Jenee Darden speaking at Creative Mornings I know it's been a while since I've posted anything but that's because of my job. I'm working as a reporter covering Oakland and I host an arts segment on the radio where I get to interview amazing artists from around the Bay Area. Plus I'm publicizing my book and building my speaking career! You know what's funny? I thought this would all happen by the time I was 27-30. Nope. That wasn't God's plan for me. I'm finally beginning to do the things I've wanted to do and I'm almost 40 years old. Some people reading this who are 40 will say 40 is still young. But some younger people reading may think 40 is nearly ancient. But I'm writing this post for those who like me, thought their career and personal dreams would come true much early in life. I'm here to tell you not to give up. You know, death inspires life. A number of my relatives and friends have passed away, ranging in
Remembering Natalie Cole Unforgettable and Inspirational
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Natalie Cole and Jenee Darden
at NPR studios in LA
I met Natalie Cole about 8 years ago when I was a producer
NPR. She rolled up to the studio in a Hummer. She was nice, but very quiet.
Maybe she wasn’t in a certain mood or
didn’t feel well. But she was kind enough to take photos with my colleagues and
i. Once she got in the studio and behind the mic for her interview, Ms. Cole
lit up.
I spoke with her and noticed she had on really cute
sunglasses. I got so comfortable with her I asked her where did she buy her
sunglasses. Ya’ll know damn well I don’t have Natalie Cole money. LOL She was
very polite and said she couldn’t remember. She was probably thinking, “What is
with this girl?”
Natalie Cole left us on New Year’s Eve at the age of 65. The
family said she died after a long battle
with an illness. According to NBC she received a kidney transplant in 2009. She
contracted hepatitis from her previous years of substance abuse.
What I love about Natalie Cole, aside from her gorgeous
voice and gowns she wore, is that she got her life together. She was a heavy drug user and pretty
open to sharing her story. She wrote in her memoir that she began using drugs
in the late 1960s because she was still struggling with the death of her
father, the great singer Nat King Cole. The pressures of living in his shadow
also got the best of her--temporarily.
But she got the help she needed and became a classy,
respected musical artist. I remember back in the ‘90s when she recorded a type
of duet album with her late father. Before holograms, producers took Nat King
Cole’s voice from his songs and spliced it with Natalie Cole on her
Unforgettable album. It’s a beautiful album that received many awards. People
gained a whole new respect for Natalie Cole. From there she became a classy,
jazz songstress.
Natalie Cole died on New Years Eve, which is a time of year
that people reflect on what they want to change in life. We think about what we
want or need to be better, do better and live better. While I hate that she
left us so soon, I think her passing on New Years Eve is symbolic. She is a
great example of someone who changed their life for the better. Addiction to
anything is not easy to stop, which also involves getting your mind right.
Getting clean and getting her mental health together speaks to the testament of
her strength and courage. I appreciate her for sharing her story and inspiring
others. If she can change and heal so can we.
I am going to miss watching her on stage in beautiful
gowns, while the orchestra plays on and as she blesses us with her beautiful
voice.
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