Such was her emotional fragility, it was no great surprise to hear that R & B singer Natalie Cole had sadly passed away over Christmas. There’s a certain aptness that she died over the festive period as she never quite shrugged off the mantle and cloak of her father Nat King Cole, who will always be synonymous with Christmas time through his classic Christmas Song.

Natalie Cole had been dealing with health issues in recent months: In October, she cancelled her November and December tours after undergoing “a medical procedure which led to a lengthy hospital stay,” she said in a statement. Natalie Cole’s February 2016 tour dates were also cancelled after the singer became ill with an unspecified ailment. Natalie Cole also suffered from Hepatitis C and required a 2009 kidney transplant.

The daughter of “Unforgettable” singer Nat King Cole and Duke Ellington Orchestra singer Maria Hawkins, Natalie Cole released her debut album Inseparable in 1975, with the LP’s title track and “This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)” becoming No1 on the US R&B charts. The platinum-selling album helped Natalie Cole win both Best New Artist and Best Female R&B Vocal Performance at the 1976 Grammys.

A string of hits singles, including “Our Love,” “Sophisticated Lady,” and “I’ve Got Love on My Mind” followed through the latter half of the 1970s. However, by the early 1980s Natalie Cole’s career de-railed as drug abuse took control of her life. However, after nearly eight years without a hit single she re-surfaced in 1987 with her album Everlasting, which contained her well-received cover of Bruce Springsteen’s “Pink Cadillac.”

Perhaps Natalie Cole’s finest hour was 1991’s Unforgettable… With Love, her multi-platinum album that featured her versions of standards previously performed by Nat King Cole, who died in 1965; the album’s closing track and lead single was a duet between father and daughter using the crooner’s pre-recorded vocals. Unforgettable… With Love won the 1991 Album of the Year Grammy while the “Unforgettable” duet earned Record of the Year and Best Traditional Pop Performance. In 1994, Natalie Cole performed the National Anthem at Super Bowl XXVIII in Atlanta.

2008’s Still Unforgettable, the 1991 LP’s sequel, scored Cole her ninth and final Grammy, this time in the Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album category. In addition to her singing career, Natalie Cole made numerous television and film acting appearances, including portraying herself in the made-for-TV biopic Livin’ for Love: The Natalie Cole Story.

Bless you Natalie. RIP. Send our love to your Dad XX

Celebrate your love of Natalie Cole, by ordering your favourite Natalie Cole song as a framed vinyl single or framed CD. You can also personalise it with an inscribed / engraved plaque…… 

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Framed vinyl singles and framed CDs with a personalised plaque, make unique presents or original gifts for a special celebration  / special occasion ie a Wedding ( Wedding First Dance Song ), an Engagement Party ( Our Song ), a House Warming Party ( New Home ), a 21st, 30th, 40th, 50th, 60th Birthday ( How about the No1 song on the day of birth? ), a Silver, Ruby or Golden Wedding Anniversary, Father’s or Mother’s Day or Valentine’s Day!!  THE PERFECT PERSONALISED PRESENT!!  ORDER NOW…….. www.myfirstrecord.co.uk/