Nancy Sue Wilson (February 20, 1937 â€" December 13, 2018) was an
American singer whose career spanned over five decades, from the
mid-1950s until her retirement in the early 2010s. She was especially
notable for her single "(You Don't Know) How Glad I Am" and her
version of the standard "Guess Who I Saw Today". Wilson recorded more
than 70 albums and won three Grammy Awards for her work. During her
performing career, Wilson was labeled a singer of blues, jazz, R&B,
pop, and soul; a "consummate actress"; and "the complete entertainer".
The title she preferred, however, was "song stylist". She received
many nicknames including "Sweet Nancy", "The Baby", "Fancy Miss Nancy"
and "The Girl With the Honey-Coated Voice".Nancy Sue Wilson was born
on February 20, 1937, in Chillicothe, Ohio, the first of six children
of Olden Wilson, an iron foundry worker, and Lillian Ryan, a maid.
Wilson's father would buy records to listen to at home. At an early
age Wilson heard recordings from Billy Eckstine, Nat King Cole, and
Jimmy Scott with Lionel Hampton's 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 grandmother's house during
summer visits. By the age of four, she knew she would eventually
become a singer.At the age of 15, now attending Columbus, Ohio's West
High School, Wilson won a talent contest sponsored by the local ABC
television station WTVN. The prize was an appearance on a twice-a-week
television show, Skyline Melodies, which she later hosted. She also
worked clubs on the east side and north side of Columbus, Ohio, from
the age of 15 until she graduated from West High School at age 17.
Unsure of her future as an entertainer, she entered college to pursue
teaching. She spent one year at Ohio's Central State College (now
Central State University) before dropping out and following her
original ambitions. She auditioned and won a spot with Rusty Bryant's
Carolyn Club Big Band in 1956. She toured with them throughout Canada
and the Midwest from 1956 to 1958. While in this group, Wilson made
her first recording under Dot Records.
American singer whose career spanned over five decades, from the
mid-1950s until her retirement in the early 2010s. She was especially
notable for her single "(You Don't Know) How Glad I Am" and her
version of the standard "Guess Who I Saw Today". Wilson recorded more
than 70 albums and won three Grammy Awards for her work. During her
performing career, Wilson was labeled a singer of blues, jazz, R&B,
pop, and soul; a "consummate actress"; and "the complete entertainer".
The title she preferred, however, was "song stylist". She received
many nicknames including "Sweet Nancy", "The Baby", "Fancy Miss Nancy"
and "The Girl With the Honey-Coated Voice".Nancy Sue Wilson was born
on February 20, 1937, in Chillicothe, Ohio, the first of six children
of Olden Wilson, an iron foundry worker, and Lillian Ryan, a maid.
Wilson's father would buy records to listen to at home. At an early
age Wilson heard recordings from Billy Eckstine, Nat King Cole, and
Jimmy Scott with Lionel Hampton's 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 grandmother's house during
summer visits. By the age of four, she knew she would eventually
become a singer.At the age of 15, now attending Columbus, Ohio's West
High School, Wilson won a talent contest sponsored by the local ABC
television station WTVN. The prize was an appearance on a twice-a-week
television show, Skyline Melodies, which she later hosted. She also
worked clubs on the east side and north side of Columbus, Ohio, from
the age of 15 until she graduated from West High School at age 17.
Unsure of her future as an entertainer, she entered college to pursue
teaching. She spent one year at Ohio's Central State College (now
Central State University) before dropping out and following her
original ambitions. She auditioned and won a spot with Rusty Bryant's
Carolyn Club Big Band in 1956. She toured with them throughout Canada
and the Midwest from 1956 to 1958. While in this group, Wilson made
her first recording under Dot Records.
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