International news outlets are reporting that singer Natalie Cole, whose hit songs included the duet ‘Unforgettable’ with her father Nat ‘King’ Cole, has died aged 65.
According to reports, the Grammy award-winning singer died on Thursday night at a hospital in Los Angeles.
Cole rose to fame as an R&B artist with tracks such as ‘This Will Be’ and ‘Inseparable’.
The singer recently had cancelled a series of performances, including one on New Year’s Eve.
“Natalie fought a fierce, courageous battle, dying how she lived… with dignity, strength and honour. Our beloved mother and sister will be greatly missed and remain unforgettable in our hearts forever,” said a statement from her son Robert Yancy, and sisters, Timolin and Casey Cole.
According to sources, the singer had battled drug problems and hepatitis in the past, and underwent a kidney transplant in 2009.
Her greatest success came with her 1991 album, Unforgettable… With Love, which paid tribute to her father with reworked versions of some of his best-known songs, including That Sunday That Summer, Too Young and Mona Lisa.
The hit track Unforgettable saw her voice remixed with her father’s, 25 years after his death. (Excerpts taken from BBC and CNN)
Singer Natalie Cole dies
RIP