Nancy Wilson
Jazz singer and activist BORN FEBRUARY 20, 1937 – DIED DECEMBER 13, 2018, AGED 81
SHE won three Grammys for her art but Nancy Sue Wilson never considered herself as a jazz singer. “I do not do runs,” she said. “I take a lyric and make it mine. I consider myself an interpreter of the lyric.”
Born in Ohio, Wilson was the eldest of six children and grew up listening to her father’s Nat King Cole and Billy Eckstine records, deciding at age four that she was going to follow in their footsteps.
She started singing in her hometown church choir and won a talent contest aged 15, moving to New York City on the advice of saxophonist Cannonball Adderley.
Her honey-coated voice saw her sign to Capitol Records in 1960 and go on to record more than 70 albums, her most famous song being (You Don’t Know) How Glad I Am.
Fancy Miss Nancy, as she was nicknamed, was one of the label’s bestselling artists during that era, alongside The Beatles, winning Grammys in 1964, 2005 and 2006. Her career also blossomed into acting and presenting, winning an Emmy for her own daytime TV show in 1967 – a rare role for an African-American woman.
She was also a philanthropist and civil rights campaigner, taking part in the march from Selma to Montgomery in 1965.
Her efforts saw her inducted into the International Civil Rights Walk of Fame in 2005, her most treasured honour above the plethora of others she received.
Nancy was married twice, to drummer Kenny Dennis from 1960-1970, and to Presbyterian minister Wiley Burton from 1974 until his passing in 2008.
She is survived by three children and five grandchildren.