The Berklee College of Music has launched a $75,000 scholarship honoring Nat King Cole and his daughter Natalie Cole, with sophomore Paris Pineyro as the inaugural recipient. Established by family-backed nonprofits, the award celebrates the 75th anniversary of Natalie's birth and their musical legacies. Pineyro, who performs as Paris Dior, studies music business and performance at the school.
Scholarship Overview
The Nat King Cole and Natalie Cole Scholarship provides $75,000 annually to support one deserving student at the Berklee College of Music. It is funded through the Natalie Cole Foundation and the Nat King Cole Generation of Hope, two organizations connected to the Cole family. This initiative marks the 75th anniversary of Natalie Cole's birth and continues to honor her legacy following her passing in 2015, as well as her father Nat King Cole's in 1965.
Inaugural Recipient
Paris Pineyro, known professionally as Paris Dior, receives the first scholarship. As a sophomore, she focuses on music business/management and performance. In her response, Pineyro highlighted the award's significance: "It reminds me that even when the path feels impossible, perseverance can lead to something truly ‘unforgettable,’ to quote the iconic Nat King Cole and Natalie Cole." Her selection underscores her talent as a singer and her strong academic standing.
Family Perspective
Casey Cole and Timolin Cole-Augustus, Nat's twin daughters and Natalie's sisters, shared their support in a statement: “Our father and sister were known for their vocal abilities and emotional delivery, even with dad often insisting he was a pianist first and foremost. Their dedication to their vocal craft is one of the reasons we’re so happy that Paris is the inaugural recipient... We’re honored to connect our family’s legacy to a voice of the future through this scholarship with Berklee College of Music.”
Legacy Context
Nat King Cole, a pioneering jazz pianist and vocalist, produced timeless tracks such as “(I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons,” “Nature Boy,” and “Mona Lisa.” Natalie Cole rose to prominence in the 1970s with her debut album Inseparable, earning the Best New Artist Grammy and accumulating eight more wins, including Album of the Year and Record of the Year in 1992. In 1995, she was awarded an honorary doctorate from Berklee, tying the institution closely to her achievements.