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Nancy Wilson

voc, *1937 US
Singer of Jazz and R&B/Soul

American vocalist. Jazz singer Nancy Wilson, a three-time Grammy Award-winner, was born on February 20, 1937 in Chillicothe, Ohio to iron-worker Olden Wilson and the former Lillian Ryan, who worked as a domestic servant. Nancy was the first of six children. Her father's love of music and the records he played at home were a huge influence on Nancy as a young girl. She already knew she would be a singer by the time she was four years old, and developed her talent by singing in the church choir. She won a TV-talent show when she 15, and began appearing regularly on the Tv show "Skyline Melodies" while still in high school. She began working in night clubs at that same age. After graduating from high school, the 17-year old Nancy matriculated for one year at Ohio's Central State College (now Central State University) before dropping out and becoming a professional singer. She recorded her first record with Rusty Bryant's Carolyn Club Big Band in 1956, with whom she toured from 1956 to 1958. While in the group, Nancy made her first recording with Dot Records. Cannonball Adderley told her to move to New York to further her career, and she went to The Big Town in 1959. Within a month, she got a job singing at The Blue Morocco Night Club on Boston Road in The Bronx, where Adderley's agent heard her and signed her. He obtained a contract for with Capitol records in 1960, and she made her debut that year with the single. "Guess Who I Saw Today." Her records were successful, and Capitol issued five Nancy Wilson albums in two years. Initially focusing on rhythm and blues, under Adderley's influence, she moved away from R&B and embraced jazz and torch songs. Their 1962 collaboration "Nancy Wilson and Cannonball Adderley" helped propel her to the top, and she had her breakout hit, "Tell Me the Truth," in 1963. This brought her a gig at New York's Coconut Grove, the premier night club in America, the following year, and she became a star. Her 1964 song "(You Don't Know) How Glad I Am" reached #11 on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart. Eventually, she charted 11 songs in the Hot 100. Nancy also placed four albums in Billboard's Top LP charts between March 1964 and June 1965. She won her first Grammy in 1964, for best R&B recording for her LP "How Glad I Am." Nancy continued recording into the 21st Century, winning Best Jazz Vocal Grammy Awards for her albums "R.S.V.P. (Rare Songs, Very Personal)" (2005) and "Turned to Blue" (2007). She retired from live performance in 2011. In addition to singing, Nancy Wilson also is an actress. She made numerous appearances on American TV. She also made a one-off appearance on the BBC with The Nancy Wilson Show (1966) in 1966 that was turned into a soundtrack album. Nancy was married twice, to drummer Kenny Dennis from 1960-70. They had one child. She married the Presbyterian minister Wiley Burton in 1973. Married 35 years until his death in 2008, they had two children. In the 1970s and after, she continued to record regularly and perform worldwide, at home in nightclubs, concert halls and open-air settings, singing at jazz festivals from Newport to Tokyo. She officially stopped touring with a show at Ohio University in September 2011, but had been thinking of stepping back for years. When she turned 70, in 2007, she was guest of honor at a Carnegie Hall gala. The show ended with Wilson performing such favorites as "Never, Never Will I Marry," ''I Can't Make You Love Me" and the Gershwin classic "How Long Has This Been Going On?" "After 55 years of doing what I do professionally, I have a right to ask how long? I'm trying to retire, people," she said with a laugh before leaving the stage to a standing ovation. On December 13, 2018, Nancy Wilson died after a long illness at her home in Pioneertown, a California desert community near Joshua Tree National Park, her manager and publicist Devra Hall Levy told The Associated Press late Thursday night. She was 81.

     
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • Backing Vocals
Genres
  • Jazz
  • R&B/Soul
  • Pop
Popular Tracks   
I Wish You Love - 2004 Remastered/Remixed on Something Wonderful by Nancy Wilson
The Masquerade Is Over on Nancy Wilson/Cannonball Adderley by Nancy Wilson & Cannonball Adderley
(You Don't Know) How Glad I Am on How Glad I Am by Nancy Wilson
The Boy From Ipanema on How Glad I Am by Nancy Wilson
Save Your Love For Me on Nancy Wilson/Cannonball Adderley by Nancy Wilson & Cannonball Adderley
What A Little Moonlight Can Do - Remastered on Something Wonderful by Nancy Wilson
Never Will I Marry on Late Night Cannonball Adderley by Cannonball Adderley
The Nearness of You on Bluesy by Nancy Wilson
For Once In My Life - Remastered/1994 on Welcome To My Love by Nancy Wilson
Oh! Look At Me Now on But Beautiful by Nancy Wilson

Track list and 30sec audio provided by

Discography



Title Artist Year Type
Welcome To My Love / EasyNancy Wilson2016Compil.
