Nancy Wilson Siblings: Getting to Know Ann and Lynn Wilson

Nancy Sue Wilson was an iconic American singer and actress whose velvety voice graced the worlds of jazz, pop, R&B, and soul for over five decades.

Born on February 20, 1937, in Chillicothe, Ohio, and passing away on December 13, 2018, she captivated audiences with her interpretive depth and emotional delivery, earning her the affectionate titles “Sweet Nancy” and “The Girl With the Honey-Coated Voice.”

Recording more than 70 albums and delivering timeless hits like “(You Don’t Know) How Glad I Am” and “Guess Who I Saw Today,” Wilson bridged genres effortlessly, becoming a staple in American music from the mid-1950s until her retirement in the early 2010s.

Siblings

Nancy is the youngest of three daughters born to John and Lois Wilson.

Her older sisters are Ann Wilson, Heart’s lead vocalist with whom Nancy frequently collaborates, and Lynn Wilson, who has stayed more out of the public spotlight but is part of the close family unit.

 Career

Wilson’s journey into music ignited in the church choirs of her Ohio hometown, where her natural talent shone brightly from a young age.

A high school talent contest victory not only boosted her confidence but also landed her a hosting gig on a local television show, setting the stage for her professional ambitions.

After earning a Bachelor of Arts in education from Central State University, she drew inspiration from jazz legend Cannonball Adderley and ventured to New York City in 1959.

There, a standout club performance secured her a contract with Capitol Records in 1960, launching a career marked by innovation and versatility.

Her debut single, “Guess Who I Saw Today,” quickly followed, paving the way for a string of albums that evolved from pop standards to sophisticated jazz ballads.

A pivotal collaboration with Adderley on the 1962 album Nancy Wilson and Cannonball Adderley yielded the chart-topping “Save Your Love for Me,” while her 1964 breakthrough single “(You Don’t Know) How Glad I Am” soared to No. 11 on the Billboard Hot 100, cementing her as a crossover sensation.

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Expanding beyond records, Wilson dazzled on stage at venues like the Coconut Grove and transitioned seamlessly into television, hosting the acclaimed The Nancy Wilson Show from 1967 to 1968, which garnered an Emmy Award.

Her acting prowess graced guest spots on beloved series such as I Spy, Room 222, Hawaii Five-O, The Ed Sullivan Show, and The Cosby Show, alongside film roles in The Killers (1964), The Big Score (1983), and The Meteor Man (1993).

The 1970s through 1990s saw her exploring new labels like CBS and MCG Jazz, releasing heartfelt projects including duets with Ramsey Lewis in 1984 and tributes to songwriters like Johnny Mercer in 1991.

International success bloomed in Japan, where she triumphed at Tokyo Song Festivals and cut live albums, while stateside, she headlined festivals like the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage in 1995 and San Francisco Jazz in 1997.

From 1996 to 2005, Wilson enriched public radio as host of NPR’s Jazz Profiles, sharing insights into the genre’s luminaries.

She bid farewell to the spotlight with a poignant final performance on September 10, 2011, at Ohio University in Athens.

Accolades

Wilson claimed three Grammy Awards, beginning with Best R&B Recording for her 1964 album How Glad I Am, followed by Best Jazz Vocal Album for R.S.V.P. (Rare Songs, Very Personal) in 2005 and Turned to Blue in 2007, underscoring her mastery across vocal styles.

Her television foray earned her an Emmy for The Nancy Wilson Show in 1967-1968, while her indelible mark on jazz led to induction into the Big Band and Jazz Hall of Fame in 1999 and the National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Masters Fellowship in 2004.

A star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame was bestowed upon her in 1990, and she received NAACP Image Awards, including Hall of Fame induction in 1998 and Best Recording Jazz Artist in 2005.

Further distinctions included the Trumpet Award for Outstanding Achievement in 1994, the Playboy Reader Poll Award for best jazz vocalist in 1998, Global Entertainer of the Year from the World Conference of Mayors in 1986, and an award from the Martin Luther King Jr. Center in 1993.

Wilson’s civic impact was recognized with her 2005 induction into the International Civil Rights Walk of Fame, and she was granted honorary doctorates from Berklee College of Music and Central State University, as well as membership in the Delta Sigma Theta sorority.