Columnist Joe Delaney: Cole owes ‘Unforgettable’ idea to conductor

Joe Delaney

Friday, Aug. 3, 2001 | 9:25 a.m.

Joe Delaney's column appears on Thursdays and Fridays. Reach him at 259-4066 or joe@lasvegassun.com

Natalie Cole, appearing tonight through Sunday in the Paris Las Vegas le Theatre des Arts, is the proud possessor of eight Grammy Awards, eight gold albums and three platinum albums with a repertoire that includes adult contemporary, pop, jazz, rhythm 'n' blues, soul and gospel best-selling singles and albums.

"Inseparable," her 1975 debut album on the Capitol label, earned her a gold record and two Grammy Awards, one as Best New Artist ... Critics hailed her as the "next Aretha Franklin" ... At that stage of her career, Cole was determined to make it on her own and not rely on the name of her famous father, the late Nat "King" Cole.

This story has been told by me, but it bears repeating ... It was at the start of the 1980s that Joe Guercio, then Las Vegas Hilton musical director and personal conductor on tour for Elvis Presley, convinced Cole not only to acknowledge her father onstage but to sing a duet with him using one of his recordings ... Nat Cole died in 1965.

Guercio chose "Unforgettable" and prepared the arrangement, for which he was paid at the time ... I was present at one of those performances and later heard an audio tape of that performance ... The arrangement that appeared on the 1991 multiple-Grammy Award-winning album virtually duplicates the original Guercio arrangement from nearly a decade earlier.

All Guercio has ever asked for is an acknowledgement that he created the original concept for "Unforgettable" -- the song, not the album ... His efforts have been in vain ... Guercio also created the arrangement on "My Way" for Elvis Presley and with his late wife, Corky, created a hit for Gladys Knight covering Streisand's "The Way We Were."

"Unforgettable," the album, made Natalie Cole a superstar ... It resulted in numerous other prestigious awards, plus a world tour that was documented as a PBS special ... Throughout her career she has been active in various good causes ... In the mid-1990s she was named Person of the Year by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences' Music Cares program.

Happy today and in full control of herself, Cole is an artist who continues to expand her horizons ... Her father would have been very proud ... It would also be nice if she would make a phone call or drop Guercio a note.

Weekend wrap-up

Congrats to the Sahara's "The Rat Pack Is Back" on its 500th performance ... Through Aug. 29 Nevada residents with proper ID can purchase a second ticket for $5 at Monday and Wednesday performances only ... The Riviera's "Splash" is offering two tickets for the price of one to Nevada residents every Friday through Aug. 31.

Congrats as well to singer-songwriter-actress Doris Troy as one of the recipients of the 17th annual Rose Awards presented by the Professional Black Women's Alliance at its annual dinner last month ... And to KVVU Channel 5 talk show host Jack London on his "On Camera" 20th anniversary show Sunday at 9 a.m. ... We're honored to be included.

More congrats go to 42 students and 10 UNLV faculty members who will be performing Sunday through Aug. 27 at the Edinburgh International Festival in Scotland, representing the film, music, theater and dance departments ... This is the third year that UNLV has been represented there.

Acoustic guitar virtuoso Richard Smith is in concert with special guest cellist Julie Adams tonight at 7 p.m. at Winchester Center, which will also be the Saturday site for "Broadway Sound Connection," featuring cast members from various LV production shows, at 2:30 p.m.

Friday is Jazz Night at Pogo's, and on Mondays it's Don Menza and Friends at the Riviera ... The next performance at the Jazzed Cafe on West Sahara for Marv Koral's All-Stars featuring Carl Fontana will be Aug. 15 ... See you next Thursday.