Natalie Cole
For Natalie Cole, her father's legacy is the gift that keeps on giving. Going through long-lost recordings her father, Nat King Cole, made in the '50s, she was surprised to find that "I had never heard 90 percent of the songs." Now, 36 years after her dad's death, 20 of those tracks appear on the newly released album Night Lights.
What did you think when you first heard the album?
It made me smile. There's a lilt in my dad's voice on this record. His voice is up and happy. I was brought up with the same songs as you: "Mona Lisa" and "L-O-V-E." These songs didn't get the same kind of attention.
Why release the record now?
When Unforgettable came out, it brought Dad's catalog to a new level. There are lots of things waiting to be discovered. There's an album of Dad singing children's songs and one where he sings with the Harlem Boys' Choir.
How do you remember your father now?
Every time I open my mouth and sing, I think of my father. When I see who the new artists are, I think of what he might say and the comments he might have. He is a constant presence.
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