Ohioana Citation for Music: 2009
Nancy Wilson
Chillicothe OH native
Diverse musical artist, the complete entertainer
Nancy Wilson’s diverse musical style has made her hard to classify. She has been described as “a jazz singer,”
“a blues singer,” “a pop singer,” and “a cabaret singer.” She has also been referred to as “a storyteller,” “professor of body language,”
“a consummate actress,” and “the complete entertainer.”
Joe Williams her long time colleague and friend used to call her “the thrush from Columbus.” Nancy Wilson is all of these and so much more.
Nancy was born in Chillicothe, Ohio and grew up in Columbus where from an early age her father exposed
her to many vocalists including big band vocalists. By age four year, Nancy knew she wanted to be a singer.
She was active in her church and school choirs and at age fifteen her professional career began.
She had her own television show, Skyline Melody, on a local station and soon began performing in Columbus area clubs.
After graduating she was undecided about a musical career and enrolled in the teacher training program at Central State College.
In 1956, Nancy left college to join the Rusty Bryant Band. She met Julian “Cannonball” Adderley while in New York for
a recording session with the band. He took an interest in her career and they kept in touch.
In 1959, Nancy moved to New York City. Within a few weeks she got her first break, a call to fill in for Irene Reid at The Blue Morocco.
Her career took off with her first recording in 1960. While at Capitol Records she was second in sales to only the Beatles.
Nancy preformed in a number of variety shows and had her own show for which she won an Emmy in 1975.
As an actress, she appeared in many popular television series.
Public service has also been an important part of Nancy’s career. In 1995, she hosted NPR’s Jazz Profiles series and in the late
1990s she teamed up with MCG (Manchester Craftmen’s Guild) Jazz, a nonprofit, minority-directed, arts and learning
organization in Pittsburgh, PA, which supports youth education programs.
The profits from two of her recent albums have gone to MCG. Nancy has received many honors including as Star on the
Hollywood Walk of Fame, the UNCF Trumpet Award, a Lifetime Achievement Award from the NAACP, and Oprah Winfrey’s Legends Award.
Nancy Wilson website
