Natalie Cole
This article may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards. The specific problem is: Remove unsourced statements. (January 2024) |
Natalie Cole | |
---|---|
Los Angeles, California, U.S. | |
Died | December 31, 2015 Los Angeles, California, U.S. | (aged 65)
Resting place | Forest Lawn Memorial Park |
Occupations |
|
Years active | 1956–2015 |
Spouses |
|
Children | 1 |
Parent(s) | Nat King Cole Maria Cole |
Relatives |
|
Musical career | |
Origin | Chicago, Illinois , U.S. |
Genres | |
Instrument(s) | Vocals |
Labels | |
Website | nataliecole.com |
Natalie Maria Cole (February 6, 1950 – December 31, 2015) was an American singer, songwriter, and actress. She was the daughter of singer and jazz pianist Nat King Cole. She rose to prominence in the mid-1970s, with the release of her debut album Inseparable (1975), along with the song "This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)", and the album's title track. Its success led to her receiving the Grammy Award for Best New Artist at the 18th Annual Grammy Awards, for which she became the first African-American recipient, as well as the first R&B act to win the award.[1] The singles "Sophisticated Lady" (1976), "I've Got Love on My Mind", and "Our Love" (1977) followed.
After releasing several albums, she departed from her R&B sound and returned as a pop singer on the 1987 album Everlasting, along with her cover of Bruce Springsteen's "Pink Cadillac". In the 1990s, she sang traditional pop by her father, resulting in her biggest success, Unforgettable... with Love, which was certified 7× platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Unforgettable... with Love won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year, for which Cole became the first African-American woman to win the award.[2]
Throughout her lifetime, Cole received nine
Early life
Natalie Cole was born at
Cole grew up with an older adopted sister, Carole "Cookie" Cole (1944–2009), her mother Maria's younger sister's daughter, adopted brother Nat "Kelly" Cole (1959–1995), and younger twin sisters Timolin and Casey (born 1961).[9] Through her mother, Cole was a grandniece of educator Charlotte Hawkins Brown.[10] Her paternal uncle Freddy Cole was a singer and pianist with numerous albums and awards.
Cole enrolled in Northfield School for Girls, an elite New England preparatory school, since 1971 known as
Music career
Early career
Cole grew up listening to a variety of music that included Aretha Franklin and Janis Joplin. After graduation in 1972 she began singing at small clubs with her band, Black Magic. Clubs initially welcomed her because she was Nat King Cole's daughter, only to be disappointed when she began singing cover versions of R&B and rock songs.
With the assistance of
A second single, theat cole was a famous singer "
Stardom
Becoming an instant star, Cole responded to critics who predicted a sophomore slump with Natalie, released in 1976. The album, like Inseparable, became a gold success thanks to the funk-influenced cut "Sophisticated Lady" and the jazz-influenced "Mr. Melody".
Cole released her first
In early 1979, the singer was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. That same year, she released two more albums, I Love You So and the Peabo Bryson duet album, We're the Best of Friends. Both albums reached gold status in the U.S., reflecting her continuing popularity.
Detour and resurgence
Following the release of her eighth album, 1980's , Cole entered a rehab facility in Connecticut and stayed there for a period of six months.
Following her release, she signed with the Atco imprint Modern Records and released Dangerous, which started a slow resurgence for Cole in terms of record sales and chart success. In 1987, she changed to EMI-Manhattan Records and released the album Everlasting, which returned her to the top of the charts thanks to singles such as "Jump Start (My Heart)", the top ten ballad, "I Live for Your Love", and her dance-pop cover of Bruce Springsteen's "Pink Cadillac". That success helped Everlasting reach one million in sales and become Cole's first platinum album in ten years.
In 1989, she released her follow-up to Everlasting,
Cole released her bestselling album with 1991's
Alongside signing for new material with Elektra, she transferred rights of her EMI-Manhattan catalog.
Cole followed that success with another album of jazz standards, titled Take a Look, in 1993, which included her recording of the title track in the same styling that her idol Aretha Franklin had recorded nearly 30 years earlier. The album eventually went gold while a holiday album, Holly & Ivy, also became gold. Another standards release, Stardust, went platinum and featured another duet with her father on a modern version of "When I Fall in Love", which helped Cole earn another Grammy for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals.
