The late Natalie Cole, once gave the world an honest look at her mother’s and family’s perception of dark skinned African Americans, including her dad, Nat King Cole, in her book, “Angel on My Shoulder: An Autobiography by Natalie Cole.”  After reading more about Natalie’s skin complexion issues within her own family, we respect the body of work she’s graced us with…and through it all, she did it with class.

Cole On Her Mom’s Complexion Issues

Natalie said her light skin mother, Maria Cole and her family’s, colorism isolated her from other African Americans during childhood. In her autobiography,  Natalie recalled growing up in Los Angeles’ exclusive Hancock Park section, where the Coles were the only Black residents.

Natalie on her Mother’s reaction to her playing with other African American children growing up:

“When I got friendly with the Black people who worked for us, MY MOTHER was appalled. She wanted us to interact with a different society-outside the house.”

Before we go any deeper into this story, it’s important to point out that this is not something Natalie’s mother and family, should SOLELY be judged for. Why? Because although they were at fault, we all know this is a far more deep rooted issue within the African American culture, that goes WAY beyond the Coles. Natalie Cole wrote this in her book, to forever shed light on a topic that plagues too many families.

Natalie’s mother married a dark skinned man, Nat King Cole. You may have heard of him – the silky smooth voice of “Unforgettable,” “Nature Boy,” “Smile,” “Too Young,” “The Christmas Song” (Chestnut Roasting On An Open Fire), “Mona Lisa” and “Ramblin’ Rose” – and, in 1956, became the first Black ever to host his own network TV show, NBC’s The Nat King Cole Show. Yeah, that guy. So why would Maria Cole’s family have such a dislike for dark skin African Americans?

Natalie also claimed her mother’s family felt that her father, was too Black for them:

“For a dark-skinned man such as my father to acquire a light-skinned woman such as my mother was a real important prize.Your status moved up. That doesn’t mean that her family was all that happy about her marrying my father. He was too Black for them,” wrote Natalie Cole.

Natalie’s Grandmother was very socially conscious, and according to Natalie:

“She [Natalie’s Grandmother] didn’t want my mother to get involved with anyone with too many Black characteristics, because then your children would look funny. It wasn’t just my mother, it’s the way many Black people were raised.”

While it’s easy to simply point fingers and say, ‘Natalie Cole’s momma and family are wrong for doing her like that,’ we have a bigger battle to fight- the universal ‘complexion disease.’ That type of dark skin/light skin tension is a socio-psychological sickness that is not simply just a choice. It’s also a deep brainwashing that many of us have been inflicted by in various ways, ever since it was embedded into our psyche’s, dating back to slavery. Clearly, the Coles were inflicted by it as well. However, we applaud the “Our Love” singer for her willingness to openly shed some light on such a painful topic, by sharing her through her own personal experiences with it.

May Natalie Cole;  her son, Robert Yancy; and her parents- Maria and Nat King Cole, all continue to rest well.

The post Natalie Cole Revealed Her Light-Skinned Mother’s Unfortunate Complex Against Dark Skin appeared first on I Love Old School Music.

Natalie Cole rose to fame and left her own unique imprint on music. As the daughter of the iconic singer/Jazz pianist, Nat King Cole, Natalie poised for musical greatness at an early age. With classic jams like “This Will Be,” “Inseparable,” “Our Love,” and “Unforgettable,” the Los Angeles, CA native won Grammy Awards, American Music Awards, NAACP Image Awards, and a plethora of other accolades.

Throughout her career, she released a staggering 24 albums of memorable music. But despite the level of success she achieved, Natalie faced many dark moments in her life that she was brave enough to graciously share with the public through her autobiographical book. We have an incredible amount of respect for her for being able to do so. From marital problems and divorces, to drug abuse and alcoholism, the beloved “I’m Catching Hell” singer also confessed that she was no stranger to toxic and destructive behaviors.

