Natalie Cole, the Grammy-winning singer and daughter of the legendary Nat King Cole, passed away on New Year’s Eve 2015 at the age of 65. Her only son, Robert Yancy, followed her in death less than two years later, at the age of 39. The cause of death for both mother and son was related to heart problems, a tragic coincidence that shocked and saddened their family and fans.
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Natalie Cole’s Illustrious Career and Health Struggles
Natalie Cole rose to fame in the 1970s with hits like “This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)” and “Inseparable”. She won nine Grammy awards throughout her career, including Album of the Year for “Unforgettable… with Love”, a tribute to her father that featured a duet with his voice. She also battled drug addiction and hepatitis C, which damaged her liver and required a transplant in 2009. According to People, she died of congestive heart failure, which was caused by a rare lung condition called pulmonary arterial hypertension.
Robert Yancy’s Musical Talent and Sudden Death
Robert Yancy, whose father was Marvin Yancy, Natalie Cole’s first husband and a music producer, was a drummer who played in his mother’s touring band. He also performed at her funeral in January 2016, where he expressed his love and faith in God. According to Heavy, he was found dead in his apartment in the San Fernando Valley on August 14, 2017, after a friend checked on him. The Los Angeles County coroner’s office reported that his death was due to natural causes, pending the completion of an autopsy and toxicology test. However, his family was told by authorities that he appeared to have suffered a heart attack, and that drugs were not involved in his death.
The Cole Family’s Legacy and Grief
Robert Yancy was the only child of Natalie Cole and the only grandchild of Nat King Cole, who died of lung cancer in 1965 at the age of 45. He was also survived by his mother’s twin sisters, Timolin and Casey Cole Hooker, who run the Nat King Cole Generation Hope organization that works to keep music in schools. His aunt Timolin told The Associated Press that he was “a man of great strength and faith in God” and that he was “in a happy place” before his death. She also said that he would be laid to rest with his mother and grandfather at Forest Lawn in Glendale, California. “The dynasty is up in heaven,” she said.