In 1995, Cole was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Music from the Berklee College of Music.
In 1999, Cole returned to her 1980s-era urban contemporary recording style with the release of Snowfall on the Sahara on June and second Christmas album The Magic of Christmas on October, which recorded with London Symphony Orchestra. A year later, the singer collaborated on the production of her biopic, Livin' for Love: The Natalie Cole Story with Theresa Randle playing Natalie Cole. She also released the compilation Greatest Hits, Vol. 1 to fulfill her contract with Elektra. All albums she recorded for Elektra and EMI-Manhattan are no longer controlled by Warner Music Group; they were sold to Concord Music Group and are available digitally via Craft Recordings division.
She changed to Verve Records and released two albums. Ask a Woman Who Knows (2002) continued her jazz aspirations, while Leavin (2006) was an album of pop, rock, and R&B songs. Her version of "Daydreaming" by Aretha Franklin was a minor hit on the R&B chart. In 2008, seventeen years after Unforgettable... with Love, she released Still Unforgettable, which included songs made famous by her father and Frank Sinatra. In April 2012, she appeared on the Pennington Great Performers with the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra.
Television and film career
Cole pursued a career in acting. She appeared several times in concerts or other music related programs, including the 1988 Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute with sidemen
In 1990, Cole hosted the TV show
After Johnny Mathis appeared on a special of Cole's in 1980, the two kept in contact, and in 1992 he invited her to be a part of his television special A Tribute to Nat Cole for the BBC in England. An album of the same name was released. In 1992, following the success of the Unforgettable: With Love album, PBS broadcast a special based on the album. Unforgettable, With Love: Natalie Cole Sings the Songs of Nat "King" Cole received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Program. Cole received a nomination for Outstanding Individual Performance but lost to Bette Midler.
In 1993, she was among the guests of honor attending Wrestlemania IX at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas. At the 65th Academy Awards she performed a medley of two Oscar-nominated songs: "Run to You" and "I Have Nothing", both performed by Whitney Houston in the film The Bodyguard. Cole made a number of dramatic appearances on television, including I'll Fly Away, Touched by an Angel, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, and Grey's Anatomy.[17]
She had the lead role in the TV movie Lily in Winter. She appeared in the Cole Porter biopic De-Lovely. In 2001, she starred as herself in Livin' for Love: the Natalie Cole Story, for which she received the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special.
On the February 5, 2007, episode of Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, Cole sang "I Say a Little Prayer" at a benefit dinner. She sang the national anthem with the Atlanta University Center Chorus at Super Bowl XXVIII. In 2013, she was a guest on Tina Sinatra's Father's Day Special on Sirius Radio. The program included Deana Martin, Monica Mancini, and Daisy Torme reminiscing about their famous fathers.
Personal life
Cole was married three times. She married Marvin Yancy, songwriter, producer, and former member of the 1970s R&B group The Independents in July 1976 in Chicago.[18] She had a son, Robert Adam "Robbie" Yancy (October 14, 1977 – August 14, 2017). He was a musician who toured with her.[19]
Marvin was her producer, and an ordained
In 1989, Cole married record producer and former drummer for the band Rufus, Andre Fischer. They divorced in 1995. In 2001, Cole married Bishop Kenneth Dupree. They divorced in 2004. In 2017, her son Robbie died of a heart attack, aged 39.[21]
Cole was active in the Afghan World Foundation cause, supporting Sonia Nassery Cole (no relation).
Drug use and recovery
In 2000, Cole released an autobiography, Angel on My Shoulder, which described her battle with drugs during much of her life, including heroin and crack cocaine. At one stage of her addiction, Cole worked as a prostitute's tout in order to fund her drug habit.[22] Cole said she began recreational drug use while attending the University of Massachusetts Amherst.[23] She was arrested in Toronto, Canada, for possession of heroin in 1975.[24]
Cole spiraled out of control – in this phase of her life. There was an incident in which she refused to leave a burning building, and another in which her young son Robert nearly drowned in the family swimming pool while she was on a drug binge.[25] She entered rehab in 1983. Her autobiography was released in conjunction with a made-for-TV movie, Livin' for Love: The Natalie Cole Story, which aired December 10, 2000, on NBC and re-aired October 26, 2011, on Centric TV.
