Natalie Cole, American singer and actress, Died at 65

  Actor, Music

Natalie Maria Cole was born on February 6, 1950, and died on December 31, 2015.

She was an American singer, songwriter, and performer.

Cole attended Northfield School, an elite New England preparatory school.

She then started the University of Massachusetts Amherst but continued to have issues with her mother.

Cole then transferred briefly to the University of Southern California where she pledged the Upsilon chapter of Delta Sigma Theta sorority.

Ms. Cole later transferred back to the University of Massachusetts, where she majored in Child Psychology and minored in German.

She graduated in 1972.

She was the daughter of Nat King Cole and Maria Hawkins Ellington.

Cole was most popular in her musical career in the mid-1970s as a RnB artist with the hits “This Will Be”, “Inseparable”, and “Our Love”.

After a period of failing sales and performances due to a heavy drug addiction, Cole re-emerged as a pop artist with the 1987 album Everlasting and her cover of Bruce Springsteen’s “Pink Cadillac”.

She recorded “You”. Released in 1975, Natalie then received a Grammy Award for Best Female RnB Vocal Performance, later her second single, “Inseparable”, also became a hit.

Cole re-recorded standards by her father, resulting in her biggest success in the 1990s, ‘Unforgettable–with Love’, which sold over 7 million copies and also won Cole numerous Grammy Awards.

She released her first platinum record with her third release, ‘Unpredictable’, mainly thanks to the number-one RnB hit, “I’ve Got Love on My Mind” and “I’m Catching Hell”, was a popular Natalie Cole song during live concert shows.

Ms. cole also appeared several times in live concerts or other music related programs, including the 1988 Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute with sidemen Richard Campbell, Jeffrey Worrell, Eddie Cole and Dave Joyce.

Cole (along with jazz vocalist Al Jarreau) sang the song “Mr. President” in 1990, (written by Ray Reach, Mike Loveless and Joe Sterling) on HBO’s Comic Relief special, hosted by Whoopi Goldberg, Robin Williams and Billy Crystal.

Natalie performed for the first time in Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands, on December 2, 2006, as part of the annual Cayman Jazz Fest.

On the February 5, 2007, episode of Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, Cole sang “I Say a Little Prayer” at a benefit dinner for Harriet Hayes (Sarah Paulson).

She was married three times.

Cole married Marvin Yancy, he was a songwriter, producer and former member of the ’70s RnB group The Independents on July 31, 1976.

They conceive a son, Robert Adam “Robbie” Yancy (born October 15, 1977); he is now a musician who toured with her.

Her husband, Marvin was her producer, and an ordained Baptist minister who helped reintroduce her to religion.

During there work together, Cole changed from a lapsed Episcopalian to become a devout Baptist.

Natalie Cole and Yancy got divorced in 1980 before Yancy died of a heart attack in 1985, aged 34.

In 1989, Natalie then married record producer and former drummer for the band Rufus, Andre Fischer; they were divorced in 1995.

Later in 2001, She married bishop Kenneth Dupree; they divorced in 2004.

Cole was active in the Afghan World Foundation cause, supporting Sonia Nassery Cole (no relation).

Natalie sold over 30 million records worldwide.

She was exposed to many musical influences as a child.

Natalie Cole passed away at 65 on December 31, 2015, at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California, due to congestive heart failure.

Natalie Cole released an autobiography, Angel on My Shoulder, which described her battle with drugs during much of her life, including heroin and
crack cocaine.

Natalie Cole passed away at 65 yrs old.