By Madhavananda das
Today in the news I noticed that this last Thursday the famous Jazz legend, Natalie Cole passed away. She was the daughter of the famous singer Nat King Cole.
I had a short, but memorable, meeting with her some years ago at the airport in Zurich Switzerland.
When Krishnakund and I were visiting Budapest Hungary (in 2012?) I noticed during some of our drives around town some posters advertising a concert by Natalie. I don’t usually notice such posters, but somehow these caught my eye.
A few days later I had forgotten about it and we were on a flight to Zurich. I struck up a conversation with the man sitting next to me on the plane. It turned out that he was a professional piano player from America. He told me that he was playing and traveling with Natalie Cole. He pointed out someone in a seat behind us, “He is the drummer in the band.” Pointing a few seats ahead he said, “He is the guitar player.” And then gesturing towards the front of the plane, “And there is Natalie.”
We had a very inspiring discussion about music, ragas and bhakti. He gave me his card and asked me to stay in touch.
When the plane landed and we disembarked I lost sight of him. Following the crowd I went to the baggage carousel and retrieved our bags. I decided I should give him a gift of one of our magazines and got a copy out of issue 8 about Lord Shiva.
Looking around I still didn’t see him. Then off to the side I noticed Natalie standing by herself. I thought, “Why not?” I confidently walked right up to her, and with respect and a little eagerness in my voice, I said, “Are you Natalie Cole?”
“Yes” she said looking at me.
“I was just speaking to your piano player on the flight. Also I noticed some of your posters while I was in Budapest.” Reaching out I warmly grasped both her hands in mine and enthusiasitically said, “I just want to thank you for what you are doing! You are making such an important artistic contribution. I’d like to give you a small gift, this is a magazine about traditional Indian art, philosophy, and culture that I produce”, and I gave her the copy of Sri Krishna Kathamrita.
“Well, thank you”, she said appearing to be genuinely touched. “What are you doing here in Zurich?”
“I’ve come here to give a seminar.”
“On what subject?” She asked.
I quickly thought that trying to explain to her about my talk on Lord Jagannath might be difficult to explain. I said, “It’s called the crying of the soul.”
Her eyes became big and with feeling she said, “Oh I love that!”
“I hope you like the magazine”, I told her, “All the best for your tour.”
And we parted ways.
It was only as I walked away that I remembered that I was dressed in a dhoti and kurta with a shaved head and tilak.
If Natalie had noticed my unusual appearance, she didn’t indicate it. It was a very warm and genuine exchange. It made me realize that your appearance is not what’s important, it’s your feelings that count.
All the best to Natalie on her latest tour. I hope that some of the mercy of Mahaprabhu touched her.
Thank you for sharing this wonderful story. Natalie Cole got the mercy, thanks to you. I’d like to share a few relevant quotes for the benefit of the devotees.
David Ritz, Natalie Cole’s biographer, remembers a conversation with Natalie: “It all goes back to the Hep C that was dormant for twenty-five years, she said, and then suddenly came alive. I could whine, Why me? I denounced drugs. I got sober. I stayed sober. I found God. Well, I love God. And I know that God’s love isn’t about crying over the past or fretting about the future. God’s love lives in the present and presently I’m happy to accept everything that happened, is happening and will happen.
“So many things have happened in my life, she reflected, but the death of my father remains the most painful. I adored him in a way that only a teenager girl can adore her dad. When he died, I fell apart. For years, I ran from his memory. I even ran from his music.
“The fact that even in Dad’s death we have grown closer brings me a beautiful comfort. It makes me think we ascribe too much severity to death. Spirit doesn’t die. Music doesn’t die. And the love that links spirit to music knows nothing about death. That spirit, that music, that love is eternal.”
In another interview, Natalie stated:
“I think that I am a walking testimony to you can have scars,” she told People magazine. “You can go through turbulent times and still have victory in your life.”
Good inspiration for us to reflect upon when we’re feeling a bit down or discouraged in our Krishna consciousness. Thankfully, Natalie Cole has been saved by the mercy of a devotee.
Haribol!