HORRORS NATALIE REVEALED ABOUT HER INVOLVEMENT IN PROSTITUTION ARE HEARTBREAKING

Embed from Getty Images

In her highly regarded memoir, Angel on My Shoulder, Natalie Cole opened up about prostitution in efforts to forever document the trials and tribulations she endured, with the hopes that she would help someone else avoid the same pitfalls. With the collaborative help of Digby Diehl, Cole managed to paint a picture of her life with the stroke of a pen. Although most people would be afraid to share details about their downfalls, Natalie decided to tell her story. After battling withdrawal from heroine, during a high point of her career, Natalie attempted to turn her life around. But, when she relocated to New York, she met a man who only further complicated her life. His name was Ronnie and he happened to be a pimp:

“Withdrawal from heroin—there’s nothin’ like it. You throw up, you sleep, you sweat. You’re delirious, you’re cold, and some folks even start hallucinating. If you get through it without killing yourself or somebody else, it’s no small miracle,” she wrote. “Soon afterwards, I moved to New York and met a guy named Ronnie who was a pimp and wanted to “help me supplement my income.” I was hired as the come-on girl who would pique the attention of potential Johns. Once I’d made contact and Ronnie had concluded the financial transaction, the real business would happen under the bridge—without me.”

Her co-collaborator, Digby Diehl, also further discussed her “work” on the streets on Harlem, NY.  “She stood on the street and waved at guys in cars,” said Diehl. “She’d bring a guy to the curb, where other women would do the business. She advertised her body so that they could sell theirs. I gather it didn’t go on for very long. But it was the lowest point of her life.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q43i8NSiXh0

Other Illegal Business Ventures Cole Shared In Her Book

In addition to prostitution, there many other business ventures Natalie was involved in. However, most of them weren’t legal. She’d gotten involved in fraudulent activity after she committed wire fraud to purchase drugs. Natalie and her first husband, Yancy, also attempted to sell drugs but the seemingly lucrative venture went awry when the couple could not refrain from using the drugs themselves:

“Eventually Marvin and I started freebasing coke. I set up my own little laboratory in our home. I got so good at it that I developed a reputation as a “gourmet cocaine chef”—I was called the Base Queen. Marvin and I actually tried dealing. We were awful at it. We would smoke up half the inventory before we ever got around to selling it.”

Embed from Getty Images

It’s Not Where You Start, It’s Where You Finish

Natalie Cole is a great example of the unfortunate truth about many celebrities. Although they live life under a microscope, with the world watching their every move, they aren’t perfect people, they’re simply perfectly flawed human beings who happen to be known by the masses. However, just like the rest of us perfectly flawed humans, celebs are still capable of and entitled to make mistakes. But, it’s not about where you start, it’s where you finish. At the time of her death, Natalie Cole had been drug-free for more than 30 years. Job well done Ms. Cole.

Sources: NYDailyNews, People Magazine, “Angel On My Shoulder” autobiography

The post Natalie Cole Bravely Wrote Of Her Prostitution Days…Her Details Were Heart Wrenching appeared first on I Love Old School Music.

The late Natalie Cole, once gave the world an honest look at her mother’s and family’s perception of dark skinned African Americans, including her dad, Nat King Cole, in her book, “Angel on My Shoulder: An Autobiography by Natalie Cole.”  After reading more about Natalie’s skin complexion issues within her own family, we respect the body of work she’s graced us with…and through it all, she did it with class.

Cole On Her Mom’s Complexion Issues

Natalie said her light skin mother, Maria Cole and her family’s, colorism isolated her from other African Americans during childhood. In her autobiography,  Natalie recalled growing up in Los Angeles’ exclusive Hancock Park section, where the Coles were the only Black residents.

Natalie on her Mother’s reaction to her playing with other African American children growing up:

“When I got friendly with the Black people who worked for us, MY MOTHER was appalled. She wanted us to interact with a different society-outside the house.”

Before we go any deeper into this story, it’s important to point out that this is not something Natalie’s mother and family, should SOLELY be judged for. Why? Because although they were at fault, we all know this is a far more deep rooted issue within the African American culture, that goes WAY beyond the Coles. Natalie Cole wrote this in her book, to forever shed light on a topic that plagues too many families.

Natalie’s mother married a dark skinned man, Nat King Cole. You may have heard of him – the silky smooth voice of “Unforgettable,” “Nature Boy,” “Smile,” “Too Young,” “The Christmas Song” (Chestnut Roasting On An Open Fire), “Mona Lisa” and “Ramblin’ Rose” – and, in 1956, became the first Black ever to host his own network TV show, NBC’s The Nat King Cole Show. Yeah, that guy. So why would Maria Cole’s family have such a dislike for dark skin African Americans?

