Nancy Wilson - A Profile

Nancy Sue Wilson (20 Feb 1937 - 13 Dec 2018) was born in Chillicothe, OH, 86 years ago today. She was fundamentally a jazz singer, who preferred to be called a song stylist, whose career spanned seven decades from 1956 until she retired in 2011. 

Nancy got her break by entering a talent show on WTVN radio when she was 15 which earned her a role on a TV show "Skyline Melodies". She didn't actually win, as is often reported, she was asked not to participate as the station felt that she would run away with it and offered her two slots per week on the TV show instead. 

Her first recording was as a featured vocalist on a single by Rusty Bryant And The Carolyn Club Band "Don't Tell Me" on Dot in 1956 who she toured with from 1956-58.

She moved to New York in 1959 on the suggestion of mentor Cannonball Adderley and got a spot performing four nights a week in a club. Adderley's manager and double-bassist, John Levy sent demos of four songs to Capitol Records who signed her in 1960.

Whilst her third single "Guess Who I Saw Today" is one of her signature songs, it was her fourth single "Save Your Love For Me" that was her first R&B chart entry. Her debut album "Like in Love" was R&B but, again on the suggestion of Cannonball Adderley, she transitioned to jazz and it was her collaborative album with him in 1961 where the hit single "Save Your Love For Me" came from.

Further hits included "Tell Me The Truth" and "(You Don't Know) How Glad I Am" for which she won her first Grammy for Best Rhythm & Blues Recording. However, with around sixty recorded albums, she rarely crossed over to the Hot 100 singles chart (she had a total of 22 R&B chart entries between 1962 and 1994) with her biggest crossover hit being "Face It Girl It's Over" in 1968 which reached #29 and had her Northern Soul classic "End Of Our Love" on the flip. 

As well as receiving a Grammy in 1965 for "How Glad I Am", she received two more for Best Jazz Vocal Album for "R.S.V.P. (Rare Songs, Very Personal)" (2005) and "Turned To Blue" (2007). In addition to many other awards she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1990.

Such was her popularity in the mid/late 60s that she had her own TV show "The Nancy Wilson Show" which won an Emmy. She also appeared on many other TV shows as both a singer and  an actress.

Interview transcript on Jazz Wax.

Whilst a lot of her material consists of jazz standards, for the playlist below, we've aimed to select the more soulful tracks.

Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved