This year's 'In Memoriam' segment of the Grammy Awards was a particularly emotional one this year, as tributes were held for some of the biggest legends of the music industry including David Bowie, Maurice White and Lemmy Kilmister. However, the family of Natalie Cole have expressed their outrage at this singer's under-representation.

Natalie ColeNatalie Cole only got a brief mention at the 2016 Grammys

Cole died of heart failure at the age of 65 on New Year's Eve after a successful R&B career following in the footsteps of her father Nat King Cole. She's the recipient of nine Grammy awards and a number of lifetime achievement awards with 6 number one albums and a number of R&B hits under her belt. But despite this, her recognition at the 2016 Grammys was minimal to say the least with just a short clip of her song 'Unforgettable' shown at the event.

'Sadly a FORGETTABLE tribute to Natalie Cole', Cole's sisters Timolin and Casey told ET in a statement. 'Words cannot express the outrage and utter disappointment at the disrespectful tribute, or lack thereof, to a legendary artist such as our sister.'

More: Natalie Cole dies aged 65

Her son added that she 'deserves more than a minute-and-a-half tribute' and outlined her Grammy legacy including 21 nominations. 'It was shameless the way they minimized her legacy', he said. 'We will find solace in her legacy as well as her endless fans around the world.'

Apart from those already mentioned, the other artists that were celebrated at the event on February 15th 2016 were B.B. King and Glenn Frey from The Eagles, who both received more substantial tributes - though no-one was as hugely championed as David Bowie, who was remembered with a spectacular medley performed by Lady Gaga.

While B.B. King was well-deserving of a special tribute having won 15 Grammys over the course of his career, many Natalie Cole fans felt indignant that she was virtually ignored despite winning as many Grammys as Lemmy, Bowie and Frey altogether, and two more than Earth, Wind And Fire's Maurice White.