008 from sharing needles with drug addicts, and underwent kidney transplant surgery in 2009. This past autumn, she canceled several concerts scheduled for November and December, citing a recent medical procedure. Her 2008 album of pop standards, "Still Unforgettable," included another duet with her father, "Walkin' My Baby Back Home." Her most recent work was 2013's "Natalie Cole en Espanol." Cole was only 11 when she first sang professionally, with her father. But she went to the University of Massachusetts in Amherst with no plans of an entertainment career. While in college, she performed with bands and set aside plans for being a child psychologist.

Cole's mother, Maria Cole, also had been a singer with the Duke Ellington and Count Basie bands. Cole portrayed herself in "Livin' for Love: The Natalie Cole Story," a 2000 television movie that depicted her drug addiction. She was married three times. "We’ve lost a wonderful, highly cherished artist and our heartfelt condolences go out to Natalie’s family, friends, her many collaborators, as well as to all who have been entertained by her exceptional talent," Neil Portnow, president of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Read More Singer Patti LaBelle tweeted “Sending prayers and condolences to all the loved ones of my friend #NatalieCole! She will be truly missed but her light will shine forever!” Singer Lenny Kravitz posted on Instagram: "As the new year was ushered in, an angelic instrument moved on. Natalie Cole's voice was perfection. And what a lady... You will be missed my dear.

Love." (Reporting by Sandra Maler and Bill Trott in Washington and Barbara Goldberg in New York; Writing by Bill Trott and Peter Cooney; Editing by David Gregorio) Reblog Singer Natalie Cole dies at 65 | Las Vegas Review-Journal Singer Natalie Cole dies at 65 Singer Natalie Cole dies at 65 NDN-VIDEO-40202283308.mov Natalie Cole dead at 65 (NY Daily News/Inform) Singer Natalie Cole dies at 65 Natalie Cole poses backstage after winning Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album for "Still Unforgettable" at the 51st annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, Feb. 8, 2009. Natalie Cole, the daughter of Nat King Cole, has died at the age of 65, according to U.S. media reports, Jan. 1, 2016. (Mario Anzuoni/Reuters) Singer Natalie Cole dies at 65 Natalie Cole poses backstage during the 14th Latin Grammy Awards in Las Vegas, Nov. 21, 2013.

(Steve Marcus/Reuters Files) Singer Natalie Cole dies at 65 Singer Natalie Cole poses at the 21st annual Race To Erase MS fundraiser in Los Angeles, May 2, 2014. Cole, the daughter of legendary jazz singer Nat ‘King‘ Cole, has died at the age of 65, according to news reports. (Mario Anzuoni/Reuters Files) Singer Natalie Cole dies at 65 Natalie Cole sings the National Anthem at Game 4 of the World Series Oct. 23, 2002, at Pacific Bell Park in San Francisco. (Mike Segar/Reuters) Singer Natalie Cole dies at 65 Singer Natalie Cole sings at "An Evening of Serious Fun Celebrating the Legacy of Paul Newman" event in New York, March 2, 2015. Cole, the daughter of Nat King Cole, has died at the age of 65, according to U.S. media reports, Jan. 1, 2016.

(Lucas Jackson/Reuters Files) By Bill Trott Reuters Grammy-winning singer Natalie Cole, whose biggest hit came in a virtual duet with her late father, pop legend Nat King Cole, of his decades-old hit "Unforgettable," has died at the age of 65, her family said on Friday. The family's statement said Cole died on Thursday night at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles from "ongoing health issues." Cole's career spanned five decades in the R&B, soul, jazz and pop genres. In 2015, she had canceled appearances citing medical reasons. "It is with heavy hearts that we bring to you all the news of our Mother and sister's passing," theCole family statement said. "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.” The statement was signed by Cole's only child, Robert Yancey, and her twin sisters, Timolin and Casey Cole.