Health and death
Cole announced in 2008 that she had been diagnosed with
Four months after starting treatment for hepatitis C, Cole experienced kidney failure and required
Cole canceled several events in December 2015 due to illness. Her last musical performance was a short set of three songs in
Cole's funeral was held on January 11, 2016, at the West Angeles Church of God in Christ in Los Angeles. David Foster, Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson, Lionel Richie, Chaka Khan, Eddie Levert, Mary Wilson, Gladys Knight, Ledisi, Jesse Jackson, Angela Bassett, Denise Nicholas, Marla Gibbs, Jackée Harry and Freda Payne were among the mourners at the funeral. After the funeral, she was buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California. Her grave is located in the central lawn area of the 'Court of Freedom' section, Garden of Honor; there is no public access to her grave.[33][34]
Discography
Studio albums
- Inseparable (1975)
- Natalie (1976)
- Unpredictable (1977)
- Thankful (1977)
- I Love You So (1979)
- Don't Look Back (1980)
- Happy Love (1981)
- I'm Ready (1983)
- Dangerous (1985)
- Everlasting (1987)
- Good to Be Back (1989)
- Unforgettable... with Love (1991)
- Take a Look (1993)
- Holly & Ivy (1994)
- Stardust (1996)
- Snowfall on the Sahara (1999)
- The Magic of Christmas with the London Symphony Orchestra (1999)
- Ask a Woman Who Knows (2002)
- Leavin' (2006)
- Still Unforgettable (2008)
- Caroling, Caroling: Christmas with Natalie Cole (2008)
- Natalie Cole en Español (2013)
Filmography
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1990 | Comic Relief | Herself (performing) | HBO special |
1992 | A Tribute to Nat King Cole | Herself (performing) | BBC special |
1997 | Cats Don't Dance | Sawyer (singing voice) | Animated movie |
1998 | Always Outnumbered | Lula Brown | |
1999 | Freak City | Eleanor Sorrell | |
2004 | De-Lovely | Musical performer | |
2006 | Grey's Anatomy | Mrs. Booker | Season 2 episode: "Band-Aid Covers the Bullet Hole" |
2006 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Defense Attorney Serena Waldren | Season 7 episode 20: "Fat" |
2007 | Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip | Musical performer | Episode 14: "The Harriet Dinner" (Pt. 2) |
2011 | Real Housewives of New York City |
Herself | Season 4 episode 16: "L.O.V.E." |
2012 | RuPaul's Drag Race | Herself/Judge | Season 4 episode 3: "Glamazons vs. Champions" |
2012 | Nat King Cole: Afraid of the Dark | Herself | STARS/ENCORE |
Awards and honors
Grammy Awards
The
Year | Category | Nominated work | Result |
---|---|---|---|
1976 |
Best New Artist | Natalie Cole | Won |
Best R&B Vocal Performance, Female | "This Will Be" | Won | |
1977 |
Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female | Natalie | Nominated |
Best R&B Vocal Performance, Female | "Sophisticated Lady" | Won | |
1978 |
"I've Got Love on My Mind" | Nominated | |
1979 |
"Our Love" | Nominated | |
1980 |
I Love You So | Nominated | |
1988 |
Everlasting | Nominated | |
1990 |
Good to Be Back | Nominated | |
Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal | "We Sing Praises" (with Deniece Williams) | Nominated | |
1992 |
Album of the Year | Unforgettable... with Love | Won |
Record of the Year | "Unforgettable" (with Nat King Cole) | Won | |
Best Traditional Pop Performance | Won | ||
Best Jazz Vocal Performance | Long 'Bout Midnight | Nominated | |
1994 |
Best Jazz Vocal Performance | Take a Look | Won |
1997 |
Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals | "When I Fall in Love" (with Nat King Cole) | Won |
Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance | Stardust | Nominated | |
2003 |
Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals | "Better Than Anything" (with Diana Krall) | Nominated |
Best Jazz Vocal Album | Ask a Woman Who Knows | Nominated | |
2007 |
Best Female R&B Vocal Performance | "Day Dreaming" | Nominated |
2009 |
Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album | Still Unforgettable | Won |
Latin Grammys
The
Year | Category | Nominated work | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
2013 |
Record of the Year | "Bachata Rosa" (with Juan Luis Guerra) | Nominated | [36] |
Album of the Year | Natalie Cole en Español | Nominated | ||
Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album | Nominated |
Other awards
Year | Association | Category | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
1977, 1978 |
American Music Awards
|
Favorite Female Artist – Soul / Rhythm & Blues | Won | |
1991 | Favorite Artist – Adult Contemporary | Won | ||
1993 | George & Ira Gershwin Award
|
Lifetime Musical Achievement | Won | [37] |
1999 | Songwriters Hall of Fame | Hitmaker Award | Won | [38] |
2000 | NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Actress – Television Movie, Miniseries or Dramatic Special: Livin for Love: The Natalie Cole Story |
Won | [citation needed] |
2001 | Outstanding Album | Nominated | ||
1992, 2003 |
Best Jazz Artist | Won | [39] [40] | |
2010 | Society of Singers | Society of Singers Lifetime Achievement Award | Won | [41] |
2014 | NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding World Music Album: Natalie Cole en Español | Won | [42] |
See also
- List of Billboard number-one dance hits
- List of artists who reached number one on the U.S. dance chart
References
- ^ Folk, Antwane (February 5, 2015). "Grammy History: Natalie Cole First R&B Artist to Win Best New Artist". Rated R&B. Retrieved February 11, 2023.
- ^ Hobson, Janell (February 7, 2023). "When Black Women's 'Excellence' Isn't Good Enough". Ms. Magazine. Retrieved February 11, 2023.
- ^ "Natalie Cole". Television Academy. Retrieved February 11, 2023.
- ^ "The Charlotte Symphony with Natalie Cole". Ovens Auditorium. April 13, 2012. Archived from the original on April 16, 2012. Retrieved February 13, 2013.
- ^ "Natalie Cole | Songwriters Hall of Fame". www.songhall.org. Retrieved February 11, 2023.
- ^ rush360 (July 24, 2022). "Inductees | R&B HOF". Retrieved February 11, 2023.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Chad (October 25, 2019). "Natalie Cole". Hollywood Walk of Fame. Retrieved February 11, 2023.
- ^ Natalie Cole Leaves The Past Behind Cole Experiences Renewal on New Album 'Leavin' – HOLLYWOOD, Calif. (September 24, 2006) by Caitlin A. Johnson – CBSnews.com Retrieved on 05-23-07
- ^ Natalie Cole Offers a Candid Look At Her Life in TV One On One Interview Premiering Sunday, Sept. 24 At 9 PM Blacknews.com Retrieved on May 23, 2007 Archived November 3, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Nat King Cole Widow Coming To North Carolina". Digtriad.com. June 4, 2008. Retrieved July 15, 2012.
- ^ "Natalie Cole | American singer". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved June 25, 2018.
- ^ Merzbach, Scott (January 6, 2016). "Recalling Cole's Amherst days". amherstbulletin.com. Retrieved June 25, 2018.
- ^ Wynn, Ron. "Natalie Cole". AllMusic. Retrieved September 23, 2018.
- ^ Hawksley, Rupert (December 6, 2013). "Nelson Mandela birthday tribute concerts: how they helped change the world". Telegraph.co.uk. Archived from the original on January 11, 2022.
- ^ Text by Karen E. Klages (April 10, 1991). "THE $100,000 MEN". Chicago Tribune.
- ^ Collier, Aldore (November 26, 1990). "Natalie Cole Says Her 'Big Break' TV Show Spotlights New Black Entertainers". Jet. 79 (7): 56–58.
- ^ "Grey's Anatomy | tv : ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY". Entertainment Weekly. March 23, 2006. Archived from the original on March 23, 2006. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
- ^ Company, Johnson Publishing (March 17, 1977). "Jet". Johnson Publishing Company. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
- ^ "Robert Yancy Dead: Natalie Cole's Son Tragically Dies Of Heart Attack At 39". Hollywood Life. August 15, 2017.
