Reaction to the death of Grammy-winning singer Natalie Cole

Nat King Cole died in 1965, when she was 15, a loss that “crushed” her, she said.

Cole underwent a successful kidney transplant at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles in 2009. “Our beloved Mother and sister will be greatly missed and remain UNFORGETTABLE in our hearts forever”. Her last album was released in 2013 with “Natalie Cole en Espanol”. Cole died yesterday at the age of 65. Ms. Cole said she learned R&B on her own – her father “didn’t like that kind of stuff”, she once told The Washington Post in an interview.

For years, she had declined to perform her father’s works in concert; now, an album of those recordings won six Grammys, including the big three: song of the year, record of the year and album of the year. One of my favorite tracks from her is from her live album from the late 1970s, and it’s a song that was very popular for her in the live arena.

She made her debut at the age of 6 while recording Christmas song with her father.

The statement was signed by Cole’s only child, Robert Yancey, and her twin sisters, Timolin and Casey Cole. That same year, Cole was arrested in Toronto, Canada, for heroin possession, which she discussed in her autobiography. She eventually entered rehab in 1983. It was called Livin’ for Love: The Natalie Cole Story, and detailed her struggle with drug addiction.

Cole began performing with her father when she was just 11 years old, before embarking on a career that embraced R&B;, pop and jazz. She needed dialysis three times a week until she received a donor kidney on May 18, 2009. She also had a liver transplant due to liver disease.

And yet…she could never get free of health issues. “Instead of 90-minute shows, maybe I’ll only do 60”. I know how hard she fought.

“I thank my dad for leaving me such a wonderful, wonderful heritage”, Cole said in accepting her awards.

NATALIE COLE AND NAT KING COLE: (Singing) That’s why, darling, it’s incredible. My thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends.

Singer / jazz musician and trumpet player Brian Newman is best known for his many performances with Lady Gaga, including arranging and appearing with her on her album with Tony Bennett, “Cheek to Cheek”.

Cole followed up with 1993’s Take A Look, which also featured pop and jazz classics set in orchestrations that were as robust as they were refined. Her passing is being mourned by millions of fans around the world.

As the year comes to a close, so does the music of one of America’s most loved musicians.