Tributes quickly poured in for Cole, with singer Tony Bennett saying on Instagram he was "deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Natalie Cole, as I have cherished the long friendship I had with her, her father Nat, and the family over the years." Bennett added: "Natalie was an exceptional jazz singer and it was an honor to have recorded and performed with her on several occasions." 'UNFORGETTABLE' COMEBACK Cole broke out in 1975 with the hit "This Will Be," which won the Grammy for best R&B female performance and also earned her the Grammy for best new artist. Critics compared her to Diana Ross and Aretha Franklin but her career floundered in the 1980s when she ran into problems with heroin. She bounced back, and her career reached the superstar level in 1991 when she recorded "Unforgettable ... With Love." The album contained songs associated with her father, the silky-voiced baritone who was one of the most popular performers of the 1940s and '50s but died before his daughter began her solo career.

Using technology that was cutting edge at the time, studio engineers merged her voice with her father's in the song "Unforgettable," which had been a hit for Nat King Cole in 1951. The result was a moving, sentimental No. 1 hit 40 years later, that actually sounded as if the two were singing a duet. The song and the album it came from earned Cole three Grammy Awards. "I thank my dad for leaving me such a wonderful, wonderful heritage," Cole said in accepting her awards. Cole's other hits included "Everlasting," "Sophisticated Lady," "I've Got love on My Mind," and "Good to Be Back." In all, she won nine Grammys. The success of "Unforgettable" capped her comeback after a dark period of heroin, crack and alcohol abuse. In "Angel on My Shoulder," her 2000 memoir, Cole said she turned to drugs because of unresolved issues in her life, including being molested as a child and her father's death when she was 15.

She spent six months in a rehabilitation program at the Hazelden Clinic in Minnesota and told CBS in 2006 that "those people gave me my life back one day at a time." Cole was diagnosed with hepatitis in 2008 from sharing needles with drug addicts, and underwent kidney transplant surgery in 2009. This past autumn, she canceled several concerts scheduled for November and December, citing a recent medical procedure. Her 2008 album of pop standards, "Still Unforgettable," included another duet with her father, "Walkin' My Baby Back Home." Her most recent work was 2013's "Natalie Cole en Espanol." Cole was only 11 when she first sang professionally, with her father. But she went to the University of Massachusetts in Amherst with no plans of an entertainment career. While in college, she performed with bands and set aside plans for being a child psychologist. Cole's mother, Maria Cole, also had been a singer with the Duke Ellington and Count Basie bands. Cole portrayed herself in "Livin' for Love: The Natalie Cole Story," a 2000 television movie that depicted her drug addiction. She was married three times.

"We’ve lost a wonderful, highly cherished artist and our heartfelt condolences go out to Natalie’s family, friends, her many collaborators, as well as to all who have been entertained by her exceptional talent," Neil Portnow, president of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Singer Patti LaBelle tweeted “Sending prayers and condolences to all the loved ones of my friend #NatalieCole! She will be truly missed but her light will shine forever!” Singer Lenny Kravitz posted on Instagram: "As the new year was ushered in, an angelic instrument moved on. Natalie Cole's voice was perfection. And what a lady... You will be missed my dear. Love." 'Unforgettable' singer Natalie Cole dead at 65 | Reuters Sat Jan 2, 2016 | 1:02 AM GMT 'Unforgettable' singer Natalie Cole dead at 65 By Bill Trott Grammy-winning singer Natalie Cole, whose biggest hit came in a virtual duet with her late father, pop legend Nat King Cole, of his decades-old hit "Unforgettable," has died at the age of 65, her family said on Friday.

The family's statement said Cole died on Thursday night at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles from "ongoing health issues." Cole's career spanned five decades in the R&B, soul, jazz and pop genres. In 2015, she had canceled appearances citing medical reasons. "It is with heavy hearts that we bring to you all the news of our Mother and sister's passing," the Cole family statement said. "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.” The statement was signed by Cole's only child, Robert Yancey, and her twin sisters, Timolin and Casey Cole.

Tributes quickly poured in for Cole, with singer Tony Bennett saying on Instagram he was "deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Natalie Cole, as I have cherished the long friendship I had with her, her father Nat, and the family over the years." Bennett added: "Natalie was an exceptional jazz singer and it was an honor to have recorded and performed with her on several occasions." "UNFORGETTABLE" COMEBACK Cole broke out in 1975 with the hit "This Will Be," which won the Grammy for best R&B female performance and also earned her the Grammy for best new artist. Critics compared her to Diana Ross and Aretha Franklin but her career floundered in the 1980s when she ran into problems with heroin. She bounced back, and her career reached the superstar level in 1991 when she recorded "Unforgettable ... With Love." The album contained songs associated with her father, the silky-voiced baritone who was one of the most popular performers of the 1940s and '50s but died before his daughter began her solo career.

