Natalie Cole (1950–2015) was an American singer, songwriter and actress, the daughter of American singer and jazz pianist Nat King Cole. He died in 1965 when she was a teenager.
In 1972 she began singing at small clubs with her band, Black Magic. Clubs initially welcomed her because she was Nat King Cole’s daughter, only to be disappointed when she performed cover versions of R&B and rock songs.
She became an instant star in 1975 with the release of her first album (with original material), Inseparable. Two of its songs reached number-one on the R&B chart and won her a Grammy Award for “Best Female R&B Vocal Performance.” At the same Grammy Awards Cole also won “Best New Artist” for her accomplishments, making her the first African-American artist to attain that feat.
She changed musical styles several times over the course of her career. Rising to success in the mid 1970s as an R&B singer, in the 1980s she became a pop singer doing both original songs and covers of other singer’s songs.
Nearly 20 years after she initially refused to cover her father’s songs during live concerts, in 1991 Cole released the career-defining album for which she is best known, Unforgettable… with Love. The songs on this album pay tribute to her father, featuring many beautiful renditions of standards previously recorded by him. The album’s breakout single, “Unforgettable,” features a track dubbed over his previous recording, as to create the sound of a father-daughter duet. Unforgettable… with Love sold over seven million copies and garnered several honors, chief among them were seven Grammy Awards including the coveted “Album of the Year.”
During the course of her 30-year career she sold over 30 million records worldwide and was the first female artist to have two albums reach platinum status in one year. In early 1979, the singer was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 2000 she released an autobiography, Angel on My Shoulder.
HIT SONGS
Music by Duke Ellington, Lyrics by Bob Russell
ARRANGER: Bill Holman
KEY: A-flat
INSTRUMENTATION: R1:AltoSax,Flute; R2:Piccolo,AltoSax,Flute; Re3:Flute,TenorSax,Clarinet; R4:TenorSax,Clarinet; R5:BariSax,BassClarinet / 0,4,4,0 / Drums, Piano, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Bass / no strings / Score & PC
“For Sentimental Reasons” Music by William “Pat” Best, Lyrics by Ivory “Deek” Watson
“Tenderly” Music by Walter Gross, Lyrics by Jack Lawrence
“Autumn Leaves” Music by Joseph Kosma, Original French lyrics by Jacques Prévert, English Lyrics by Johnny Mercer
“Tenderly” Music by Walter Gross, Lyrics by Jack Lawrence
“Autumn Leaves” Music by Joseph Kosma, Original French lyrics by Jacques Prévert, English Lyrics by Johnny Mercer
Orchestrated by Marty Paich
KEY: Starts in D-flat, ends in D-minor
INSTRUMENTATION: 3(III.=Picc),1,2,0, One Saxophone solo, either Alto or Tenor / 4,0,0,0 / Piano, Harp / 9,9,8,6,4 / Score, PC, Background Vocals
Music and Lyrics by Billy Strayhorn
Orchestrated by Johnny Mandel
KEY: B
INSTRUMENTATION: 2 Alto Flutes, 2 Clarinets, 1 Bass Clarinet, 1 Contrabass Clarinet / 4,0,0,0 / Drums, Vibes, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Bass / Piano, Harp / 0,0,8,6,3
Music and Lyrics by Jay Livingston & Ray Evans
Orchestrated by Johnny Mandel
KEY: A
INSTRUMENTATION: 2 Alto Flutes, 1 Clarinet-Alto Flute; 1 Clarinet; 1 Clarinet-Bass Clarinet; 1 Contrabass Clarinet / 4,0,0,0 / Vibes, Acoustic Guitar / Harp / Strings