The Fruit Song / I'm In LoveJeannie Reynolds / Nancy Wilson2016Single
Just For Now / Lush LifeNancy Wilson2016Compil.
Today - My Way / Nancy - NaturallyNancy Wilson2015Compil.
Nancy - NaturallyNancy Wilson2015Album
Can't Take My Eyes Off You / Now I'm A WomanNancy Wilson2013Compil.
Music On My Mind / Life, Love And HarmonyNancy Wilson2013Compil.
Kaleidoscope / I Know I Love HimNancy Wilson2013Compil.
The Sound Of Nancy Wilson / NancyNancy Wilson2013Compil.
A Lot Of Livin' To Do / You Can Have HimNancy Wilson2013Single
Hello Young LoversNancy Wilson2013Single
Son Of A Preacher Man / Hurt So BadNancy Wilson2013Compil.
This Mother's Daughter / I've Never Been To MeNancy Wilson2012Compil.
Keep You Satisfied / Forbidden LoverNancy Wilson2012Compil.
The Complete 1956-1960Nancy Wilson2011Compil.
All In Love Is Fair / Come Get To ThisNancy Wilson2011Compil.
Face It Girl, It's OverNancy Wilson2010Single
How Glad I Am / Gentle Is My LoveNancy Wilson2009Compil.
The Very Best Of Nancy Wilson: The Capitol Recordings 1960-1976Nancy Wilson2007Compil.
From Broadway With Love / Tender Loving CareNancy Wilson2006Compil.
For Once In My Life / Who Can I Turn ToNancy Wilson2006Album
Music For LoversNancy Wilson2006Compil.
Turned To BlueNancy Wilson2006Album
Live From Las VegasNancy Wilson2005Album
Guess Who I Saw Today: Nancy Wilson Sings Songs Of Lost LoveNancy Wilson2005Compil.
The Great American SongbookNancy Wilson2005Compil.
Guess Who I Saw TodayNancy Wilson2005Single
Save Your Love For Me: Nancy Wilson Sings The Great Blues BalladsNancy Wilson2005Compil.
R.S.V.P. (Rare Songs, Very Personal)Nancy Wilson2004Album
OrganicHenry Johnson With Nancy Wilson2003Album
Like In Love / Something WonderfulNancy Wilson2003Compil.
Simple PleasuresRamsey Lewis & Nancy Wilson2003Album
The Essence Of Nancy Wilson - Four Decades Of MusicNancy Wilson2002Compil.
The Very Best Of Nancy WilsonNancy Wilson2002Compil.
Meant To BeRamsey Lewis & Nancy Wilson2002Album
The Best Of Nancy WilsonNancy Wilson2002Compil.
Broadway - My Way / Hollywood - My WayNancy Wilson2001Compil.
At Carnegie HallNancy Wilson2001Album
A Nancy Wilson ChristmasNancy Wilson2001Album
The Ultimate - Nancy WilsonNancy Wilson2001Compil.
AnthologyNancy Wilson2000Compil.
The Nancy Wilson CollectionNancy Wilson2000Compil.
Greatest HitsNancy Wilson1999Compil.
Outta Sight! (Nancy Wilson Sings The Hits)Nancy Wilson1998Compil.
The Best Of Nancy WilsonNancy Wilson1998Compil.
If I Had My WayNancy Wilson1998Single
Hello Like BeforeNancy Wilson1997Single
Today, Tomorrow, Forever / A Touch Of TodayNancy Wilson1997Compil.
If I Had My WayNancy Wilson1997Album
The Best Of Nancy Wilson / The Jazz And Blues SessionsNancy Wilson1996Compil.
Ballads, Blues & Big Bands: The Best Of Nancy WilsonNancy Wilson1996Compil.
Spotlight On...Nancy Wilson1995Compil.
Love Won't Let Me WaitNancy Wilson1994Single
WelcomeNancy Wilson1994Compil.
It Don't Mean A Thing If It Ain't Got That SwingJohn Williams, The Boston Pops Orchestra, Nancy Wilson1994Album
Love, NancyNancy Wilson1994Album
Soul Serenade / You Better GoKing Curtis / Nancy Wilson1993Single
The Best Of Nancy WilsonNancy Wilson1992Compil.
Love Has Many Faces / Don't Come Running Back to MeNancy Wilson1991Single
With My Lover Beside Me: Music By Barry Manilow, Lyrics By Johnny MercerNancy Wilson1991Album
EpilogueNancy Wilson Duet With Barry Manilow1991Single
I Wish You LoveNancy Wilson1991Compil.
Heaven's HandsNancy Wilson1990Single
A Lady With A SongNancy Wilson1989Album
Quiet FireNancy Wilson1988Album
Nancy Now!Nancy Wilson1988Album
If I CouldNancy Wilson1988Album
Still Enough Love / You're As Right As RainNancy Wilson1988Single
Quiet Fire / Power & The GloryNancy Wilson1988Single
Forbidden LoverNancy Wilson1987Album
Best 20Nancy Wilson1987Compil.
