Natalie Maria Cole was an American singer, songwriter, and performer. The daughter of Nat King Cole, Natalie rose to musical success in the mid-1970s. In 1987 she had success with her album Everlasting, and her cover of Bruce Springsteen's "Pink Cadillac". In the 1990s, she re-recorded standards by her father, resulting in her biggest success, Unforgettable... with Love, which sold over seven million copies and also won Cole numerous Grammy Awards. She sold over 30 million records worldwide.
Daughter of Nat King Cole and Maria Cole.
Niece of Freddy Cole , Eddie Cole and Evelyn Cole.
Ranked #92 on VH1s 100 Greatest Women of Rock N Roll
Sister of Carol Cole , Casey Cole , Nat Kelly Cole and Timolin Cole. Carol is her cousin on her mothers side.
Member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. - A historically African-American Public Service Sorority, founded at Howard University in Washington, D.C. in 1913.
In 1975, she won a Grammy Award in the "Best New Artist" category.
Loves butterflies.
Has been diagnosed with Hepatitis C on July 16, 2008.
Her debut album in 1975, "Inseparable", resulted in top chart success with the single "This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)" (#1 R&B, #6 Pop). Her performance of the song won her a 1976 Grammy for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance. This was a feat because "Queen of Soul" Aretha Franklin had won this category eight years standing (1968-1975).
She was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 1750 Vine Street in Hollywood, California on February 5, 1979 (the day before her 29th birthday).
Born in the same hospital as Liza Minnelli , Micky Dolenz and Desi Arnaz Jr..
Attended the Northfield Mount Hermon School in Northfield, Massachusetts. Enrolled in the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Briefly transferred to the University of Southern California, where she pledged the Epsilion Theta chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Transferred back to the University of Massachusetts, where she majored in Child Psychology and minored in German. Graduated in 1972.
Influenced by Ella Fitzgerald , Sarah Vaughan , Frank Sinatra , Aretha Franklin , The Beatles and The Rolling Stones.
Received a kidney transplant on May 19, 2009, the same day that her sister, Carol Cole , passed away.
Gave birth to her only child at age 27, a son Robert Adam Yancy on October 15, 1977. Childs father is her first ex-husband, Marvin Yancy.
I was pretty bad. When I first was diagnosed with kidney failure, my function - the function of my kidney was less than 8 percent.
I already had high blood pressure. I have hypertension. And I think the chemo was just too much for my kidneys. And they went into failure. And that was September 12th of 2008. And the doctor rushed me right to the hospital.
The medication I had to take was a form of chemotherapy. You feel like death every day. No appetite. No energy. But the treatment worked. It cured my liver 80 per cent but compromised my kidneys.
God surrounded me with people of faith, people of strong faith, people of power, spiritual power, and I saw little miracles happen in their lives. By it happening in their lives, I started believing it could happen to me.
I thank my dad for leaving me such a wonderful, wonderful heritage.
I still love recording and still love the stage, but like my dad, I have the most fun when I am in front of that glorious orchestra or that kick-butt big band. .