Natalie also claimed her mother’s family felt that her father, was too Black for them:

“For a dark-skinned man such as my father to acquire a light-skinned woman such as my mother was a real important prize.Your status moved up. That doesn’t mean that her family was all that happy about her marrying my father. He was too Black for them,” wrote Natalie Cole.

Natalie’s Grandmother was very socially conscious, and according to Natalie:

“She [Natalie’s Grandmother] didn’t want my mother to get involved with anyone with too many Black characteristics, because then your children would look funny. It wasn’t just my mother, it’s the way many Black people were raised.”

While it’s easy to simply point fingers and say, ‘Natalie Cole’s momma and family are wrong for doing her like that,’ we have a bigger battle to fight- the universal ‘complexion disease.’ That type of dark skin/light skin tension is a socio-psychological sickness that is not simply just a choice. It’s also a deep brainwashing that many of us have been inflicted by in various ways, ever since it was embedded into our psyche’s, dating back to slavery. Clearly, the Coles were inflicted by it as well. However, we applaud the “Our Love” singer for her willingness to openly shed some light on such a painful topic, by sharing her through her own personal experiences with it.

May Natalie Cole;  her son, Robert Yancy; and her parents- Maria and Nat King Cole, all continue to rest well.

The post Natalie Cole Once Revealed Her Light-Skinned Mom’s Unfortunate Complex Against Dark Skin appeared first on I Love Old School Music.

Natalie Cole rose to fame and left her own unique imprint on music. As the daughter of the iconic singer/Jazz pianist, Nat King Cole, Natalie poised for musical greatness at an early age. With classic jams like “This Will Be,” “Inseparable,” “Our Love,” and “Unforgettable,” the Los Angeles, CA native won Grammy Awards, American Music Awards, NAACP Image Awards, and a plethora of other accolades.

Throughout her career, she released a staggering 24 albums of memorable music. But despite the level of success she achieved, Natalie faced many dark moments in her life that she was brave enough to graciously share with the public through her autobiographical book. We have an incredible amount of respect for her for being able to do so. From marital problems and divorces, to drug abuse and alcoholism, the beloved “I’m Catching Hell” singer also confessed that she was no stranger to toxic and destructive behaviors.

HORRORS NATALIE REVEALED ABOUT HER INVOLVEMENT IN PROSTITUTION ARE HEARTBREAKING

Embed from Getty Images

In her highly regarded memoir, Angel on My Shoulder, Natalie Cole opened up about prostitution in efforts to forever document the trials and tribulations she endured, with the hopes that she would help someone else avoid the same pitfalls. With the collaborative help of Digby Diehl, Cole managed to paint a picture of her life with the stroke of a pen. Although most people would be afraid to share details about their downfalls, Natalie decided to tell her story. After battling withdrawal from heroine, during a high point of her career, Natalie attempted to turn her life around. But, when she relocated to New York, she met a man who only further complicated her life. His name was Ronnie and he happened to be a pimp:

“Withdrawal from heroin—there’s nothin’ like it. You throw up, you sleep, you sweat. You’re delirious, you’re cold, and some folks even start hallucinating. If you get through it without killing yourself or somebody else, it’s no small miracle,” she wrote. “Soon afterwards, I moved to New York and met a guy named Ronnie who was a pimp and wanted to “help me supplement my income.” I was hired as the come-on girl who would pique the attention of potential Johns. Once I’d made contact and Ronnie had concluded the financial transaction, the real business would happen under the bridge—without me.”

Her co-collaborator, Digby Diehl, also further discussed her “work” on the streets on Harlem, NY.  “She stood on the street and waved at guys in cars,” said Diehl. “She’d bring a guy to the curb, where other women would do the business. She advertised her body so that they could sell theirs. I gather it didn’t go on for very long. But it was the lowest point of her life.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q43i8NSiXh0

Other Illegal Business Ventures Cole Shared In Her Book

In addition to prostitution, there many other business ventures Natalie was involved in. However, most of them weren’t legal. She’d gotten involved in fraudulent activity after she committed wire fraud to purchase drugs. Natalie and her first husband, Yancy, also attempted to sell drugs but the seemingly lucrative venture went awry when the couple could not refrain from using the drugs themselves:

“Eventually Marvin and I started freebasing coke. I set up my own little laboratory in our home. I got so good at it that I developed a reputation as a “gourmet cocaine chef”—I was called the Base Queen. Marvin and I actually tried dealing. We were awful at it. We would smoke up half the inventory before we ever got around to selling it.”