- ^ "Robert Yancy Dead: Natalie Cole's Son Tragically Dies Of Heart Attack At 39". Hollywood Life. August 15, 2017.
- ^ "Robert Yancy Dead: Natalie Cole's Son Tragically Dies Of Heart Attack At 39". Hollywood Life. August 15, 2017.
- ^ "Natalie Cole, singer - obituary". Telegraph.co.uk. 2016. Archived from the original on January 11, 2022.
- ^ Yagoda, Maria (January 1, 2016). "From Addiction Battles to Chart-Topping Success: Natalie Cole's Bright Life in the Spotlight". People.com. Time, Inc. Retrieved November 22, 2017.
After dating a boy named Jimmy, she began singing and rehearsing with his band – and also experimenting with drugs.
- ^ Fink, Mitchell; Rubin, Lauren (October 16, 2000). "Natalie Cole's secret drug peril". New York Daily News. New York City, NY. Retrieved November 22, 2017.
- ^ O'Brien, Lucy (September 26, 2008). "The unforgettable Ms Cole". theguardian.com. Guardian News and Media Limited. Retrieved November 22, 2017.
...and her young son, Robert, nearly drowned in the family pool when she was on a drug binge. Cole hit rock bottom when she refused to leave a burning building because she needed to score.
- ^ a b Cohen, Sandy; Fekadu, Mesfin (January 2, 2016). "Heir to Jazz Legend with Grammys of Her Own Dies". The Detroit Free Press. p. 5A.
- ^ "Natalie Cole 2015 Manila [DOLBY]". YouTube. Retrieved November 10, 2017.
- ^ Pareles, Jon (January 1, 2016). "Natalie Cole, 'Unforgettable' Voice and Million-Selling Hitmaker, Dies at 65". The New York Times. Retrieved December 31, 2019.
- ^ Rottenberg, Josh (January 1, 2016). "Natalie Cole has died at 65; 'Unforgettable' singer was daughter of legendary Nat King Cole". Los Angeles Times.
- ^ "Natalie Cole's death due to rare lung disease, heart failure". Reuters. January 8, 2016.
- ^ "Autopsy: The Last Hours of Natalie Cole". Autopsy: The Last Hours of.... Nar. Eric Meyers. Exec. Prod. Ed Taylor and Michael Kelpie. Reelz, May 27, 2017. Television.
- ^ "Natalie Cole, R&B and jazz singer, dies aged 65". BBC News. January 1, 2016. Retrieved January 1, 2016.
- ^ "Natalie Cole Honored by Family, Friends at Private Memorial". People. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
- ^ "Natalie Cole Funeral: Stevie Wonder, Lionel Richie, Gladys Knight & More Mourn - Billboard". Billboard.com. January 11, 2016. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
- ^ "Grammys | Natalie Cole". The Grammys.
- ^ "Latin Grammys 2013: The complete list of winners and nominees". Los Angeles Times. November 22, 2013. Retrieved January 7, 2016.
- ^ "cog". Uclalumni.net. Archived from the original on February 14, 2007. Retrieved May 5, 2017.
- ^ "Howie Richmond Hitmaker Award". The Songwriters Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on May 18, 2008. Retrieved June 14, 2015.
- ^ Vaughn, Christopher (January 16, 1992). "1992 Image Awards". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved July 29, 2016.
- ^ "2003 Image Award Winners". Infoplease.com. Retrieved May 14, 2016.
- ^ "Ella Award Special Events". February 12, 2011. Archived from the original on May 14, 2015. Retrieved May 10, 2015.
- ^ "45th NAACP Image Award Winners". Naacp.org. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
External links
- Official website
- Natalie Cole at AllMusic
- Natalie Cole at IMDb
- Natalie Cole at Find a Grave
- Natalie Cole at the Internet Broadway Database
- Natalie Cole biography and updates at Soul Tracks
- Natalie Cole interview by Pete Lewis, 'Blues & Soul' September 2008
- Talk with Audrey interview with Natalie Cole 2012. Talking about her life, her music and her legacy.