Forbidden LoverNancy Wilson1987Single
Keep You SatisfiedNancy Wilson1985Album
Winter Green And Summer BlueNancy Wilson1985Single
GodsendNancy Wilson1984Album
The Two Of UsRamsey Lewis & Nancy Wilson1984Album
I'll Be A SongNancy Wilson1983Album
Your EyesNancy Wilson1983Album
What's NewNancy Wilson With The Great Jazz Trio1982Album
At My BestNancy Wilson1982Album
Echoes Of An Era 2 (The Concert)Nancy Wilson, Joe Henderson, Chick Corea, Stanley Clarke, Lenny White1982Album
20 Golden GreatsNancy Wilson1982Compil.
A Very Special ConcertNancy Wilson1982Album
Nancy WilsonNancy Wilson1981Compil.
Take My LoveNancy Wilson1980Album
Life, Love And HarmonyNancy Wilson1979Album
Life, Love And Harmony / Open Your Heart And Take Me InNancy Wilson1979Album
Sunshine / This Is Our SongNancy Wilson1979Single
Light / I'm Gonna Let YaNancy Wilson1978Single
Music On My MindNancy Wilson1978Album
I've Never Been To MeNancy Wilson1977Album
I've Never Been To MeNancy Wilson1977Single
The Last DinosaurNancy Wilson1976Single
This Mother's DaughterNancy Wilson1976Album
In My Loneliness ( When We Are One) / He Never Had It So GoodNancy Wilson1976Single
Now / This Mother's DaughterNancy Wilson1976Single
He Called Me Baby / Like A Circle Never StopsNancy Wilson1975Single
Nancy WilsonNancy Wilson1975Compil.
Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight / Happy TearsNancy Wilson1975Single
Come Get To ThisNancy Wilson1975Album
All In Love Is FairNancy Wilson1974Album
You're As Right As RainNancy Wilson1974Single
Ocean Of Love / StreetrunnerNancy Wilson1974Single
Christmas With...Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, Nancy Wilson, Lou Rawls1973Compil.
Are We Losing Touch / We Can Make It BabyNancy Wilson1973Single
Y Yo Lo Amo - Nancy Wilson Interpreta Las Grandes Canciones De La Década Del 60Nancy Wilson1973Compil.
I Know I Love HimNancy Wilson1973Album
The Good LifeNancy Wilson1973Compil.
Ain't No SunshineNancy Wilson1972Single
Free AgainNancy Wilson1972Compil.
Toys For TotsRed Simpson, Buck Owens, Nancy Wilson1972Single
25th Anniversary Toys For TotsBuck Owens, Nancy Wilson1972Single
Free AgainNancy Wilson1972Album
KaleidoscopeNancy Wilson1971Album
Deluxe In MusicalNat King Cole, The Lettermen, Nancy Wilson, Peggy Lee1971Compil.
Nancy WilsonNancy Wilson1971Compil.
Can't Take My Eyes Off YouNancy Wilson1971Single
But BeautifulNancy Wilson1971Album
The Greatest Performance Of My LifeNancy Wilson1971Single
Words And MusicNancy Wilson1970Single
Now I'm A Woman / The Real MeNancy Wilson1970Single
This Girl Is A Woman Now / Trip With MeNancy Wilson1970Single
Can't Take My Eyes Off YouNancy Wilson1970Album
Now I'm A WomanNancy Wilson1970Album
NancyNancy Wilson1969Album
Got It Together / One Soft NightNancy Wilson1969Single
I'm Your Special FoolNancy Wilson1969Single
Hurt So BadNancy Wilson1969Album
Can't Take My Eyes Off YouNancy Wilson1969Single
Son Of A Preacher ManNancy Wilson1969Album
Hurt So Bad / Stay With MeNancy Wilson / Lorraine Ellison1969Album
Hello Young Lovers / Nancy - Naturally!Nancy Wilson1968Album
The Power Of LoveNancy Wilson1968Single
The Sound Of Nancy WilsonNancy Wilson1968Album
EasyNancy Wilson1968Album
The Best Of Nancy WilsonNancy Wilson1968Compil.
Face It Girl, It's Over / The End Of Our LoveNancy Wilson1968Single
Peace Of MindNancy Wilson1968Single
Peace Of Mind / This Bitter EarthNancy Wilson1968Single
Face It Girl, It's Over / How Glad I AmNancy Wilson1968Single
You Don't Know MeNancy Wilson1968Single
Just For NowNancy Wilson1967Album
From Broadway With LoveNancy Wilson1967Album
Lush LifeNancy Wilson1967Album
Don't Look Over Your ShoulderNancy Wilson With H.B. Barnum's Music1967Single
Ten Years Of Tears / Willow Weep For MeNancy Wilson1967Single
Mi Debut En VenezuelaNancy Wilson1967Compil.
