RIP Natalie Cole

Another iconic singer from my childhood has gone.   Was shocked to hear that iconic singer Natalie Cole joined the ancestors last night at age 65 die to persistent health complications.

I remember when I first heard her breakout hit from her debut gold album Inseparable.  The Top Ten hit 'This Will Be' from that album was dominating my radio in May 1975 and I recall being surprised to hear that it was Nat King Cole's daughter singing it.  

She was born on February 6, 1950 in Los Angeles to musical royalty.  In addition to her father being one of the iconic singers of the post World War II era, her mother Maria sang with the Duke Ellington Orchestra.  She was singing on her father's Christmas album at age 6 and began performing at age 11.  But after her father's untimely death in 1965, she turned away from music and graduated with a degree in child psychology from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst in 1972.
 
Cole was soon after graduation singing in small clubs with her band Black Magic, but refused to do her father's material.  She was discovered by Chicago based music producers Marvin Yancy and Chuck Jackson who wrote many of her early songs.

Cole would become an instant star, winning the first two of her nine career Grammys in 1976, when she won the Best New Artist Grammy and another one for Best R&B Vocal Performance Female for 'This Will Be'.    Her subsequent albums Natalie (1976) and Unpredictable (1977) hit gold and platinum status respectively and she was given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1979.




Serious drug addition problems derailed that early success to the point Cole entered rehab in 1983, but she reemerged in 1987 with the comeback album Everlasting.  The success of that album, with three number one singles, set her up for the monster 1991 success of Unforgettable..With Love. 

That album featured the technology assisted duet with her late father singing 'Unforgettable' that helped her sweep the three major Grammy categories in 1992 and sold seven million copies in the US.




She's had persistent health problems due to a kidney transplant and battling hepatitis C, and had canceled several December 2015 events due to illness.

But like her father, Natalie Cole will be an unforgettable music icon to me and all the people who loved her music, and may she rest in power and peace.

     

15 Albums In 15 Minutes

My participation in chain style postings on Facebook is about as rare as KFC being served at a PETA convention.   But this time resistance was futile to this one because it appeals to the music snob in me.

I was asked by my Newfie transplant friend Paula on September 4 to compile a list of fifteen albums I'd heard that will always stick with me for whatever reason, but only had fifteen minutes to do so.   Then I had to tag fifteen friends after compiling my list .

Here are the albums I chose:

1. Funkentelechy vs Placebo Syndrome Parliament
2. Risque-Chic
3. Off The Wall-Michael Jackson
4. Fear Of A Black Planet-Public Enemy
5. The Clarke Duke Project-George Duke and Stanley Clarke
6. Open Mind- Jean-Luc Ponty
7. Purple Rain-Prince
8. Go For Your Guns-Isley Brothers
9. Born To Sing-EnVogue
10. Songs In The Key Of Life- Stevie Wonder
11. Who Is Jill Scott-Jill Scott
12. Bad Girls-Donna Summer
13. We Are Family-Sister Sledge
14. All n All-Earth,Wind and Fire
15. The Right Stuff-Vanessa Williams

Hey, I only had fifteen minutes, so stop tripping.   I spent my teen years in the 70's and Saturdays watching Soul Train in what is arguably the Golden Age for music.    

So if you can do better, post your list of 15 songs in 15 minutes in the comment thread below.   I'm interested to see what you loyal TransGriot readers come up with.   

Chic, Donna Summer Among Nominees For 2011 Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Class

The nominees for induction into the 2011 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame class were announced September 28, and once again Chic, one of my fave groups of the disco era has been nominated.

Chic is starting to become the Susan Lucci's of this award in terms of making it to this point several times but falling short of induction..

This year's nominees are:  

Alice Cooper
Beastie Boys
Bon Jovi
Chic
Neil Diamond
Donovan
Dr. John
J. Geils Band
LL Cool J
Darlene Love
Laura Nyro
Donna Summer
Joe Tex
Tom Waits
Chuck Willis

I see other favorite artists LL Cool J, Donna Summer and Joe Tex are also on this year's list of nominees.   The ballots have already been mailed out to more than 500 voters, and the 2011 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees will be announced in December 2010.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Class of 2011 Induction Ceremony will take place on March 14, 2011 at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City.

Here's hoping that Chic finally wins and gets to show up at the induction ceremony.

Sade's Working On A New Album!

I've loved me some Sade ever since her slammin' debut album 'Diamond Life' hit the airwaves in 1985.

I own every one of her albums, but unfortunately new Sade material is about as rare as NBA playoff appearances for the LA Clippers.

Even though I and 'errbody' else who loves Sade have to wait almost a decade before she records another album, it still doesn't dampen my enthusiastic love for her music.

Judging by her record sales I'm probably not the only person in the States who feels that way.

Since 1985 Sade has sold 17 million albums. The last album she released, 2000's 'Lovers Rock' sold 3.9 million copies in the States. 1992's 'Love Deluxe', the album that preceded it sold 3.4 million.

Now comes word confirmed by Billboard.com sources that Sade has been in the studio since June working on her first album of new songs in nine years. Her record company Sony is hoping for a late fall 2009-early 2010 release date on the new as yet untitled album.

People, I know what one of the presents high on my 2009 Christmas list is going to be besides some new shoes. But whenever the new Sade jam comes out, I'll be at my local music store picking it up if it doesn't arrive in my Christmas stocking.