MARVIN GAYE - MARVIN MISSED OUT ON NATALIE COLE DUETS ALBUM

Soul legend MARVIN GAYE was planning to record a duets album with his hero NAT KING COLE's daughter NATALIE COLE in the months before his death.

Cole admits the hours she spent chatting with the WHAT'S GOING ON? singer, who was murdered by his own father, remain some of her most cherished memories.

Speaking to Gaye's daughter NONA in the current issue of ESSENCE magazine, Cole says, "He was a great guy and a dear friend. I was just about to go into rehab. He came over to my house, and it was just the two of us sitting on the steps.

"I'll never forget that night. We talked about doing an album together. He talked about your mother, JAN. She had just left him, and he was crushed."