Embed from Getty Images

It’s Not Where You Start, It’s Where You Finish

Natalie Cole is a great example of the unfortunate truth about many celebrities. Although they live life under a microscope, with the world watching their every move, they aren’t perfect people, they’re simply perfectly flawed human beings who happen to be known by the masses. However, just like the rest of us perfectly flawed humans, celebs are still capable of and entitled to make mistakes. But, it’s not about where you start, it’s where you finish. At the time of her death, Natalie Cole had been drug-free for more than 30 years. Job well done Ms. Cole.

Sources: NYDailyNews, People Magazine, “Angel On My Shoulder” autobiography

The post Natalie Cole Bravely Wrote Of Her Prostitution Days…Her Details Were Heart Wrenching appeared first on I Love Old School Music.

According to the biography, “Bright Boulevards, Bold Dreams,” Eartha Kitt once talked about Mrs. Cole’s extreme possessiveness over her husband, when it came to other women.

Eartha and Nat had a purely platonic friendship while working together on their film, St. Louis Blues. They were portraying the characters, “Go-Go” and composer, “W.C. Handy.”

Once filming for the movie was wrapped, Nat simply showed his appreciation to Eartha by sending her some roses and a friendly thank-you note that stated “Handy misses Go-Go.” Eartha wrote a short friendly not back to thank him, which stated “Go-Go also misses Handy.”

Embed from Getty Images

When that note got into the hands of Mrs. Cole, she allegedly was not a happy camper. So she allegedly did what any woman wanting to put another woman in her place over her man, would do- she politely read Ms. Eartha like nobody’s business…LOL! Eartha Kitt said this about Maria Cole: “She [Maria] sent me a beaded cashmere sweater as a thank-you gift with a note pinned to it that must have poisoned the pen that wrote it.’

Maria Cole’s note read: “I don’t know if you think of yourself as some kind of temptress siren but the film is over and Go-Go (you) is gone, let’s leave it that way.”

As you can see, Mrs. Cole didn’t play that! It was a good thing there was no social media back then, because we probably would have been seeing plenty of celebrity women revealing their ‘inner NeNe Leakes’ attitudes back in the day. That just makes us love these Old School celebs even more though- it shows that they were real people, just like the rest of us.

-ILoveOldSchoolMusic, Old School news with a new point of view

The post Eartha Kitt Recalled Time Natalie Cole’s Mom Reportedly Sent Her A Nasty Letter And Why appeared first on I Love Old School Music.

The late Natalie Cole, once gave the world an honest look at her mother’s and family’s perception of dark skinned African Americans, including her dad, Nat King Cole, in her book, “Angel on My Shoulder: An Autobiography by Natalie Cole.”  After reading more about Natalie’s skin complexion issues within her own family, we respect the body of work she’s graced us with…and through it all, she did it with class.

Cole On Her Mom’s Complexion Issues

Natalie said her light skin mother, Maria Cole and her family’s, colorism isolated her from other African Americans during childhood. In her autobiography,  Natalie recalled growing up in Los Angeles’ exclusive Hancock Park section, where the Coles were the only Black residents.

Natalie on her Mother’s reaction to her playing with other African American children growing up:

“When I got friendly with the Black people who worked for us, MY MOTHER was appalled. She wanted us to interact with a different society-outside the house.”

Before we go any deeper into this story, it’s important to point out that this is not something Natalie’s mother and family, should SOLELY be judged for. Why? Because although they were at fault, we all know this is a far more deep rooted issue within the African American culture, that goes WAY beyond the Coles. Natalie Cole wrote this in her book, to forever shed light on a topic that plagues too many families.

Natalie’s mother married a dark skinned man, Nat King Cole. You may have heard of him – the silky smooth voice of “Unforgettable,” “Nature Boy,” “Smile,” “Too Young,” “The Christmas Song” (Chestnut Roasting On An Open Fire), “Mona Lisa” and “Ramblin’ Rose” – and, in 1956, became the first Black ever to host his own network TV show, NBC’s The Nat King Cole Show. Yeah, that guy. So why would Maria Cole’s family have such a dislike for dark skin African Americans?