Music and Lyrics by Marvin Yancy & Chuck Jackson
Aranged by Charles Floyd, Adapted by Gail Deadrick
KEY: B-flat
INSTRUMENTATION: R1: Flute,AltoSax; R2: Flute,TenorSax; R3: BariSax / 0,4,3(III.=BsTbn),0 / Drums, Vibes, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Bass / Piano, Harp / Violins, Viola, Cello / Score, PC, Background Vocals
Music by Harold Arlen, Lyrics by E.Y. “Yip” Harburg & Billy Rose
Orchestrated by Ralph Burns
KEY: Starts in E-flat, ends in G-flat
INSTRUMENTATION: 1 SopranoSax, 1 AltoSax, 1 TenorSax, 1 BariSax / 0,4,4,0 / Drums, Piano, Rhythm Bass / no strings
Music by Charlie Chaplin, Lyrics by John Turner & Geoffrey Parsons
Arranged & Orchestrated by Michel Legrand
KEY: E-flat
INSTRUMENTATION: 0,0,0,0 / 5,0,0,0 / Celesta, Harp / 6-6, 6-6, 6, 5, 3
Music by Marvin Yancy, Lyrics by Chuck Jackson
Arranged by Joe Guercio, Orchestrated by Don Hannah
KEY: B-flat going to D-flat
INSTRUMENTATION: 1 AltoSax, 2 TenorSaxes, 1 BariSax / 0,0,0(III.=BsTbn).0 / Timp, Drums, Perc:[Congas, Tambourine] / Piano, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Bass / Violins, Viola, Cello / Score, PC, Background Vocals
Music by Marvin Yancy, Lyrics by Chuck Jackson
Arranged by Joe Guercio, Orchestrated by Don Hannah
KEY: B-flat going to D-flat
INSTRUMENTATION: 1 AltoSax, 2 TenorSaxes, 1 BariSax / 0,0,0(III.=BsTbn).0 / Timp, Drums, Perc:[Congas, Tambourine] / Piano, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Bass / Violins, Viola, Cello / Score, PC, Background Vocals
Music and Lyrics by “Kansas Joe” McCoy & Herb Morand
Arranged by Jim Hughart
KEY: F
INSTRUMENTATION: Tenor Sax / Flugel, Trombone / Electric Guitar, Electric Bass, Perc:[Triangle] / Drums / no strings / Score
CHRISTMAS SONGS (SOLOS)—More songs on the Christmas Music page
Music and Lyrics by Carroll Coates
Arranged & Orchestrated by John Clayton, Jr.
KEY: Starts in B-flat, ends in B-Major
INSTRUMENTATION: 2,1,4(III.=BsCl; IV.=Contrabass Clarinet),0 / 4,0,0,0 / Perc: [Tri, Bells, WindChimes] / Piano, 2 Synths, Acoustic Guitar, Rhythm Bass, Harp / Strings / Score & PC
I’ve been unable to find a recording of this arrangement, but I’m still looking!
Traditional Christmas Carol with Lyrics by Thomas Oliphant
Arranged & Orchestrated by John Clayton, Jr.
KEY: C
INSTRUMENTATION: R1: Flute,AltoSax; R2: Flute,AltoSax; R3: TenorSax,Clarinet,Oboe; R4: TenorSax, Clarinet; R5: BassClarinet,BariSax / 4,4,3,0 / Timpani, Drums, Perc:[Chimes, Triangle, Vibes] / Piano, Synth (sounds=Glock, Elec.Pno, Bells, Strings) / Acoustic Guitar, Rhythm Bass / Violins, Viola, Cello
“Jingle Bell Rock” is credited to Joseph Carleton Beal and James Ross, but Bobby Helms, the country-western artist who first recorded it and Hank “Sugarfoot” Garland, the guitarist on the track, filed suit against the record label, claiming that they, not Beal and Boothe, wrote the song.
“Winter Wonderland” Music by Felix Bernard, Lyrics by Richard Bernhard Smith
“The Little Drummer Boy” is believed to be written ty Katherine Kennicott Davis. The song lyrics are said to be based on an old Czech carol and originally recorded as “Carol of the Drum” by none other than the (real) Trapp Family Singers (“The Sound of Music”). According to some reports, Henry Onorati and Harry Simeone penned the lyrics to the song.
