Unique Experiences

Item Description

The winning bidder for this once-in-a-lifetime experience will, along with a guest, enjoy dinner with Natalie Cole at one of her favorite Los Angeles restaurants.

One of the most beloved performers of all time, Natalie Cole is a nine-time Grammy ® award-winning singer, songwriter, Emmy-nominated actress and author. 

A woman of extraordinary talent, life challenges and triumphs, it is no surprise that Natalie’s positive warmth and unshakeable spirit has seen her through it all.

This very special package also includes a signed copy of Angel On My Shoulder: An Autobiography as well as an autographed copy of Natalie’s most recent book, Love Brought Me Back, released in November 2010 and chronicling her path to a kidney transplant in 2009.

Natalie Cole rocketed to stardom in 1975 with her debut album, Inseparable, which earned her a #1 single for “This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)” and two Grammys® for Best New Artist and Best Female R&B Vocal Performance.  Many more hit singles followed including “Sophisticated Lady (She’s a Different Lady),”  “Mr. Melody,” “I’ve Got Love on My Mind,” “Jump Start (My Heart),” “I Live for Your Love” and a remake of Bruce Springsteen’s “Pink Cadillac” to name but a few.

In 1983, following the release of her album, I’m Ready, Natalie’s public battle with drug addiction triggered her own commitment to rehab.  But she swung back, and ultimately re-emerged with the 1987 release of Everlasting that went platinum, achieving  over one million copies sold.  In 1989, Natalie released Good to Be Back, delivering the hit song “Miss You Like Crazy.”

But it was in 1991 that Natalie Cole took a bold leap that would change her life and career forever when she recorded Unforgettable…With Love, an album of standards from the American Songbook that included a duet with her late father -Nat King Cole -on the title track. The album spent five weeks at #1 on the pop charts, earned six Grammy® awards (including Song, Record and Album of the Year) and sold more than 14 million copies worldwide. 

By the end of 1993, Cole earned a Grammy® for Best Jazz Vocal Performance for her album Take a Look, which was followed by the platinum release of Stardust.  The latter album featured another spectacular vocal duet with her father of “When I Fall in Love,” earning her a Grammy® for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals in 1997.

Snowfall on the Sahara followed in 1999, with Ask a Woman Who Knows in 2002 garnering her an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Jazz Artist.  2006 saw the release of Leavin’, a cover album of popular tracks that earned a Grammy® nomination for Natalie’s version of Aretha Franklin’s “Daydreaming.”

In 2008, Natalie released her latest Grammy® award -winning album Still Unforgettable.  But 2008 was also a year of serious medical challenges and struggle.  In July of that year, Natalie announced that she had been diagnosed with Hepatitis C, a liver disease likely caused by contact with infected blood during the time of her drug use.   And by September, end stage kidney failure required a continual regimen of blood dialysis and ultimately, the need for a kidney transplant. 

In May of 2009, Natalie Cole was successfully matched to an organ donor, enabling the kidney transplant that now ensures her remarkable life of accomplishment is once again vibrant and on “all systems, go!” 

Special Instructions

Dinner with Natalie Cole will take place in Los Angeles, California and may be converted to Lunch by mutual decision.  Dinner or Lunch and two drink tickets per person will be provided.  Winner and guests are solely responsible for any travel and/or accommodations to and from Los Angeles and the restaurant that will be designated by Natalie Cole.  The date of Dinner or Lunch is subject to the schedule availability of Natalie Cole and must be scheduled on or before June 20, 2013. Winning bidder is asked to submit requested date(s) no less than two weeks in advance and will be provided contact information for submission of request within the Award Letter to follow.  Winner and guests must be 21 years or older to receive drink tickets and/or consume alcoholic beverages.