Natalie Maria Cole February 6, β December 31, 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 mids, with the release of her debut album Inseparable , along with the song " This Will Be An Everlasting Love ", and the album's title track.
In the s, she sang traditional pop by her father, resulting in her biggest success, Unforgettable Throughout her lifetime, Cole received nine Grammy Awards , was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award , [ 3 ] and sold over 30 million records worldwide. Cole sang on her father's Christmas album The Magic of Christmas and later started performing at age Cole grew up with an older adopted sister, Carole "Cookie" Cole β , her mother Maria's younger sister's daughter, adopted brother Nat "Kelly" Cole β , and younger twin sisters Timolin and Casey born Cole enrolled in Northfield School for Girls, an elite New England preparatory school, since known as Northfield Mount Hermon School after merging with another school, before her father died of lung cancer in February Soon afterwards she began having a difficult relationship with her mother.
She later transferred back to the University of Massachusetts, where she majored in Child Psychology and minored in German , graduating in Cole grew up listening to a variety of music that included Aretha Franklin and Janis Joplin. After graduation in she began singing at small clubs with her band, Black Magic.
With the assistance of Chuck Jackson and Marvin Yancy, a songwriting and producing duo, she recorded some songs in a studio in Chicago that was owned by Curtis Mayfield. Her demo tapes led to a contract with Capitol , [ 13 ] resulting in the release of Cole's debut album, Inseparable , which included songs that reminded listeners of Aretha Franklin.
Franklin later contended that songs such as " This Will Be ", "I Can't Say No", and others were offered to her while she was recording the album You but she had turned them down. A second single, " Inseparable ", also became a hit. Cole won Best New Artist at the Grammy Awards for her accomplishments, making her the first African-American artist to attain that feat. Becoming an instant star, Cole responded to critics who predicted a sophomore slump with Natalie , released in The album, like Inseparable , became a gold success thanks to the funk -influenced cut " Sophisticated Lady " and the jazz -influenced "Mr.