“I’ll Be Home For Christmas” Music by Walter Kent, Lyrics by Kim Gannon
“Winter Wonderland” Music by Felix Bernard, Lyrics by Richard Bernhard Smith
“The Little Drummer Boy” is believed to be written ty Katherine Kennicott Davis. The song lyrics are said to be based on an old Czech carol and originally recorded as “Carol of the Drum” by none other than the (real) Trapp Family Singers (“The Sound of Music”). According to some reports, Henry Onorati and Harry Simeone penned the lyrics to the song.
“I’ll Be Home For Christmas” Music by Walter Kent, Lyrics by Kim Gannon
Arranged by
Jerry Peters
Jerry Peters
KEY: starts in Bb, final key is A-flat
INSTRUMENTATION:
R1: Alto, Piccolo, Flute; R2: Alto, Flute; R3: Tenor, Clarinet, Flute; R4: Bari, BsCl
Gtr, Fender Bass / 3 Tpts (all double on Flugelhorns), 3 Trombones /
Drums, Guitar, Fender Bass / Piano, K2 (Strings, Rhodes, Bells)
R1: Alto, Piccolo, Flute; R2: Alto, Flute; R3: Tenor, Clarinet, Flute; R4: Bari, BsCl
Gtr, Fender Bass / 3 Tpts (all double on Flugelhorns), 3 Trombones /
Drums, Guitar, Fender Bass / Piano, K2 (Strings, Rhodes, Bells)
Music and Lyrics by Eddie Pola & George Wyle
Arranged & Orchestrated by Alan Broadbent
KEY: Starts in A, ends in B-flat
INSTRUMENTATION: 4,0,0,0 / 2,0,0,0 / Drums, Perc:[Triangle, Sleigh Bells] / Piano, Celesta, Harp, Acoustic Guitar, Rhythm Bass / Strings
In 1984 Mark Lowry scripted a series of questions for a Christmas program at his church. According to Wikipedia, in an interview Lowry said: “I just tried to put into words the unfathomable. I started thinking of the questions I would have for her [Mary, mother of Jesus] if I were to sit down & have coffee with [her]. You know, ‘What was it like raising God?” ‘What did you know?’ ‘What didn’t you know?'”
None of the questions are answered in the song. Instead, the lyrics poetically invite the listener to contemplate the relationship between Mary and her newborn divine son even if her faith and awareness did not yet include the details of what would unfold. In 1991, Buddy Greene composed music for the poem.
The text has received its share of praise and its share of criticism. But it has become a modern Christmas classic, recorded by such artists as Kenny Rogers & Wynonna Judd, Clay Aiken. CeeLo Green, Carrie Underwood, Dolly Parton and Jordan Smith (on the season nine finals of The Voice).
Music by Buddy Greene, Lyrics by Mark Lowry
Arranged & Orchestrated by Bob Krogstad
KEY: C
INSTRUMENTATION: 0,1,0,0 / 4,0,0,0 / Drums, Perc:[SusCym, BellTree, Glock, Vibes] / Harp, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Bass / 10,8,6,6,4a
Music and Lyrics by Lou Baxter, Charles Brown & Johnny Moore
Arranged & Orchestrated by: John Clayton, Jr.
KEY: C
INSTRUMENTATION: 1 AltoSax, 1 TenorSax, 1 BariSax / 0,1,1,0 / Drums / Piano, Keyboard2: (sounds: Horn, Organ) / Acoustic Guitar, Electric Bass / no strings / Score & PC
The recording is Natalie accompanied by an instrumental Quartet. The instrumentation below is an orchestral version of the same arrangement.
