Natalie Cole : dead at 65

Her optimism amid personal struggles was inspirational. Her voice? Unforgettable.

Natalie Cole has died, reports the Associated Press and TMZ.

She was 65.

                     

Born Feb. 6, 1950, in Los Angeles, Cole had music in her genes.

Her father was legendary crooner Nat King Cole

and her mother, Maria Cole, sang with the Duke Ellington Orchestra.

gone much too soon

Years after reclaiming her life from drug addiction, Cole was diagnosed with hepatitis C in 2008.

Exhausted, she continued performing until her rapidly declining health was tied to kidney disease,

Cole continued to tour, receiving dialysis three times per week between performances..

Her sister Cookie died the morning Cole got a successful kidney transplant in May 2009. :'(

Her own life saved, Cole was devastated at the loss of her sister, but grateful to the family of the woman whose kidney she received.

"To have your life saved by someone you don’t even know — oh, God.

God bless them,"

Cole told AARP Magazine in 2009.

If only I knew who she was. Anyway, nothing's forever. Appreciate the time and moments. Attend your favorite bands' shows as long as you enjoy their music.

So sad. I loved her performance she gave singing with her (already dead) dad. Natalies Cole and Whitney Houston were and still are among my favorites of all time.

the drug industry...err, emm...I mean the music industry have a way of destroying black stars by getting them hooked on drugs.

apparently they put all kinds of pressure on them..money problems with bad contracts, pressure of performance with packed schedules and lots more...

and in the mess they make drugs of all kinds plentifully available for free and encourage their use.

so we have an impressive list of dead bodies over 5 generations now..oF black stars male and female..at the hands of The ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY