Recording Academy Issues Statement Upon Grammy Award-Winner Natalie Cole's Passing

BroadwayWorld previously reported that Grammy Award-winner Natalie Cole passed away on December 31, 2015 from congestive heart failure at age 65. Now the Recording Academy has issued their own condolences.

"We are very saddened to learn of the passing of one of music's most celebrated and iconic women, Natalie Cole," writes Recording Academy president and CEO Neil Portnow in an official statement. "A nine-time GRAMMY® winner and MusiCares Person of the Year honoree in 1993, Natalie followed her legendary father into the music business with magnificent hits like 'Inseparable,' 'This Will Be' and 'Unforgettable,' achieving multiplatinum, worldwide success in her own right."

Portnow concludes by expressing their utmost sorrow for the loss of Ms. Cole, "We've lost a wonderful, highly cherished artist and our heartfelt condolences go out to Natalie's family, friends, her many collaborators, as well as to all who have been entertained by her exceptional talent."

Natalie Maria Cole (February 6, 1950 - December 31, 2015) was an American singer, songwriter, and performer. The daughter of Nat King Cole, Natalie rose to musical success in the mid-1970s as an R&B artist with the hits "This Will Be", "Inseparable", and "Our Love". After a period of failing sales and performances due to a heavy drug addiction, Cole re-emerged as a pop artist with the 1987 album Everlasting and her cover of Bruce Springsteen's "Pink Cadillac". In the 1990s, she re-recorded standards by her father, resulting in her biggest success, "Unforgettable... with Love," which sold over seven million copies and also won Cole numerous Grammy Awards. She sold over 30 million records worldwide.

Click here to read her full obituary.