Music by Richard Carpenter, Lyrics by Frank Pooler
Arranged by Alan Broadbent
KEY: A
INSTRUMENTATION: 2 FL, 1 Ob, 1 Clar(dbl Fl), 1 BsClar / 2,0,0,0 / Drums, Rhythm Bass, Perc:[Glock, Orch Bells, Sleigh Bells] / Vlns Vlas, Vc(s)
Music by Michael Masser, Lyrics by Gerry Goffin
Arranged by Robert Buchanan, Orchestrated by Lee Holdridge
KEY: G
INSTRUMENTATION: 0,1,0,0 / 0,0,0,0 / Drums, Piano-Synth(sounds: Bells, Voices, Timp] / Acoustic Guitar, Electric Bass / 10,8,6,6,3
Traditional
Arranged & Orchestrated by Bob Krogstad
KEY: E-flat
INSTRUMENTATION: 3(III. dbl Picc),0,2(II.=BsCl),1 / 4,4,3,1 / Timpani, Perc:[SusCym, Bell Tree, Chime, Glock, Vibes, Bells] / Harp / 12,10,8,8,4
Music by Leroy Anderson, Lyrics by Mitchell Parish
Arranged & Orchestrated by Bob Krogstad
KEY: Starts & ends in E-flat (modulates to F & D)
INSTRUMENTATION: 2,1,1(BsClar),0; 2 AltoSaxes, 2TenorSaxes / 4,4,4,0 / Timpani, Drums, Perc:[2 Sets of Sleigh Bells, Whip, WB, Piatti, SusCym, Chime, Glock, Xylo] / Piano, Harp, Electric Bass / 10,8,6,6,4
Music and Lyrics by Mel Tormé & Robert Wells
Arranged & Orchestrated by Johnny Mandel
KEY: starts in A-Major, ends in B-flat Major
INSTRUMENTATION: 2 Flutes, 2 Alto Flutes, 1 Oboe, 1 E-flat Contrabass Clarinet (or Bass Clarinet) / 4,0,3,0 / Drums, Perc:[Vibes, Glock] / Piano, Guitar, Harp, Rhythm Bass / Full String Section / Score
Music and Lyrics by William Sandys
Arranged & Orchestrated by Alan Broadbent
KEY: B-flat modulating to B-Major
INSTRUMENTATION: 3,0,0,0 / 4,0,0,0 / Timpani, Drums, Perc:[Crotales, Song Bells, Chimes] / Piano, Harp, Electric Bass / 10,8,6,4,2 / Score & PC
Traditional
Arranged & Orchestrated by Alan Broadbent
KEY: Starts in D, ends in C
INSTRUMENTATION: 1,1,2,1 / 4,0,0,0 / Perc:[Triangle, Mark Tree, Crotales, Glock] / Harp / Strings
Music and Lyrics by Michael Carr, Tommie Connor & Jimmy Leach
Arranged & Orchestrated by Johnny Mandel
KEY: C
INSTRUMENTATION: 0,0,0,0 / 0,0,1,0 / Drums / Celesta, Acoustic Guitar, Rhythm Bass / Violins, Viola, Cello
Music by Felix Bernard, Lyrics by Richard Bernhard Smith
Arranged and Orchestrated by Alan Broadbent
KEY: C-flat
INSTRUMENTATION: 0,0,0,0, 2 AltoSaxes, 2 TenorSaxes, 1 BariSax / 4,4,3,0 / Drums, Perc:[SusCym, Bells] / Piano, Harp, Keyboard 2, Acoustic Guitar, Rhythm Bass / 7,7,4,4,1 / Score & PC
CHRISTMAS SONGS (WITH CHORUS OR BACKGROUND VOCALS)
Music and Lyrics by Mykola Leontovych & Peter J. Wilhousky
Arranged and Orchestrated by Bob Krogstad
KEY: F
INSTRUMENTATION: 2,1,1,0; 2 AltoSaxes, 2 TenorSaxes / 4,4,4,0 / Timpani, Perc:[Gong, SusCym, Piatti, Crotales, Chimes] / Piano, Harp, Electric Bass / 10,8,6,6,4
Music by Alfred Burt, Lyrics by Wihla Hutsont
Arranged and Orchestrated by Alan Broadbent
KEY: Starts in A-flat, ends in A-Major
INSTRUMENTATION: 3,0,0,0 / 4,0,0,0 / Drums, Perc:[Chimes, Glock, Triangle, Sleigh Bells] / Piano-Celesta, Harp, 12-string Guitar, Rhythm Bass / 10,8,6,6,2
Music by Alfred Burt, Lyrics by Wihla Hutsont
Arranged and Orchestrated by Bob Krogstad
KEY: Starts in D, ends in E-flat
INSTRUMENTATION: 3(III.=Flute-Picc),1,2,1 / 4,4,3,1 / Drums, Timpani, Perc:[SusCym, Triangle, Tabor, Piatti, Crotales, Chime, BsDrum, Glock] / 12,10,8,8,4
Music and Lyrics by James Lord Pierpont
Arranged and Orchestrated by John Clayton, Jr.
