Grammy-Winning Jazz Musician Was 70
Variety • • entertainment
Key Points:
- Cassandra Wilson, the Grammy-winning jazz singer, songwriter, and producer, has died at the age of 70 in Jackson, Mississippi; no cause of death has been disclosed.
- Wilson was known for her emotive contralto voice and fusion of jazz with blues and funk, earning two Grammy Awards, including best jazz vocal performance in 1997 and best jazz vocal album in 2009.
- She was a founding member of the M-Base collective in the 1980s and gained acclaim for her innovative albums, notably 1993’s "Blue Light ‘Til Dawn," which blended blues, jazz, and pop.
- Over her career, Wilson collaborated with prominent artists across genres such as Steve Coleman, the Roots, Wynton Marsalis, and Luther Vandross, and her final album, "Coming Forth by Day" (2015), paid tribute to Billie Holiday.
- Born in Jackson, Mississippi, Wilson was recognized by Time magazine in 2001 as "America’s Best Singer," and she remained influential in jazz until her passing.
