*Unfortunately, we lost another great one. Legendary jazz singer Nancy Wilson, a three-time Grammy-winning artist who referred to herself as a “song stylist,” has died, her manager said. Wilson was 81.
She transitioned peacefully on Thursday at her home in California after an extended illness, according to her manager, Devra Hall Levy.
Wilson, an Ohio native, initially focused on R&B music but later excelled at jazz ballads and torch songs. She made her debut with her 1961’s single, “Guess Who I Saw Today.”
Wilson’s biggest hit came in 1964 with “(You Don’t Know) How Glad I Am,” which rose through the charts to the #11 spot on Billboard’s Hot 100 singles and earned her a Grammy Award for best R&B recording.
She would win two more Grammy Awards, in 2005 and 2007.
NANCY WILSON DAZZLING AT 80; HER HOLLYWOOD FRIENDS HELP HER CELEBRATE (EUR EXCLUSIVE)
In the 1990s, Wilson became the host of National Public Radio’s “Jazz Profiles,” a documentary series featuring jazz legends and the music legacy.
After a musical and acting career spanning more than six decades, she retired from live performances in 2011. She wanted “to spend all of her time with her family, especially her grandchildren,” according to her website.
Here’s singer and songwriter John Legend’s comment on Wilson’s passing:
So sad to hear about the passing of the great Nancy Wilson. She was a magical performer. I’m so glad I was able to spend time with her and hear her beautiful voice in person.
— John Legend (@johnlegend) December 14, 2018
“So sad to hear about the passing of the great Nancy Wilson. She was a magical performer. I’m so glad I was able to spend time with her and hear her beautiful voice in person,” he wrote.
Wilson is survived by her three children and five grandchildren.
Due to Wilson’s wishes, there will be no funeral service. Her family will hold a celebration of her life, most likely in February, the month of her birth.
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