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NewsSeptember, 3 Jazz Icon Cassandra Wilson Dies at 70
Cassandra Wilson, the Grammy-winning jazz vocalist known for her smoky, soulful voice, has died at the age of 70. Her manager, Robert Torre, confirmed the news on Wednesday, saying that Wilson passed away peacefully at her home in Jackson, Mississippi, the day before, surrounded by family and close friends. In a statement to jazz radio station WBGO, Torre said, "It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Cassandra Wilson, the Grammy Award-winning and legendary jazz artist. Cassandra Wilson transitioned peacefully at home, surrounded by family, close friends, and her manager. Her family and close friends respectfully ask for privacy during this difficult time as they grieve her loss." The cause of death was not disclosed. Plans for a memorial service will be announced later. Wilson began her career after studying classical music, co-founding the M-Base collective in New York, a group that reimagined funk, soul, and jazz. She rose to prominence with her third album, Blue Skies (1988), and her 1995 release New Moon Daughter, which earned her a Grammy for Best Jazz Vocal Performance. She won another Grammy for Best Jazz Vocal Album for Loverly in 2008. In 2001, TIME magazine named her "America's Best Singer." Tributes poured in from fellow musicians. Questlove wrote on Instagram, "Cassandra. The Siren Of Sirens. That Voice, That Gift. Damn." Jon Batiste, who collaborated with Wilson many times, said, "I learned so much from her and I am so sad she has passed away. She had an unmistakable vocal tone, phrasing and her approach of weaving folkloric, R&B and diasporic music together with experimental and popular genres had a major impact on me. She sounded like the south. Her Mississippi heritage was always present in everything no matter how expansive her artistry evolved." Wilson is survived by her son Jeris.
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