Simply Unforgettable- The Natalie Cole Story

A Sophisticated Lady is Born

On February 6, 1950, Nat "King" Cole and his wife, Maria Ellington Cole welcomed into the world, their first born child. This child born, Natalie Maria Cole, would later become known as the "Sophisticated Lady". Natalie was born into a very musical family, Her father was a world reknowned jazz pianist and singer. Her mother was a background vocalist with the "Duke" Ellington band (no relation). Natalie, whom her family later nicknamed Sweetie, was born into a priviledge life. There were entertainers that were in and out of her house as she was growing up. Some whom she says she called "aunt" and "uncle". With greats like: Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Carmen McCrae, and Nancy Wilson around her house, it's no wonder she has been able to establish a legacy for herself.

Natalie Cole grew up with one older adopted sister Carole "Cookie", who was Maria's younger sister's daughter, One brother Nat "Kelly" Cole(1959-1995), who was also adopted, twin sisters Timolin and Casey (1961). In February 1965, cancer claimed her father. Natalie had just turned fifteen years old. She began to have difficulties with her mother, Maria. Natalie went off to college. She first attended the University of Massachusetts, she briefly transferred back to the University of Southern California where she pledge the Upsilion Theta chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.. She transferred back to the University of Massachusetts, where she majored in Child Psychology and minored in German. Natalie Cole graduated in 1971. By the time she graduated, Natalie had already began her singing career, On the weekends, Natalie was singing at a place on campus called "The Pub". While she sang upstairs, a new up and coming comedian, Jay Leno, was performing on the first floor. During her college years, Natalie fell victim to the ravages of drugs (mainly heroin). While she was traveling back from a performance in Canada, she was busted for heroin possession. She was sentenced to probation but she had to stay in Canada to serve this pobation. It was also during this time period that she met Chuck Jackson(Jesse's half-brother) and Marvin Yancy at a nighclub called Mr. Kelley's. This partnership produced hits such as: This Will Be, Inseparable, Sophisticated Lady, Mr. Melody, I've Got Love on My Mind, and Our Love , just to name a few. Chuck and Marvin had worked together to produce music for The Independents and Aretha Franklin.

You will hear Aretha's influences in many of Natalie's music from the earlier albums. The influence was so embedded until in 1977, the infamous controversy about who the "Real Queen of Soul" was featured on the front cover of the Jet Magazine, pitting Natalie against her idol Aretha Franklin and Diana Ross. The media continues to attempt to fuel this controversy although the three have long since made peace with the whole unnecessary episode.

The mid to late 70's saw Natalie produce platinum and gold albums, A TV Special in April of 1978 The Natalie Cole Special (which fans the world around are begging for another chance to see!), and a live album simply entitled Natalie...Live! Natalie and her producer Marvin Yancy announced in February of 1977 that they had been married since July of 1976, they remarried on Valentine's Day in front of friends and family. In October of that year they gave birth to their only child, Robert Adam Yancy. While Natalie had given up the drugs a few years earlier, she began using again. Now I am not going to go over that period of Natalie's life because quite frankly it has been done to death. There is the autobiography Angel On My Shoulder (2000) written by Natalie and Digby Diehl and the made for T.V. movie Living for Love (2000) which originally aired December of 2000.

The Comeback

In 1984, Natalie began her comeback from the problems. She made an album entitled "Dangerous" for Modern Records. This album had very moderate success. The following year, her then ex-husband, Rev. Marvin J. Yancy, died from complications of a heart attack and a stroke. Natalie began work on another album for Modern records but they pulled the plug on the nearly finished album. It would be another two years before Natalie would be back in the studio. After losing her contract with Modern Records, she had to search for a record company that was willing to take a chance on her. That record company was EMI-Manhattan. For Mahattan Records, Natalie Cole began her true comback with hits like Jump Start My Heart produced by one of the Calloway brother's of Midnight Star fame. This CD: Everlasting put Natalie back into the spotlight, only this time she had a whole new audience. With Jump Start... and Pink Cadillac, Natalie began to reach a broader audience. These pop songs were different from the R&B that her fans had grown to know and love but we enjoyed, what would become only one of the detours away that she would take from the R&B that folks had grown to expect from her. Natalie began to gain recognition and awards that had become a distant to her.

