Legendary "Song Stylist" Nancy Wilson Dies At 81, After Fighting Longtime Illness

Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images

The legend who couldn’t and didn’t want to be defined by one genre of music, Nancy Wilson has died at the age of 81. The singer, best known for her jazz style passed away in her home in California last night after fighting a longtime illness, according to her manager, Devra Hall.

The self-proclaimed “song stylist” released eight albums that soared to the top of Billboard’s charts. Wilson was best known for her songs “Guess Who I Saw Today,” and the 1964 hit “(You Don’t Know) How Glad I Am,” that fused Broadway, pop and jazz in a way that was rare for the time.

UNITED KINGDOM – MARCH 28: BERKS JAZZ FESTIVAL Photo of Nancy WILSON, performing live onstage (Photo by Andrew Lepley/Redferns)

In 2010, she told The San Fransisco Chronicle: “The music that I sing today was the pop music of the 1960s. I just never considered myself a jazz singer. I do not do runs and — you know. I take a lyric and make it mine. I consider myself an interpreter of the lyric.”

Nancy was truly a trailblazer. Watch her perform at The Patton College’s 125th Anniversary Gala in 2011 [start at 2:00]:

Wilson won three Grammy awards, including one for best R&B performance in 1965.

In addition to a standout music career, the songstress embraced television, film and radio, as well. She held roles in “Hawaii Five-O,” ”Police Story,” the Robert Townsend spoof “Meteor Man,” and hosted NPR’s Jazz Profiles series. The “How Long Has This Been Going On?” singer was involved in the civil rights movement, including the Selma march of 1965, and received an NAACP Image Award in 1998.

When she turned 70, in 2007, the legend was honored with a gala at Carnegie Hall for her birthday. Following her performance at the gala, with a laugh, she said: “After 55 years of doing what I do professionally, I have a right to ask how long? I’m trying to retire, people.” And four years later in 2011, she finally retired from touring.

After hearing of her passing, Black Twitter showed an outpouring of love and appreciation for Nancy’s impact on their lives:

Wilson is survived by her son, Kacy Dennis; daughters Samantha Burton and Sheryl Burton; sisters Karen Davis and Brenda Vann, and five grandchildren. Unfortunately, earlier this year, we also lost the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, and another jazz legend, trumpeter, Hugh Masekela.