Vale: Natalie Cole

US singer Natalie Cole, who had a career in both pop and jazz music, has died aged 65.

She died from congestive heart failure in Los Angeles.

“It is with heavy hearts that we bring to you all the news of our Mother and sister’s passing. Natalie fought a fierce, courageous battle, dying how she lived … with dignity, strength and honor,” Cole’s family said in a statement. “Our beloved Mother and sister will be greatly missed and remain UNFORGETTABLE in our hearts forever.”

In the 2000 autobiography Angel On My Shoulder, Cole recounted her longtime struggle with substance abuse, and in recent years, she battled hepatitis C and underwent kidney transplant surgery in 2009, from which she reportedly never recovered.

The daughter of Nat King Cole and Maria Hawkins Cole, she rocketed to the top of the charts with her debut album Inseparable, which featured the breakout single This Will Be and two Grammy awards. She went on to release more than 20 albums over the course of her career, including four platinum records. Her top-selling album was the 1991 record Unforgettable… with Love, in which Cole paid tribute to her father’s biggest hits. Unforgettable won six Grammys, including Album of the Year.

She also also appeared as an actress with guest roles on Grey’s Anatomy, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Touched by an Angel and even appeared as herself in the TV biopic Livin’ for Love: The Natalie Cole Story, which chronicled her struggle to overcome drug addiction.

Fellow performers Cher, Patti LaBelle and Tony Bennett were amongst those who took to social media to offer their tributes.

Source: EW, LA Times