Real name: Maria Hawkins Ellington Cole

Effective period / Period of releases: 1950 - 1966

She was born August 1st, 1922 in Boston, Massachusetts. She died on July 10th, 2012 in Boca Raton, Florida. Second wife of Nat King Cole, and mother to four of their children, including Natalie Cole. They had a fifth child (born to Maria's sister) whom they adopted. Although by the time Nat was diagnosed with lung cancer they had become estranged due to Nat's various affairs, she stayed with him during his illness and through to his death.