Natalie Cole at a Glance
Natalie Maria Cole (February 6, 1950 – December 31, 2015) was an American singer and actress whose measured career milestones and legally documented biographical dates provide a reliable timeline of her age over time. This evergreen profile clarifies her age at salient moments using authoritative sources and verifiable records, emphasizing consistency for reference and research needs.
Core Biographical Dates
| Attribute | Verified Detail | Source Type |
|---|---|---|
| Date of Birth | February 6, 1950 | Official records, biographies |
| Date of Death | December 31, 2015 | Obituary reports |
| Place of Birth | Los Angeles, California, USA | Public registries |
Age at Key Career Milestones
Understanding Natalie Cole’s age at pivotal moments clarifies her professional arc and counters misreported timelines. The table below aligns documented releases and events with her age at the time, supporting accurate historical and analytical references.
| Date or Period | Event | Age | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | Signed with Capitol Records | 25 | Entry into the music industry |
| 1977 | First studio album Inseparable | 27 | Breakthrough release |
| 1991 | Unforgettable… With Love | 41 | Career revival and Grammy wins |
| 2008 | Still Unforgettable tour | 58 | Sustained performance career |
Adolescence and Early Adulthood (Ages 0–26)
Born on February 6, 1950, Natalie Cole was 17 when she graduated from North Hollywood High School in 1967. She began formal music training while studying at the University of Massachusetts for one year before leaving to pursue vocal performance professionally. Her formative influences included her father Nat King Cole and early studio experiences that shaped her technique before the 1970s launch of her recording career.
Prime Recording Years (Ages 27–45)
By the late 1970s, Natalie Cole had established herself as a consistent presence on radio and television. Her Grammy Award for Inseparable in 1977 confirmed her status as a major artist in the R&B and pop fields. During the 1980s and early 1990s, she balanced recording, touring, and acting, aging through the decades while maintaining a demanding performance schedule. Between 1985 and 1991, she released several albums that solidified her cross-genre appeal.
Later Career and Legacy (Ages 46–65)
In the 1990s and 2000s, Natalie Cole’s age aligned with a shift toward retrospective projects and collaborations. The 1991 album Unforgettable… With Love earned multiple Grammy Awards and demonstrated mature interpretive skills. Health challenges in later years influenced the pace of touring but did not diminish her presence in the industry. By 2008, at age 58, she was still touring and recording, reflecting a career sustained by professionalism and adaptability.
Age at Death and Public Records
Natalie Cole died on December 31, 2015. Cross-checking birth and death dates yields a precise age at death of 65 years, 10 months, and 25 days. Certified records and contemporaneous obituaries confirm this timeline, reducing ambiguity for researchers and biographers who depend on exact figures for reference and analysis.
Comparative Age Context
Positioning Natalie Cole’s age milestones alongside peers in the classic R&B and pop canon clarifies her relative career timing. The brief comparison below emphasizes durable professional longevity and how her trajectory reflects broader industry patterns of sustained artistry.
- Aged 27: Released breakthrough album Inseparable; peers often debut earlier or later depending on label strategies.
- Aged 41: Won multiple Grammys for Unforgettable… With Love; comparable artists revisit catalog material in mid-career.
- Aged 58: Active touring and recording; places her among long-career artists who adapted to shifting formats.
Reliability of Reported Ages
Reported ages for public figures can vary due to timing discrepancies, calendar systems, or transcription errors. For Natalie Cole, authoritative sources—birth certificates, official biographies, and reputable obituaries—converge on consistent dates. Understanding how age is documented and verified helps users distinguish between anecdotal memory and documented fact when citing her career timeline.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How old was Natalie Cole when she won her first Grammy? She was 27 at the 1977 ceremony honoring Inseparable.
- What was her age at the release of Unforgettable… With Love? She was 41 at release in 1991.
- At what age did Natalie Cole pass away? She was 65 years old at death on December 31, 2015.
- Are birth and death dates officially verified? Yes, they appear in certified records and widely cited obituaries.
- Why does precise age matter for biographical research? Accurate dates support reliable timelines, comparisons, and archival referencing.
Summary
Natalie Cole’s age at key moments is traceable through consistent, verifiable records. From signing her first major contract at 25 to a lasting legacy extending into her mid-60s, her career timeline remains a reliable reference point for biographical and scholarly work. Clear sourcing and dated milestones ensure this profile functions as an enduring, fact-first resource.