The life of Natalie Cole: 1950-2015 (15 images)

Natalie Cole rose to prominence in the mid-1970s, after releasing her debut album Inseparable, which became an instant success. Cole would go on to win Best Female R&B Vocal Performance with her top ten hit "This Will Be" and Best New Artist at the 1976 Grammy Awards. Photo by UPI.

Natalie Cole introduced her ten month old son, Robert Adam Yancey, to the audience in 1978 during Cole's sold-out performance at the Universal Amphitheatre. Cole was quotes as saying, "I'd like you to meet the fruit of my labor." Yancey would also become a musician and go on to tour with his mother. Photo by UPI.

Singer Natalie Cole poses backstage at the 5th annual Soul Train, Lady of Soul Awards in September, 1999 after being presented with the Lena Horne Award for outstanding career achievement. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI

Natalie Cole appears at Barnes and Noble book store in New York in November, 2000 to promote her new autobiography, Angel On My Shoulder, which describes her battle with addiction and recovery. Her autobiography was released in conjunction with a made-for-TV movie, Living' for Love: The Natalie Cole Story on NBC. Photo by Ezio Petersen/UPI.