A tragic loss just happened in the music industry as one of its greatest has just passed away.
Natalie Cole, one of music’s finest voices and daughter of the late, legendary singer Nat King Cole, died on Dec. 31 due to a congestive heart failure at a hospital in Los Angeles.
One of her dearest friends in the music industry, Smokey Robinson, shared his memories with her in an interview with Entertainment Tonight.
"About nine months or so ago, we did a concert together in Arizona, and when I saw her that day she didn't look good to me. She lost a lot of weight and stuff, and I could tell because I had known her for so long and [we were] so close," said Robinson.
According to Robinson, Cole was one of the greatest musical icons and had an “instant friendship" with her. "Natalie was so cool, she was down to earth," recalled Robinson.
"The last time I was able to talk to her was the night of the concert, before I went on. We hugged and talked and that was the last time I had a chance to have a good talk with her," shared Cole's friend.
Robinson and Cole started their friendship back in 1975 after Cole released her hit song “This Will Be (An Everlasting Love).”
He said that he will miss the conversations that they have had over the years. "Just being able to say, 'Hey Nat, how are you doing baby?' Sit down and talk like that. That is what I am going to miss, because we spent a lot of time together," revealed Robinson.
Robinson went on to say that, "I hope even people that don't or didn't get a chance to know her personally will understand that her legacy is that she was a wonderful lady. She is going to live on and on and on. She made great music and people who knew her loved her."