In 1989, Natalie released, Good to Be Back. this album contained hits like, Miss You Like Crazy and I Live for Your Love. 1989 was the year that Natalie married record producer Andre' Fischer of Rufus fame. In 1990, Natalie began a television show called "Big Break" . The show showcased up and coming singers (among them, R. Kelly). Natalie's desire to create an album dedicated to herr father's music found her shopping for another record company. Her current company felt it was too much of a risk to have her turn away from her new found success as a pop artist. Bob Krasnow and Elektra Records decided that it was worth the chance. He gave her the go ahead to create the CD that would become her signature hit, an eight time mulitiplatinum, multi-grammy hit!

Unforgettable is Born

With the help of her Uncle's Freddie and Ike, along with other family members and friends, the work on Unforgettable began. They recorded in the same studio that her father had recorded some of his hits in at Capitol Studios. She was even able to use some of the same musicians. With the help of David Foster, Natalie was able to create a song in which she and her father could sing together. Never had it been done before so successfully. This album had people talking, most good but other's had it in for the project. Michael Eisner of Disney fame made some unflattering comments about the CD before it was created, comments to the effect that Natalie was washed up and that the album would never sell. While this CD sold well over 30 million copies alone, there were some people who question how she could deserve the multitude of Grammies that she won that year including Song of the Year. This CD is an eight time platinum award winner. Natalie also recorded a special for PBS called Unforgettable. While there have been people that have insisted that she was just riding the coattails of her father, who is more deserving to do a tribute to him but her. Everyday artist are recording music of other artist and no one is talking about whether they should or shouldn't.

I have basically accomplished with "Unforgettable" what any serious artist would hope to accomplish in their lifetime, their career.

In 1992, Natalie and Andre' produced Take A Look which again had some old standards but not all her father's this time. She did music from Billie Holiday (Don't Explain), the title cut by Aretha Franklin, and a song done by Ella Fitzgerald. This CD garnered another Grammy for Natalie. Natalie also recorded a track for a jazz CD entitled Garfield. Am I Cool or What? called 'Round Midnight. Natalie also captured a Grammy for this effort as well.

In 1994 Natalie released her first Christmas CD Holly and Ivy. She did another television special for PBS called "Natalie Cole's Untraditional Christmas". There is a video to accompany this performance also entitled Holly and Ivy. Natalie did some television acting this year. Including her debut performance in I'll Fly away. She also landed the starring role in Lily in Winter which was aired as a USA Network Original picture. Natalie also lends her talents to Frank Sinatra's Duet's singing "They Can't Take That Away From Me". Together with her younger sister Casey, Natalie did a children's video called Mama Goose. Again her vocal talents can be heard on the West Side Story tribute, Rhythm, Blues and Country, For Our Children Too! (for the Pediatric Aids Foundation), and Baseball.

In 1995, Natalie and Andre' separated. This is the year that Natalie lost her only brother Nat Kelly Cole to AIDS. She starred on an Episode of Touched by an Angel with Maya Angelou and Michael Beach. She also starred in the play The Wizard of Oz for the Children's Defense Fund as Glenda The Good Witch. There is a soundtrack to accompany that effort. Natalie recorded another Christmas CD entitled A Celebration of Christmas with Jose Carreras, and Placido Domingo. Once again Natalie was dealing with tragedy.

There are two ways to come out of tragedy. Bitter or Better.

-Natalie on Oprah

Don't lose your confidence if you slip, be grateful for a pleasant trip.

Just pick yourself up dust yourself off and start all over again.

