Music – 1986 – Natalie Cole – Star Spangled Banner – Sung At World Series Game 4 With Mets Vs Red Sox

Natalie Cole (February 6, 1950 – December 31, 2015) was an American singer, voice actress, songwriter, and actress….who was the daughter of renowned American singer and jazz pianist Nat King Cole….who  rose to success in the mid-1970’s as an R&B singer with the hits “This Will Be” and “Inseparable” in 1975…. and “Our Love” in 1977. She returned as a pop singer on the 1987 album Everlasting….and her cover of Bruce Springsteen’s “Pink Cadillac”.  In the 1990’s, she sang traditional pop by her father, resulting in her biggest success, Unforgettable… with Love, which sold over seven million copies and won her seven Grammy Awards. She sold over 30 million records worldwide. On December 31, 2015, Cole died at the age of 65 at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California, due to congestive heart failure.

Becoming an instant star, Cole responded to critics who predicted a sophomore slump with Natalie, released in 1976….as the album, like Inseparable, became a gold success thanks to the funk-influenced cut “Sophisticated Lady” and the jazz-influenced “Mr. Melody”.

Cole released her first platinum record with her third release, Unpredictable, mainly thanks to the # 1 R&B hit, “I’ve Got Love on My Mind”….which was originally an album track, the album’s closer, “I’m Catching Hell”, nonetheless became a popular Cole song during live concert shows.  Later in 1977, Cole issued her fourth release and second platinum album, Thankful, which included another signature Cole hit, “Our Love“. Cole was the first female artist to have two platinum albums in one year. To capitalize on her fame, Cole starred on her own TV special….which attracted such celebrities as Earth, Wind & Fire….and also appeared on the TV special, “Sinatra and Friends.”  In 1978, Cole released her first live album, Natalie Live!

In early 1979, the singer was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. That same year, she released two more albums, I Love You So and the Peabo Bryson duet album, We’re the Best of Friends. Both albums reached gold status in the U.S., reflecting her continuing popularity. 

In 1986, Natalie Cole sang The Star Spangled Banner at Game 4 of the MLB World Series between the New York Mets verses the Boston Red Sox….as seen in this video herewith.