Natalie also claimed her mother’s family felt that her father, was too Black for them:

“For a dark-skinned man such as my father to acquire a light-skinned woman such as my mother was a real important prize.Your status moved up. That doesn’t mean that her family was all that happy about her marrying my father. He was too Black for them,” wrote Natalie Cole.

Natalie’s Grandmother was very socially conscious, and according to Natalie:

“She [Natalie’s Grandmother] didn’t want my mother to get involved with anyone with too many Black characteristics, because then your children would look funny. It wasn’t just my mother, it’s the way many Black people were raised.”

While it’s easy to simply point fingers and say, ‘Natalie Cole’s momma and family are wrong for doing her like that,’ we have a bigger battle to fight- the universal ‘complexion disease.’ That type of dark skin/light skin tension is a socio-psychological sickness that is not simply just a choice. It’s also a deep brainwashing that many of us have been inflicted by in various ways, ever since it was embedded into our psyche’s, dating back to slavery. Clearly, the Coles were inflicted by it as well. However, we applaud the “Our Love” singer for her willingness to openly shed some light on such a painful topic, by sharing her through her own personal experiences with it.

May Natalie Cole;  her son, Robert Yancy; and her parents- Maria and Nat King Cole, all continue to rest well.

The post Natalie Cole Explained Her Light Skinned Mother’s Unfortunate Complex Against Dark Skin appeared first on I Love Old School Music.

There’s no question that Chaka Khan has proven time and time again, that she is not the one to be messed with. She’s a 5’4″ firecracker and makes it clear that nobody bett’ NOT play with her, nor her family. Otherwise, she’s a really classy lady.

There was one time when Chaka had to put her classy persona to the side to let her inner firecracker emerge, when drama reportedly went down in the bathroom of a recording studio between herself, her then-husband Richard Holland, and Rufus drummer, Andre Fischer — who is also Natalie Cole’s ex-husband. Chaka told it all in her autobiographical book, “Chaka! Through The Fire.”

Chaka Details 2 Reported Beatdowns By Natalie’s Ex

Embed from Getty Images

According to Chaka Khan, businessman Richard Holland (married to Chaka from 1976-1980), walked into a studio session while Andre Fischer (pictured above, 2nd from left) was listening to a playback recording of Richard’s song, “Better Days,” for their then-upcoming Rufus ft. Chaka Khan album, “Ask Rufus.” Chaka says Richard told Andre the recording sounded great. A few minutes later Andre reportedly asked Richard, to talk in the restroom down the hall, for privacy…things quickly got ugly.

Chaka says Andre went off on Richard, yelling “Don’t you ever tell me what to do!”. He then punched Richard in the head, but Richard couldn’t completely defend himself, given that he was 5’9″ and about 140 pounds, while Andre was 6’5″ weighing about 350 pounds, according to Chaka.

Once Chaka heard Richard’s screams from down the hall, Chaka says she rushed the scene…and all hell broke loose:

“Richard’s screams were so loud that they registered on the monitor inside the studio. Long story short: When I got to the bathroom, I went upside Andre’s head with a Courvoisier bottle (which didn’t break, like it does in the movies). And next, Andre was all over me. By then, a roadie and some of the guys in the band were on the scene, too,” Chaka wrote.

She continued:

“Richard wanted to sue Andre, but our manager talked him out of it because it would have been bad publicity for the group. Andre was soon out of Rufus and I never spoke to him again.”

Chaka also claims that wasn’t the only time folks had to yank Andre off of her, claiming Andre beat her while she was pregnant, during their tour with rockstar, Iggy Pop:

“On one night, we had been asked to do a double show because Iggy had gone too far in his first set and cut himself pretty badly. I was game to do a double—as long as we got Iggy’s money. Andre thought we should be grateful for the extra stage time with or without extra pay. When I stood my ground, Andre literally jumped all over me—pregnant with Milini. If the rest of the band hadn’t been there to pull him off… I don’t want to think about what might have happened,” Chaka explained.

Chaka’s Friend, Natalie Cole’s, Marriage To Fischer Caused Friction

Chaka’s close friend, the late Natalie Cole, eventually married Andre Fischer in 1989, which allegedly caused Chaka and Natalie to not be as close as they once were during that time. Natalie also stated in her book, that she, too, allegedly experienced consistent domestic abuse at the hands of Andre. They divorced in 1995.
[Source: “Chaka! Through The Fire” by Chaka Khan and Tonya Bolden]

One thing I’ve learned from this is to never mess with Chaka…especially when a whine bottle is nearby…I kid, I kid. Seriously though, it was probably best that both she and Natalie distanced themselves from those allegedly violent situations…good for them.

