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== Career ==
== Career ==
Wilson, moved to New York City in 1956, where she met Julian “Cannonball” Adderley in a recording session. She wanted Cannonball’s manager, John Levy, to represent her, and she wanted Capitol Records as her label. Within four weeks of her arrival in New York she got her first big break, a call to fill in for Irene Reid at The Blue Morocco. The club booked her on a permanent basis; she was singing four nights a week and working as a receptionist during the day. John Levy sent demos “Guess Who I Saw Today,” “Sometimes I’m Happy,” and two other songs to Capitol records. Capitol records signed her in 1960. Nancy’s debut single, “Guess Who I Saw Today,” was so successful that between April of 1960 and July of 1962 Capitol Records released five Nancy Wilson albums. In 1963 “Tell Me The Truth” became her first truly major hit, leading up to her performance at the Coconut Grove in 1964 – the turning pointing of her career garnering critical acclaim from coast to coast.<ref>[http://missnancywilson.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=12&Itemid=26 Nancy's own bio]</ref> Time Magazine wrote, “She is, all at once, both cool and sweet, both singer and story teller.”
In 1956, she joined Rusty Bryant's Carolyn Club Band and made her first recording for [[Dot Records]].


Wilson had her own television show, "The Nancy Wilson Show" (NBC) that won an Emmy in 1975. Nancy also took on acting roles, appearing on popular television shows throughout the years, from I Spy, Room 222, Hawaii Five-O, and Police Story, to The Cosby Show, Soul Food, New York Undercover, Moesha, and The Parkers.<ref>[http://missnancywilson.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=12&Itemid=26 Nancy's website]
While performing in [[Columbus, Ohio]], Wilson had an opportunity to sit in with [[Cannonball Adderley]], who sensed her potential and helped her to get her a manager, John Levy. This led to the recording contract at [[Capitol Records]].


Other honors Nancy has received include a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, streets and days dedicated in her name, honorary doctorate degrees, and in 2005, the UNCF Trumpet Award celebrating African-American achievement, a Lifetime Achievement Award from the NAACP in Chicago, and Oprah Winfrey’s Legends Award.
At Capitol, Wilson's first recording was "[[Like In Love]]". She scored her first big hit in 1962 with Adderley and "Save Your Love For Me."


In 1983, she won the Yamaha Music Festival and went on to cut five successful albums for Japanese labels.
By the mid-[[1960s]], Wilson had become one of the label's best-selling artists, second only to [[the Beatles]]. In 1964, she won a [[Grammy Award]] for "How Glad I Am" and an [[Emmy Award]] for her 1967-68 [[NBC]] series, ''[[The Nancy Wilson Show]]''. She also made guest appearances on

variety shows hosted by [[Ed Sullivan]], [[Carol Burnett]] and [[Dean Martin]].
Back in the United States, she began her association with Columbia Records in 1984, collaborating with such artists as Ramsey Lewis and working on an album of previously unpublished Johnny Mercer lyrics set to music by co-producer Barry Manilow, With My Lover Beside Me (1991).

In the 1990s, Wilson began acting on a regular basis, appearing on The Sinbad Show and The Bill Cosby Special on television and in such films as Robert Townsend's Meteor Man.

In 2001, she released her first Christmas recording, A Nancy Wilson Christmas, after moving to Manchester Craftsmen's Guild (MCG) Jazz. She won a Grammy for R.S.V.P. (Rare Songs, Very Personal) in 2005.

Wilson was the host on ''[[Jazz Profiles]]'',<ref>[http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=10208861 Jazz Profiles (now available as a podcast]</ref> from 1996 to 2005. It was a a jazz radio program on [[National Public Radio]], [[Washington, D.C.]], during the show's run from 1996 to 2005. This series profiled the legends and legacy of jazz through music, interviews and commentary. Wilson and the program were the recipients of the George Foster [[Peabody Award]] in 2001.<ref>[http://www.peabody.uga.edu/archives/search.asp 2001 Peabody goes to Jazz Profiles]</ref>


In 1983, she won the [[Yamaha Music Festival]] and went on to cut five successful albums for Japanese labels.
In 1983, she won the [[Yamaha Music Festival]] and went on to cut five successful albums for Japanese labels.

