Natalie Cole

About Natalie Cole

Natalie Cole (born Natalie Maria Cole on February 6, 1950) is an influential American singer-songwriter and performer who has won eight Grammy Awards throughout her career. She achieved success in her early career as an R&B star, but smoothly changed her repertoire towards a more jazzy orientated musical style since the early 90's.

Natalie Cole is the daughter of noted crooner Nat King Cole. In several interviews, she talked about her upbringing; she was raised in an affluent area of Los Angeles, and her family, which she has referred to as "the black Kennedys", just a few doors down from the California governor. Cole also stated in an interview that she did not connect with her cultural heritage or "blackness" until she attended college. She was 15 years old when her father died of lung cancer.

Her uncle (Nat's brother), Freddy Cole is an accomplished singer/pianist with numerous CDs and awards to his credit.