[Dixielandjazz] Maria Cole, Nat Cole's widow dies of cancer at 89

[Norman Vickers]

To:  Musicians and Jazzfans ; DJML

From: Norman Vickers, Jazz  Society of Pensacola

 

Thanks to super jazzfan Mike Lynch of Pensacola for forwarding this
information.

 


Widow of Nat 'King' Cole dies of cancer at 89


Published July 12, 2012

Associated Press

BOCA RATON, Florida -  Maria Hawkins Cole, widow of Nat "King" Cole and
mother of Natalie Cole, has died in South Florida after a short battle with
cancer. She was 89.

A representative of the family confirmed that she died Tuesday at a Boca
Raton hospice, surrounded by her family.

Born in Boston in 1922, Cole had a long singing career, performing with
greats such as Count Basie and Duke Ellington. She began soloing at New
York's Club Zanzibar in 1946. She eventually met Nat "King" Cole there, and
the two were married in 1948.

Maria Cole traveled and performed with her husband throughout the `50s.
After her husband died from cancer in 1965, Maria Cole created the Cole
Cancer Foundation.

Besides her daughter Natalie, Maria Cole's survivors include twin daughters
Timolin and Casey.


Read more:
<http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2012/07/12/widow-nat-king-cole-dies-ca
ncer-at-8/#ixzz20Oyt2ec4>
http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2012/07/12/widow-nat-king-cole-dies-can
cer-at-8/#ixzz20Oyt2ec4