Using technology that was cutting edge at the time, studio engineers merged her voice with her father's in the song "Unforgettable," which had been a hit for Nat King Cole in 1951. The result was a moving, sentimental No. 1 hit 40 years later, that actually sounded as if the two were singing a duet. The song and the album it came from earned Cole three Grammy Awards. "I thank my dad for leaving me such a wonderful, wonderful heritage," Cole said in accepting her awards. Cole's other hits included "Everlasting," "Sophisticated Lady," "I've Got love on My Mind," and "Good to Be Back." In all, she won nine Grammys. The success of "Unforgettable" capped her comeback after a dark period of heroin, crack and alcohol abuse. In "Angel on My Shoulder," her 2000 memoir, Cole said she turned to drugs because of unresolved issues in her life, including being molested as a child and her father's death when she was 15.

She spent six months in a rehabilitation program at the Hazelden Clinic in Minnesota and told CBS in 2006 that "those people gave me my life back one day at a time." Cole was diagnosed with hepatitis in 2008 from sharing needles with drug addicts, and underwent kidney transplant surgery in 2009. This past autumn, she canceled several concerts scheduled for November and December, citing a recent medical procedure. Her 2008 album of pop standards, "Still Unforgettable," included another duet with her father, "Walkin' My Baby Back Home." Her most recent work was 2013's "Natalie Cole en Espanol." Cole was only 11 when she first sang professionally, with her father. But she went to the University of Massachusetts in Amherst with no plans of an entertainment career. While in college, she performed with bands and set aside plans for being a child psychologist. Cole's mother, Maria Cole, also had been a singer with the Duke Ellington and Count Basie bands. Cole portrayed herself in "Livin' for Love: The Natalie Cole Story," a 2000 television movie that depicted her drug addiction. She was married three times.

"We’ve lost a wonderful, highly cherished artist and our heartfelt condolences go out to Natalie’s family, friends, her many collaborators, as well as to all who have been entertained by her exceptional talent," Neil Portnow, president of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Singer Patti LaBelle tweeted “Sending prayers and condolences to all the loved ones of my friend #NatalieCole! She will be truly missed but her light will shine forever!” Singer Lenny Kravitz posted on Instagram: "As the new year was ushered in, an angelic instrument moved on. Natalie Cole's voice was perfection. And what a lady... You will be missed my dear. Love." (Reporting by Sandra Maler and Bill Trott in Washington and Barbara Goldberg in New York; Writing by Bill Trott and Peter Cooney; Editing by David Gregorio) ADVERTISEMENT 1/5 Singer Natalie Cole sings at ''An Evening of SeriousFun Celebrating the Legacy of Paul Newman'' event in New York March 2, 2015.

Reuters/Lucas Jackson + 2/5 Natalie Cole poses backstage during the 14th Latin Grammy Awards in Las Vegas, Nevada, in this file photo taken November 21, 2013. Reuters/Steve Marcus/Files + 3/5 Singer Natalie Cole poses at the 21st annual Race To Erase MS fundraiser in Los Angeles, California, in this file photo taken May 2, 2014. Reuters/Mario Anzuoni/Files + 4/5 Natalie Cole poses backstage after winning Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album for ''Still Unforgettable'' at the 51st annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles February 8, 2009. Reuters/Mario Anzuoni + 5/5 Natalie Cole poses backstage after winning Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album for ''Still Unforgettable'' at the 51st annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles February 8, 2009.