KEY: Starts in F mod to G and G-flat, ends in F
INSTRUMENTATION: 2 AltoSaxes, 2 TenorSaxes, 1 BariSax / 0,4,4,0 / Drums, Perc:[Sleigh Bells, Chimes, Tamb, Marimba] / Piano, Acoutstic Guitar, Rhythm Bass / Score & PC
Traditional Hymn, Music adapted by Lowell Mason, Lyrics by Isaac Watts
Arranged & Orchestrated by Alan Broadbent
KEY: Starts in A-flat, ends in B-flat
INSTRUMENTATION: 0,0,0,0 / 0,3,2,0 / Drums, Tambourine / Hammond B3, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Bass / 8,8,6,4,0 / Score & PC
Music by David Foster, Lyrics by Linda Thompson-Jenner
Arranged & Orchestrated by Bob Krogstad or (a different orchestration) by David Foster
KEYS: D (Bob Krogstad) and also D-flat (David Foster)
INSTRUMENTATION: Bob Krogstad orchestration: 0,1,0,0 / 4,0,0,0 / Drums, Perc:[Bell Tree, SusCym, Glock, Vibes] / Piano, Harp, Rhythm Bass / 10,8,6,6,4 / Score & PC
Music by Franz Xaver Gruber, Lyrics by Joseph Mohr
Arranged & Orchestrated by Clare Fischer
KEY: Starts in A, ends in B-flat
INSTRUMENTATION: 0,0,4(III.=BsCl, IV.=ContrabassClarinet),0 / 2,2,2,0 / Timpani, Perc:[Bells, SusCym] / Piano-Celesta / Strings / Score & PC<
Music and Lyrics by Robert MacGimsey
Arranged & Orchestrated by Bob Krogstad
KEY: B-flat
INSTRUMENTATION: 1,1,1,1 / 4,0,0,0 / Drums, Perc=[SusCym, Bell Tree, Vibes, Glock] / Drums, Rhythm Bass / Piano, Harp / 10,8,6,6,4
Music by Jule Styne, Lyrics by Sammy Cahn
Arranged & Orchestrated by Bob Krogstad
KEY: Starts in C, ends in D-flat
INSTRUMENTATION: 3,1,2(II.=BsClar),1 / 4,4,4,0 / Timpani, Drums, Perc:[Bell Tree, SusCym, Piatti, 2 Sets of Sleigh Bells, Vibes, Glock, Chime] / Piano, Celesta, Harp, Acoustic Guitar, Rhythm Bass / 10,10,6,6,4
Traditional
Arranged and Orchestrated by Bob Krogstad
KEY: Starts in D-flat, Ends in E-flat, and changes keys all the way through
INSTRUMENTATION: 3(III.=Flute-Picc),0,2,1; 2 AltoSaxes, 2 TenorSaxes, 1 BariSax / 4,4,4,0 / Timpani, Drums, Perc:[Piatti, WB, Concert Snare, SusCym, 2 Sets of Sleigh Bells, Whip, Triangle, Xylo, Vibes, Glock, Chimes, Crotales, Bass Drum] / Piano, Celesta, Harp, Electric Guitar, Electric Bass / 10,10,6,6,4 / Score & PC / Chorus (opt?)