The idea of a live person singing with a dead person is, on the face of it, intrinsically creepy, there's no doubt, seeming just a stunt to sell records. However, this particular team-up “beyond the grave”, as it were, could not be further from that idea. There's a heartbreaking sense of
rightness about a loving and famous daughter singing with her famous and well-loved late father, as Natalie Cole proved in 1992 when she sang a duet with her dad onstage.
Natalie Cole and Nat "King" Cole --- Unforgettable
Nat “King” Cole has been long established as one of the kings (sorry) of smooth jazz, with hits like “When I fall in love”, “Embraceable you” and “Mona Lisa” etched into the consciousness of the world and forever enshrined in the halls of music. But it's for one song in particular that he's most remembered, and that is “Unforgettable”, both in name and in content. Although not written by him (I don't believe he was a songwriter), the song was and is forever inextricably linked with the man and his legend, so it was only fitting that it be the one chosen by his famous daughter to inject new life into.
Remixed and edited by Joe Guercio, most famous for being Elvis' musical director, the song was performed at a special tribute to Nat “King” Cole, aired by PBS in 1992. With a videoscreen behind her showing her father, in his youth, singing the song, she joined with him and together the two performed one incredible, and, yes, unforgettable duet. The performance won three Grammys, as well as other awards, and was a huge hit when later released as a single.
The thing that makes this duet stand out --- other than the fact that it's the only one I can recall of its type --- is that you can see quite clearly that it was not a publicity stunt, a moneymaking venture or a cheap shot. The pure love and respect in Natalie's eyes as she gazes at the image of her father on the videoscreen, the passion in her voice, and the beautiful melding of the two performances make it obvious that this is, as the concert was billed, a tribute to Nat “King” Cole, and something that his daughter, had her father lived long enough and been able to perform live with her onstage, would have loved to do while he was alive.
This was the next best thing. It's unique, it's heartfelt, it's honest and it tears at your heartstrings, unless you have a brick there in your chest.
And it is, without doubt, a marriage made in Heaven.