-ILoveOldSchoolMusic, Old School news with a new point of view

The post Chaka Says She And Husband Were ‘Beat Up’ By Natalie Cole’s Ex During Heated Altercation appeared first on I Love Old School Music.

The late Natalie Cole, once gave the world an honest look at her mother’s and family’s perception of dark skinned African Americans, including her dad, Nat King Cole, in her book, “Angel on My Shoulder: An Autobiography by Natalie Cole.”  After reading more about Natalie’s skin complexion issues within her own family, we respect the body of work she’s graced us with…and through it all, she did it with class.

Cole On Her Mom’s Complexion Issues

Natalie said her light skin mother, Maria Cole and her family’s, colorism isolated her from other African Americans during childhood. In her autobiography,  Natalie recalled growing up in Los Angeles’ exclusive Hancock Park section, where the Coles were the only Black residents.

Natalie on her Mother’s reaction to her playing with other African American children growing up:

“When I got friendly with the Black people who worked for us, MY MOTHER was appalled. She wanted us to interact with a different society-outside the house.”

Before we go any deeper into this story, it’s important to point out that this is not something Natalie’s mother and family, should SOLELY be judged for. Why? Because although they were at fault, we all know this is a far more deep rooted issue within the African American culture, that goes WAY beyond the Coles. Natalie Cole wrote this in her book, to forever shed light on a topic that plagues too many families.

Natalie’s mother married a dark skinned man, Nat King Cole. You may have heard of him – the silky smooth voice of “Unforgettable,” “Nature Boy,” “Smile,” “Too Young,” “The Christmas Song” (Chestnut Roasting On An Open Fire), “Mona Lisa” and “Ramblin’ Rose” – and, in 1956, became the first Black ever to host his own network TV show, NBC’s The Nat King Cole Show. Yeah, that guy. So why would Maria Cole’s family have such a dislike for dark skin African Americans?

Natalie also claimed her mother’s family felt that her father, was too Black for them:

“For a dark-skinned man such as my father to acquire a light-skinned woman such as my mother was a real important prize.Your status moved up. That doesn’t mean that her family was all that happy about her marrying my father. He was too Black for them,” wrote Natalie Cole.

Natalie’s Grandmother was very socially conscious, and according to Natalie:

“She [Natalie’s Grandmother] didn’t want my mother to get involved with anyone with too many Black characteristics, because then your children would look funny. It wasn’t just my mother, it’s the way many Black people were raised.”

While it’s easy to simply point fingers and say, ‘Natalie Cole’s momma and family are wrong for doing her like that,’ we have a bigger battle to fight- the universal ‘complexion disease.’ That type of dark skin/light skin tension is a socio-psychological sickness that is not simply just a choice. It’s also a deep brainwashing that many of us have been inflicted by in various ways, ever since it was embedded into our psyche’s, dating back to slavery. Clearly, the Coles were inflicted by it as well. However, we applaud the “Our Love” singer for her willingness to openly shed some light on such a painful topic, by sharing her through her own personal experiences with it.

May Natalie Cole;  her son, Robert Yancy; and her parents- Maria and Nat King Cole, all continue to rest well.

The post Natalie Cole Explained Her Light Skinned Mother’s Unfortunate Complex Against Dark Skin appeared first on I Love Old School Music.

Natalie Cole rose to fame and left her own unique imprint on music. As the daughter of the iconic singer/Jazz pianist, Nat King Cole, Natalie poised for musical greatness at an early age. With classic jams like “This Will Be,” “Inseparable,” “Our Love,” and “Unforgettable,” the Los Angeles, CA native won Grammy Awards, American Music Awards, NAACP Image Awards, and a plethora of other accolades.

Throughout her career, she released a staggering 24 albums of memorable music. But despite the level of success she achieved, Natalie faced many dark moments in her life that she was brave enough to graciously share with the public through her autobiographical book. We have an incredible amount of respect for her for being able to do so. From marital problems and divorces, to drug abuse and alcoholism, the beloved “I’m Catching Hell” singer also admitted that she was no stranger to toxic and destructive behaviors.