Revision as of 03:02, 22 July 2007

Nancy Wilson

Nancy Wilson (born February 20 1937) is an American singer whose sixty-plus albums. She's been labeled a singer of blues, jazz, cabaret and Pop music; a "consummate actress"; and "the complete entertainer." The title she prefers, however, is song stylist.[1] She has received many nicknames--"Sweet Nancy, The Baby" and the "Fancy Miss Nancy" are only two of them.[2]

Background

Wilson was born in Chillicothe, Ohio. At age 15, she won a local talent contest, the prize for which was her own television series, "Skyline Melodies," on a local station.

Career

Wilson, moved to New York City in 1956, where she met Julian “Cannonball” Adderley in a recording session. She wanted Cannonball’s manager, John Levy, to represent her, and she wanted Capitol Records as her label. Within four weeks of her arrival in New York she got her first big break, a call to fill in for Irene Reid at The Blue Morocco. The club booked her on a permanent basis; she was singing four nights a week and working as a receptionist during the day. John Levy sent demos “Guess Who I Saw Today,” “Sometimes I’m Happy,” and two other songs to Capitol records. Capitol records signed her in 1960. Nancy’s debut single, “Guess Who I Saw Today,” was so successful that between April of 1960 and July of 1962 Capitol Records released five Nancy Wilson albums. In 1963 “Tell Me The Truth” became her first truly major hit, leading up to her performance at the Coconut Grove in 1964 – the turning pointing of her career garnering critical acclaim from coast to coast.[3] Time Magazine wrote, “She is, all at once, both cool and sweet, both singer and story teller.”

Wilson had her own television show, "The Nancy Wilson Show" (NBC) that won an Emmy in 1975. Nancy also took on acting roles, appearing on popular television shows throughout the years, from I Spy, Room 222, Hawaii Five-O, and Police Story, to The Cosby Show, Soul Food, New York Undercover, Moesha, and The Parkers.Cite error: A <ref> tag is missing the closing </ref> (see the help page). from 1996 to 2005. It was a a jazz radio program on National Public Radio, Washington, D.C., during the show's run from 1996 to 2005. This series profiled the legends and legacy of jazz through music, interviews and commentary. Wilson and the program were the recipients of the George Foster Peabody Award in 2001.[4]

In 1983, she won the Yamaha Music Festival and went on to cut five successful albums for Japanese labels.

Back in the United States, she began her association with Columbia Records in 1984, collaborating with such artists as Ramsey Lewis and working on an album of previously unpublished Johnny Mercer lyrics set to music by co-producer Barry Manilow, With My Lover Beside Me (1991).

In the 1990s, Wilson began acting on a regular basis, appearing on The Sinbad Show and The Bill Cosby Special on television and in such films as Robert Townsend's Meteor Man.

In 2001, she released her first Christmas recording, A Nancy Wilson Christmas, after moving to Manchester Craftsmen's Guild (MCG) Jazz. She won a Grammy for R.S.V.P. (Rare Songs, Very Personal) in 2005.

Wilson was the host on Jazz Profiles,[5] from 1996 to 2005. It was a a jazz radio program on National Public Radio, Washington, D.C., during the show's run from 1996 to 2005. This series profiled the legends and legacy of jazz through music, interviews and commentary. Wilson and the program were the recipients of the George Foster Peabody Award in 2001.[6]

Awards and honors

She was inducted into the Big Band and Jazz Hall of Fame in 1999.

In 2005, She was inducted into the West High School (Columbus, Ohio) Hall of Fame, http://www.columbuswest.net/halloffameinductees05.php

In 2007, Wilson received her third Grammy Award in the category of Best Jazz Vocal Album for Turned to Blue, a recording which saw release on August 22, 2006.