Reuters/Mario Anzuoni + UPDATE 6-'Unforgettable' singer Natalie Cole dead at 65 | Reuters Fri Jan 1, 2016 | 4:50 PM EST UPDATE 6-'Unforgettable' singer Natalie Cole dead at 65 (New throughout, adds more reaction) By Bill Trott Jan 1 Grammy-winning singer Natalie Cole, whose biggest hit came in a virtual duet with her late father, pop legend Nat King Cole, of his decades-old hit "Unforgettable," has died at the age of 65, her family said on Friday. The family's statement said Cole died on Thursday night at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles from "ongoing health issues." Cole's career spanned five decades in the R&B, soul, jazz and pop genres. In 2015, she had canceled appearances citing medical reasons. "It is with heavy hearts that we bring to you all the news of our Mother and sister's passing," the Cole family statement said. "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." The statement was signed by Cole's only child, Robert Yancey, and her twin sisters, Timolin and Casey Cole. Tributes quickly poured in for Cole, with singer Tony Bennett saying on Instagram he was "deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Natalie Cole, as I have cherished the long friendship I had with her, her father Nat, and the family over the years." Bennett added: "Natalie was an exceptional jazz singer and it was an honor to have recorded and performed with her on several occasions." "UNFORGETTABLE" COMEBACK Cole broke out in 1975 with the hit "This Will Be," which won the Grammy for best R&B female performance and also earned her the Grammy for best new artist. Critics compared her to Diana Ross and Aretha Franklin but her career floundered in the 1980s when she ran into problems with heroin. She bounced back, and her career reached the superstar level in 1991 when she recorded "Unforgettable ...

With Love." The album contained songs associated with her father, the silky-voiced baritone who was one of the most popular performers of the 1940s and '50s but died before his daughter began her solo career. Using technology that was cutting edge at the time, studio engineers merged her voice with her father's in the song "Unforgettable," which had been a hit for Nat King Cole in 1951. The result was a moving, sentimental No. 1 hit 40 years later, that actually sounded as if the two were singing a duet. The song and the album it came from earned Cole three Grammy Awards. "I thank my dad for leaving me such a wonderful, wonderful heritage," Cole said in accepting her awards. Cole's other hits included "Everlasting," "Sophisticated Lady," "I've Got love on My Mind," and "Good to Be Back." In all, she won nine Grammys. The success of "Unforgettable" capped her comeback after a dark period of heroin, crack and alcohol abuse.

In "Angel on My Shoulder," her 2000 memoir, Cole said she turned to drugs because of unresolved issues in her life, including being molested as a child and her father's death when she was 15. She spent six months in a rehabilitation program at the Hazelden Clinic in Minnesota and told CBS in 2006 that "those people gave me my life back one day at a time." Cole was diagnosed with hepatitis in 2008 from sharing needles with drug addicts, and underwent kidney transplant surgery in 2009. This past autumn, she canceled several concerts scheduled for November and December, citing a recent medical procedure. Her 2008 album of pop standards, "Still Unforgettable," included another duet with her father, "Walkin' My Baby Back Home." Her most recent work was 2013's "Natalie Cole en Espanol." Cole was only 11 when she first sang professionally, with her father. But she went to the University of Massachusetts in Amherst with no plans of an entertainment career. While in college, she performed with bands and set aside plans for being a child psychologist.

Cole's mother, Maria Cole, also had been a singer with the Duke Ellington and Count Basie bands. Cole portrayed herself in "Livin' for Love: The Natalie Cole Story," a 2000 television movie that depicted her drug addiction. She was married three times. "We've lost a wonderful, highly cherished artist and our heartfelt condolences go out to Natalie's family, friends, her many collaborators, as well as to all who have been entertained by her exceptional talent," Neil Portnow, president of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Singer Patti LaBelle tweeted "Sending prayers and condolences to all the loved ones of my friend #NatalieCole! She will be truly missed but her light will shine forever!" Singer Lenny Kravitz posted on Instagram: "As the new year was ushered in, an angelic instrument moved on. Natalie Cole's voice was perfection. And what a lady... You will be missed my dear.

