Tears were shed the world over. R&B legend Natalie Cole passed away December 31, 2015 from what was reported as congestive heart failure. While many were celebrating the coming New Year, popping open Champaign bottles and toasting one another, Cole, age 65, was sadly living out her last inside Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los California, CA. No one predicted that ball to drop. With heavy but proud hearts we should celebrate her.
Let’s celebrate Natalie Cole’s legacy: With 21 albums on her esteemed resume, the Grammy-winning singer/songwriter and outstanding live performer is the daughter of music icon Nat King Cole.
Clap for her catalog. Cole became a prominent recording artist in the 1970’s, stepping out of her father’s shadow with hits “Our Love”, “This Will Be”, “Sophisticated Lady”, “Inseparable”, and “I’ve Got Love on My Mind”.
In the 80s she famously remade Bruce Springsteen’s soulful rock hit, “Pink Cadillac”. Cole stepped back into her father’s shadow with 1991’s Unforgettable…With Love; from this millions-selling LP, technical wizardry allowed her to duet with her late father on his classic, “Unforgettable”.
Cheer her beauty. Cole, a tall, lean, elegant woman, presented herself to the public with class. Her attire complimented every red carpet, a Cinderella role model for women of all ages and walks of life worldwide.
Applaud her resilience. For years Cole lived out a grueling war with drug addiction, the media fired shot after shot at her personal demons.
In her book Angel on My Shoulder she spoke openly about the casualties of her substance abuse, and how it nearly broke her. Cole found the strength to fight back and heal, coming out victorious.
Natalie Cole left us all with an abundance of reasons to smile, sing and dance, and never stop fighting. Her legacy will be celebrated on Black History Month forever. |THIS.
[By Mr. Joe Walker]