Discography

Selected Singles:

  • 1963: "Tell Me The Truth" - US #73
  • 1964: "(You Don't Know) How Glad I Am" - US #11 (#2 on the Adult Contemporary charts)
  • 1964: "I Wanna Be With You" - US #57
  • 1965: "Don't Come Running Back To Me" - US #58
  • 1966: "Uptight (Everything's Alright)" - US #84
  • 1968: "Face It Girl, It's Over" - US #29
  • 1968: "Peace Of Mind" - US #55
  • 1968: "In A Long White Room" - US #117
  • 1969: "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" - US #52
  • 1971: "Now I'm A Woman" - US #93
  • Singles which reached the Adult Contemporary charts without making the Hot 100 included: "Where Does That Leave Me" (1965), "I'll Only Miss Him When I Think Of Him" (1965), "You've Got Your Troubles" (1966), and "This Girl Is A Woman Now" (1970).
  • In addition, Wilson charted on Billboard's Christmas Singles chart with both sides of her 1963 Yuletide single, "That's What I Want For Christmas" (#6 in 1963 and #26 in 1964) / "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve" (#17 in 1965, #24 in 1967).


Charted Albums in US Top 100:

  • 1962: 'Nancy Wilson/Cannonball Adderley' (with Cannonball Adderley) - US #30 ^
  • 1962: 'Hello Young Lovers' - US #49
  • 1963: 'Broadway-My Way' - US #18 ^
  • 1963: 'Hollywood-My Way' - US #11 ^
  • 1964: 'Yesterday's Love Songs-Today's Blues' - US #4 ^
  • 1964: 'How Glad I Am' - US #4
  • 1964: 'Today, Tomorrow, Forever' - US #10 ^
  • 1965: 'The Nancy Wilson Show' - US #24
  • 1965: 'Today-My Way' - US #7
  • 1965: 'Gentle Is My Love' - US #17
  • 1966: 'From Broadway With Love' - US #44 ^
  • 1966: 'A Touch Of Today' - US #15 ^
  • 1966: 'Tender Loving Care' - US #35 ^
  • 1967: 'Just For Now' - US #40
  • 1967: 'Lush Life' - US #46 ^
  • 1968: 'Easy' - US #51
  • 1969: 'Hurt So Bad' - US #92
  • 1971: 'Now I'm A Woman' - US #51
  • 1974: 'All In Love Is Fair' - US #94

Albums marked with a '^' have been released on CD. The Albums have mainly been released in the United Kingdom on budget 2 on 1 CDs:

  • 'Today, Tomorrow, Forever' / 'A Touch Of Today'
  • 'Broadway-My Way' / 'Hollywood-My Way'
  • 'From Broadway With Love' / 'Tender Loving Care'

However Capitol Records have started to reissue Albums on CD; some with bonus tracks:

  • 'Something Wonderful' [[1]]
  • 'Broadway-My Way'
  • 'Hollywood-My Way'
  • 'Yesterday's Love Songs-Today Blues'
  • 'Today, Tomorrow, Forever'
  • 'Lush Life'

Albums that didn't chart in the top 100 have also been released on CD:

  • 'Like In Love' (1959) / 'Something Wonderful' (1960) (2 on 1 CD in the UK; 'Something Wonderful' has also been reissued by Capitol Records as a solo CD)
  • 'The Swingin's Mutual' (with George Shearing) (1961)
  • 'Welcome To My Love' (1968)
  • 'But Beautiful' (1971)

Although many Albums have yet to be released on CD; Capitol Records, in association with EMI and Blue Note Records, have released many compilations.

References

  1. ^ Nancy Wilson, NPR Biography
  2. ^ Ebony (Magazine/Journal), March 1, 2007 Nancy Wilson (Center Stage) (Biography)
  3. ^ Nancy's own bio
  4. ^ 2001 Peabody goes to Jazz Profiles
  5. ^ Jazz Profiles (now available as a podcast
  6. ^ 2001 Peabody goes to Jazz Profiles
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