Love." (Reporting by Sandra Maler and Bill Trott in Washington and Barbara Goldberg in New York; Writing by Bill Trott and Peter Cooney; Editing by David Gregorio) ADVERTISEMENT 'Unforgettable' singer Natalie Cole dead at 65 | Grand Forks Herald 'Unforgettable' singer Natalie Cole dead at 65 By Reuters Media on Jan 1, 2016 at 8:30 p.m. Singer Natalie Cole sings at "An Evening of SeriousFun Celebrating the Legacy of Paul Newman" event in New York March 2, 2015. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson (Reuters) - Grammy-winning singer Natalie Cole, whose biggest hit came in a virtual duet with her late father, pop legend Nat King Cole, of his decades-old hit "Unforgettable," has died at the age of 65, her family said on Friday. The family's statement said Cole died on Thursday night at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles from "ongoing health issues." Cole's career spanned five decades in the R&B, soul, jazz and pop genres. In 2015, she had canceled appearances citing medical reasons.

"It is with heavy hearts that we bring to you all the news of our Mother and sister's passing," theCole family statement said. "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.” The statement was signed by Cole's only child, Robert Yancey, and her twin sisters, Timolin and Casey Cole. Tributes quickly poured in for Cole, with singer Tony Bennett saying on Instagram he was "deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Natalie Cole, as I have cherished the long friendship I had with her, her father Nat, and the family over the years." Bennett added: "Natalie was an exceptional jazz singer and it was an honor to have recorded and performed with her on several occasions." "UNFORGETTABLE" COMEBACK Cole broke out in 1975 with the hit "This Will Be," which won the Grammy for best R&B female performance and also earned her the Grammy for best new artist.

Critics compared her to Diana Ross and Aretha Franklin but her career floundered in the 1980s when she ran into problems with heroin. She bounced back, and her career reached the superstar level in 1991 when she recorded "Unforgettable ... With Love." The album contained songs associated with her father, the silky-voiced baritone who was one of the most popular performers of the 1940s and '50s but died before his daughter began her solo career. Using technology that was cutting edge at the time, studio engineers merged her voice with her father's in the song "Unforgettable," which had been a hit for Nat King Cole in 1951. The result was a moving, sentimental No. 1 hit 40 years later, that actually sounded as if the two were singing a duet. The song and the album it came from earned Cole three Grammy Awards. "I thank my dad for leaving me such a wonderful, wonderful heritage," Cole said in accepting her awards. Cole's other hits included "Everlasting," "Sophisticated Lady," "I've Got love on My Mind," and "Good to Be Back." In all, she won nine Grammys.

The success of "Unforgettable" capped her comeback after a dark period of heroin, crack and alcohol abuse. In "Angel on My Shoulder," her 2000 memoir, Cole said she turned to drugs because of unresolved issues in her life, including being molested as a child and her father's death when she was 15. She spent six months in a rehabilitation program at the Hazelden Clinic in Minnesota and told CBS in 2006 that "those people gave me my life back one day at a time." Cole was diagnosed with hepatitis in 2008 from sharing needles with drug addicts, and underwent kidney transplant surgery in 2009. This past autumn, she canceled several concerts scheduled for November and December, citing a recent medical procedure. Her 2008 album of pop standards, "Still Unforgettable," included another duet with her father, "Walkin' My Baby Back Home." Her most recent work was 2013's "Natalie Cole en Espanol." Cole was only 11 when she first sang professionally, with her father. But she went to the University of Massachusetts in Amherst with no plans of an entertainment career.

While in college, she performed with bands and set aside plans for being a child psychologist. Cole's mother, Maria Cole, also had been a singer with the Duke Ellington and Count Basie bands. Cole portrayed herself in "Livin' for Love: The Natalie Cole Story," a 2000 television movie that depicted her drug addiction. She was married three times. "We’ve lost a wonderful, highly cherished artist and our heartfelt condolences go out to Natalie’s family, friends, her many collaborators, as well as to all who have been entertained by her exceptional talent," Neil Portnow, president of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Singer Patti LaBelle tweeted “Sending prayers and condolences to all the loved ones of my friend #NatalieCole! She will be truly missed but her light will shine forever!” Singer Lenny Kravitz posted on Instagram: "As the new year was ushered in, an angelic instrument moved on. Natalie Cole's voice was perfection. And what a lady... You will be missed my dear. Love."

Question: Which singer recorded "Unforgettable" in 1951, which his daughter, Natalie Cole made into a duet with herself in 1991?
Answer: Nat King Cole