WBGO mourns the loss of NEA Jazz Master and two-time Grammy Award-winning vocalist Cassandra Wilson
WBGO • • entertainment
Key Points:
- Cassandra Wilson, a two-time Grammy-winning jazz singer, songwriter, and producer, passed away at age 70 in Jackson, Mississippi, surrounded by family and close friends.
- Known for her unique voice and blending of jazz with blues, country, and folk, Wilson was praised for expanding the boundaries of jazz music and was celebrated by critics and peers alike.
- Wilson began her music career in the 1970s, became a founding member of the M-Base Collective, and gained wider acclaim with her 1992 Blue Note album "Blue Light 'Till Dawn."
- Throughout her career, Wilson received numerous honors including two Grammys, the Django D’Or, the Edison Music Award, a Mississippi Blues Trail marker, and the 2022 NEA Jazz Master Fellowship.
- She was deeply connected to the jazz community, particularly WBGO, and her passing has been met with heartfelt tributes from colleagues and friends who regarded her as a pioneering and beloved figure in jazz.
