Role

:

Composer Performer

Birth

:

February 20, 1937 in Chillicothe, OH

Death

:

December 13, 2018 in Pioneertown, CA

 

Nancy Wilson was born on February 20, 1937, in Chillicothe, Ohio. She grew up in a musical family, with her father being a factory worker and a musician, and her mother being a maid. Wilson started singing at a young age, and by the time she was in high school, she was performing in local clubs and talent shows. After graduating from high school, Wilson attended Central State College in Ohio, where she studied music education. She continued to perform in clubs and on local television shows, and in 1956, she won a talent contest that led to her first recording contract with Capitol Records. Wilson's first album, "Like in Love," was released in 1959, and it showcased her smooth, sultry voice and her ability to interpret jazz standards. The album was a critical success, and it led to Wilson being named "Best New Artist" by DownBeat magazine. Over the next few years, Wilson released a string of successful albums, including "Something Wonderful" (1960), "Nancy Wilson and Cannonball Adderley" (1962), and "Yesterday's Love Songs/Today's Blues" (1963). She also became a regular performer on television shows like "The Ed Sullivan Show" and "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson." In 1964, Wilson won her first Grammy Award for Best R&B Recording for her album "How Glad I Am." The album featured the hit single of the same name, which became Wilson's biggest hit to date and earned her a second Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Wilson continued to release successful albums and perform in concerts and on television. She also began to branch out into acting, appearing in films like "The Big Score" (1983) and "The Meteor Man" (1993), as well as on television shows like "The Cosby Show" and "Hawaii Five-O." In 1986, Wilson was inducted into the Big Band and Jazz Hall of Fame, and in 1999, she was awarded the National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Masters Fellowship, the highest honor that can be bestowed upon a jazz musician in the United States. Wilson continued to perform and record throughout the 2000s and 2010s, releasing albums like "Turned to Blue" (2006) and "R.S.V.P. (Rare Songs, Very Personal)" (2005). She also continued to act, appearing in films like "The Score" (2001) and "The L Word" (2004-2009). In 2018, Wilson passed away at the age of 81. She left behind a legacy as one of the greatest jazz vocalists of all time, with a career that spanned over six decades and included numerous awards and accolades. Her smooth, sultry voice and her ability to interpret jazz standards made her a beloved figure in the world of music, and her influence can still be heard in the work of countless artists today.

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