-Pick Yourself Up **Stardust

In 1996 Natalie recorded the Grammy nominated Stardust. This CD included several standards including another duet with her father When I Fall In Love. Listen for Natalie's singing voice in the Children's movie Cats Don't Dance. Natalie is the singing voice to Sawyer.

In 1997 Natalie recorded the title song for the soundtrack A Smile Like Yours. She starred in A Concert of Hope Special on CBS where she was honored for her efforts on the war on drugs.

In 1998, Natalie starred with Laurence Fishburne in an HBO movie Always Outnumbered it is available on video. Natalie Starred with Pavarotti for the War children of Liberia. Natalie also filmed Freak City for Showtime television. Natalie also appeared on the 50th Celebration of Israel, and she was the opening performer for the Good Will Games as well as a performer on Tony Bennett's Birthday Celebration on A&E. Natalie also co hosted with Patti Labelle and Brian McKnight the Soul Train Christmas Special. Natalie recorded a Christmas CD for Hallmark Stores entitled Christmas with You

1999 started out strong for Natalie with a Mini Tour that began at the Taj Mahal in Atlantic City and includes a date at the Blue Note in New York that was broadcast live over the internet. This date was special because it includes for the first time in concert together Natalie and her Uncle Freddy Cole. Natalie was honored as the 26th Annual Whitney M. Young, Jr recipient on April 15 by the National Urban League of Los Angeles. Freak City is aired on Showtime in April. Natalie's CD Snowfall on the Sahara was release on June 22. To read the Fan's review's click here: To read the review's or add your own. In September Natalie received the Lady of Soul Lena Horne Award. Natalie released her latest Christmas CD The Magic of Christmas in October. Listen for Natalie's voice in an HBO Children's production of the book Good Night Moon Available on VHS! She is reading the story Tar Beach by Faith Ringgold.

Natalie talks about Snowfall on the Sahara:

"I'm calling it kind of pop/jazz. It's a little bit R& B, a little bit of pop, a little bit of jazz. I just had to throw all my stuff in there because I wanted to cover a lot of things that I've really grown to love over the years and to encompass some of the reason that I got here and that's my R& B roots. I think this is going to be one of those eclectic type of pieces," said Cole. "A little bit of jazz but a lot more of some other things that I have experimented with, including a song I wrote with gentlemen by the name of Peter Wolf. That's going to be the title track." Natalie, Phil Ramone and David Foster ("With My Eyes Wide Open I'm Dreaming") produced this CD.

The year 2000 was Natalie's 25th anniversary year! She was on the short list of eligible artist to be nominated for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame next year! Her fans are all pulling for her but still five years later and no nomination! I can't think of anyone on the list more deserving than her unfortunately the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame didn't place Natalie in the running. I guess it's time to start writing again!

In November of 2000, Natalie released a CD of which she is the executive producer. This CD Natalie Cole's Greatest Hits Vol.1 , included, two new tunes. One of which is a dance tune that she co-wrote with songwriter Denise Rich entitled "Living for Love" and the other a ballad produced by Richard Marx entitled "Angel on My Shoulder". Her autobiography "Angel on My Shoulder" was also released at the beginning of November! Natalie co-authored this book with Digby Diehl. A movie based on Natalie's life which was originally scheduled for November aired on December 10th, 2000. Natalie was the executive producer of this project as well. The name of the biopic is "Living For Love: The Natalie Cole Story". This movie is co-starring Diahann Carroll as Maria Cole and James McDaniel (NYPD Blue) as Nat "King" Cole. Theresa Randle portrayed Natalie from 1970-84. Randy Goodwin portrayed Marvin Yancy.

In 2001 Natalie surprised her fans as she married Bishop Kenneth Dupree on October 12. They have since divorced. In January of 2002, Natalie signed a contract with Verve Music Group. She reunited with Tommy LiPuma. The result of this union was the Grammy nominated "Ask a Woman Who Knows". Check out the Through the Years Link for more news from 2001. Please be patient as we continue to update this site. It is...as Natalie's career, an everchanging work in progress.

Simply Unforgettable

A Star is Born

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