Music fans worldwide are mourning the loss of iconic pop-jazz musician Nancy Wilson. The vocalist's longtime publicist, Devra Hall Levy, confirmed to The Associated Press on Thursday that she passed away at her California home. She'd reportedly been suffering with an undisclosed illness for quite some time.
"She was one of those rare vocalists who could do it all." Hall Levy said to Reuters. "Jazz, blues, pop and even funk. She did it all."
Born in Ohio, the three-time Grammy winner drew inspiration from Nat King Cole and Ella Fitzgerald to create her signature style. She aptly nicknamed herself a "song stylist," per The Guardian. She believed her unique style could transcend several genres of music, so Wilson hesitated to call herself a jazz singer.
Wilson's debut album, Like in Love!, was released in 1960. In that decade, she achieved her best years as an artist, writes NBC News. She also covered some of music's best singles from Stevie Wonder's "Uptight (Everything’s Alright)" to the late Aretha Franklin's "Son of a Preacher Man."
According to CNN, Wilson achieved success in 1964 with the release of "(You Don't Know) How Glad I Am," which peaked at No. 11 on the Billboard charts. In 1965, the crooner took home the Grammy for Best R&B recording for the Top 40 hit. She earned two more Grammys in 2005 and 2007 for jazz and a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2004.
NBC notes Wilson did not wish to have any funeral services. Instead, a celebration of life will take place in her birth month of February.
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