HORRORS NATALIE REVEALED ABOUT HER INVOLVEMENT IN PROSTITUTION ARE HEARTBREAKING

Embed from Getty Images

In her highly regarded memoir, Angel on My Shoulder, Natalie Cole opened up about prostitution in efforts to forever document the trials and tribulations she endured, with the hopes that she would help someone else avoid the same pitfalls. With the collaborative help of Digby Diehl, Cole managed to paint a picture of her life with the stroke of a pen. Although most people would be afraid to share details about their downfalls, Natalie decided to tell her story. After battling withdrawal from heroine, during a high point of her career, Natalie attempted to turn her life around. But, when she relocated to New York, she met a man who only further complicated her life. His name was Ronnie and he happened to be a pimp:

“Withdrawal from heroin—there’s nothin’ like it. You throw up, you sleep, you sweat. You’re delirious, you’re cold, and some folks even start hallucinating. If you get through it without killing yourself or somebody else, it’s no small miracle,” she wrote. “Soon afterwards, I moved to New York and met a guy named Ronnie who was a pimp and wanted to “help me supplement my income.” I was hired as the come-on girl who would pique the attention of potential Johns. Once I’d made contact and Ronnie had concluded the financial transaction, the real business would happen under the bridge—without me.”

Her co-collaborator, Digby Diehl, also further discussed her “work” on the streets on Harlem, NY.  “She stood on the street and waved at guys in cars,” said Diehl. “She’d bring a guy to the curb, where other women would do the business. She advertised her body so that they could sell theirs. I gather it didn’t go on for very long. But it was the lowest point of her life.

There’s More Natalie Cole Revealed>>>

The post Natalie Cole Bravely Wrote Of Her Prostitution Days & Her Details Are Heart Wrenching appeared first on I Love Old School Music.

The twin sisters of the late Natalie Cole are speaking out after the shocking, sudden death of Natalie’s son, Robert Yancy. In case you haven’t heard, Robert passed away on Tuesday (8-15-17) at the young age of 39. So far, San Fernando Valley police are saying it appears that he died from a heart attack, however they’re awaiting autopsy results to confirm that.
 Now, the 56 year old Cole sisters, Timolin and Casey Cole, have given new insight into Robert’s state of mind prior to his passing. Here’s what was reported by People:

“We are at a loss for words,” the twins, who carry on the family’s legacy through their work with Nat King Cole Generation Hope, tell PEOPLE exclusively. “He was deeply saddened over the loss of his mother,” adds Timolin of Robert, who was Cole and late singer and producer Marvin Yancy’s only child. “When Natalie died, he lost the most important person in his life. It was very hard for him.”

Robert was a musician, who played in his mother’s band for many years and he even played at his mother’s funeral. The twins said that Robert was in the process of reclaiming his life again after his depression, and that he appeared to be moving in a great direction because he was performing again.

“He bought a new place to live and was super excited about celebrating his 40th birthday on Oct. 14,” Casey tells PEOPLE. “He didn’t go to the doctor much, but he was feeling good. He was so busy with his life that he neglected that part.”

Medical History Of The Cole & Yancy Families

Robert’s father (Natalie’s ex-husband), Marvin Yancy, was a musician, ordained minister, music producer, and songwriter, who wrote some of Natalie’s classic hits, including “This Will Be (An Everlasting love)” and “Sophisticated Lady (She’s A Different Lady).” Sadly, Marvin died at 39 years old from a heart condition.

Natalie Cole passed away on December 31, 2015 from congestive heart failure.

Robert’s iconic grandfather, Nat King Cole, died in 1965 at 45 years old from lung cancer. Ironically, Nat King Cole’s father died just 14 days before him from a heart condition as well, much like what is the suspected cause of Robert’s death.

Words cannot describe how saddened we are for the Cole and Yancy families at this time and we send our deepest condolences to them. May Robert “Robbie” Yancy rest peacefully.

By the way ILOSM family, we can also view this as a lesson and/or wake up call to stay on top of our health. We are all old schoolers and proud of it, however, none of us are exempt from health problems, nor tragedies. So as we continue sending uplifting energy to the Cole’s and Yancy’s, let’s also use this moment to encourage ourselves and our loved ones to stay healthy for as long as we can.

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