Welcome To My LoveNancy Wilson1967Album
Nancy - NaturallyNancy Wilson1967Album
In The Dark / Ten Years Of TearsNancy Wilson1967Single
Mercy Mercy MercyNancy Wilson1967Single
Naturally!Nancy Wilson1966Single
You've Got Your TroublesNancy Wilson1966Single
No One Else But YouNancy Wilson1966Single
From Broadway With LoveNancy Wilson1966Album
Don't Come Running Back To MeNancy Wilson1966Single
(You Got) The Power Of LoveNancy Wilson1966Single
A Touch Of TodayNancy Wilson1966Album
Tender Loving CareNancy Wilson1966Album
Nancy - NaturallyNancy Wilson1966Album
Uptight (Everything's Alright)Nancy Wilson1966Single
Tender Loving CareNancy Wilson1966Single
That Special WayNancy Wilson1966Single
The Grass Is Greener / Welcome, WelcomeNancy Wilson1965Single
FireworksNancy Wilson1965Single
Where Does That Leave MeNancy Wilson1965Single
Today - My WayNancy Wilson1965Album
Gentle Is My LoveNancy Wilson1965Album
Welcome, WelcomeNancy Wilson1965Single
The Nancy Wilson Show!Nancy Wilson1965Album
Afterthoughts / I'll Only Miss Him When I Think Of HimNancy Wilson1965Single
Gentle Is My LoveNancy Wilson1965Single
Today, Tomorrow, ForeverNancy Wilson1964Album
How Glad I AmNancy Wilson1964Album
Today, Tomorrow, ForeverNancy Wilson1964Single
(You Don't Know) How Glad I Am / Never Less Than YesterdayNancy Wilson1964Single
Yesterday's Love Songs • Today's BluesNancy Wilson1964Album
Minute Masters - September '64Nancy Wilson1964Compil.
Yesterday's Love Songs ... Today's BluesNancy Wilson1964Single
The Second Time AroundNancy Wilson1964Single
It's Time For MeNancy Wilson1964Single
The Best Is Yet To ComeNancy Wilson1964Single
And Satisfy / Take What I HaveNancy Wilson1964Single
The Grass Is GreenerNancy Wilson1964Single
How Glad I AmNancy Wilson1964Single
Hollywood - My WayNancy Wilson1963Album
Broadway - My WayNancy Wilson1963Single
That's What I Want For ChristmasNancy Wilson1963Single
Hollywood - My WayNancy Wilson1963Single
Tell Me The TruthNancy Wilson1963Single
Broadway - My WayNancy Wilson1963Album
My Sweet ThingNancy Wilson1963Single
You Don't Know What Love IsNancy Wilson1963Single
Hello Young LoversNancy Wilson1962Album
Save Your Love For Me / Never Will I MarryNancy Wilson And The Cannonball Adderley Quintet1962Single
Imagen De Nancy WilsonNancy Wilson1962Compil.
The Verdict / Guess Who I Saw TodayNancy Wilson1961Single
The Swingin's MutualThe George Shearing Quintet With Nancy Wilson1961Album
My Foolish Heart / The Seventh SonNancy Wilson1961Single
Nancy Wilson / Cannonball AdderleyNancy Wilson / The Cannonball Adderley Quintet1961Album
Something WonderfulNancy Wilson1960Single
Like In LoveNancy Wilson1960Album
Something WonderfulNancy Wilson1960Album
Live In EuropeNancy WilsonAlbum
Only Love / In A Long White RoomNancy WilsonSingle
I Left My Heart In San FransicoNancy WilsonSingle
Close-UpNancy WilsonCompil.
Best 20Nancy WilsonCompil.
I'll Make A Man of The Man / Love Can Do AnythingNancy WilsonSingle
ShowstoppersNancy Wilson, Gordon MacRae, Judy Garland, Al Martino, Matt MonroCompil.
In A Long White RoomNancy WilsonSingle
Golden Double 32Nancy WilsonCompil.
DeluxeNancy WilsonCompil.
In The Heat Of The NightNancy WilsonSingle
Close-UpNancy WilsonCompil.
Sittin' In At Jorgie's Jazz ClubNancy Wilson & The Three SoundsAlbum
Nancy Wilson Best 20Nancy WilsonCompil.
This Is !Nancy WilsonCompil.
When Sunny Gets Blue / Listen, Little GirlNancy WilsonSingle
Ode To Billy JoeNancy WilsonSingle
Tobacco Road / Guess Who I Saw TodayLou Rawls, Nancy WilsonSingle
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