Nancy Wilson (jazz singer)

Nancy Wilson is an American singer with more than 70 albums, and three Grammy Awards. She has been labeled a singer of Blues, Jazz, RampB, Pop and Soul a consummate actress and the complete entertainer. The title she prefers, however, is song stylist. She has received many nicknames including Sweet Nancy, The Baby, Fancy Miss Nancy and The Girl With the HoneyCoated Voice.

On February 20, 1937, Wilson was the first of six children born to Olden Wilson, an iron foundry worker, and Lillian Ryan, a maid in Chillicothe, Ohio. Wilsons father would buy records to listen to at home. At an early age Wilson heard recordings from Billy Eckstine, Nat Cole, and Jimmy Scott with Lionel Hamptons Big Band. Wilson says The juke joint down on the block had a great jukebox and there I heard Dinah Washington, Ruth Brown, LaVerne Baker, Little Esther. Wilson became aware of her talent while singing in church choirs, imitating singers as a young child, and performing in her grandmothers house during summer visits. By the age of four, she knew she would eventually become a singer.

Source: Wikipedia