Natalie Cole Dies At Age 65
Natalie Cole has died at age 65.
http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/music/singer-natalie-cole-dead-65-article-1.2482580
Cole, who had struggled with a variety of health issues in recent years, died Thursday night, according to publicist Maureen O’Connor. The cause of death was reportedly congestive heart failure.
A physically weakened Cole, winner of nine Grammy Awards, was forced to cancel a string of concert performances over the last three months after a recurrence of hepatitis C linked to her earlier drug abuse.
The daughter of music icon Nat (King) Cole scored a huge 1991 hit with “Unforgettable” — a virtual duet with her late father. Natalie was just 15 when her father died in 1965, a decade before his daughter launched her own solo recording career.
The album “Unforgettable ... With Love” spent five weeks at No. 1 on the pop charts, sold more than 14 million copies worldwide and won six Grammy Awards.
But her career exploded with her 1975 debut album that included the massive hit single “This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)” and a pair of Grammys for Best New Artist and Best Female R&B Performance.
Cole initially struggled with success, battling a devastating cocaine addiction until her manager sent her “kicking and screaming” to drug rehab in 1983, the singer recalled.
She had previously experimented with drugs like LSD and heroin, but it was cocaine that sent her into a spiral as her career and marriage faltered. A first trip to rehab failed, but the second one took — and she remained sober for the remainder of her life.
Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images
Nat "King" Cole and daughter Natalie Cole pose for a portrait session in 1955.
Her career was soon back on track with her hit cover of Bruce Springsteen’s “Pink Cadillac,” along with the singles “Jump Start My Heart” and “I Live for Your Love.”
Cole, who received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, wrote a pair of memoirs and starred in a 2001 made-for-TV movie “Livin’ For Love: The Natalie Cole Story.”
In 2009, she received a kidney from an anonymous donor after hepatitis C forced her into dialysis. Cole became a spokesperson for the University Kidney Research Organization, a group dedicated to eradicating kidney disease.
She appeared in June 2014 at the Apollo Theater’s 80th birthday celebration.
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Take a look in the mirror, look at yourself
But don't you look too close
'Cause you just might see the person
That you hate the most
Lord, what's happening to this human race
I can't even see one friendly face
Brothers fight brothers and sisters wink their eyes
While silver tongues bear fruits of poison lies
Take a look at your children born innocent
Every boy and every girl
Denying themselves a real chance
To build a better world
Oh, ohh dear Lord, what's happening to your precious dream?
I think its washin' away on a bloody, bloody stream, yes
Take a look at your children
Before it's too late, and tell them nobody
Nobody wins when the prize is hate
Oh, no, no, no it's not too late
We gotta tell all of our children
That love, love, love is the way
Yea, yea
Songwriters
Toussaint, Allen
Read more: Natalie Cole - Take A Look Lyrics | MetroLyrics
Natalie Cole's death is a great loss for admirers and fans of the Great American Songbook.
Her duet with her father was beautiful.
RIP Natalie.
The Coles were both amazing performers . If I'm not mistaken the duet was a studio mashup from 2 different eras .