Cassandra Wilson, Award-Winning Jazz Vocalist, Dies At 70

Cassandra Wilson, one of the premier jazz vocalists of her era, amassed a stellar career with the recognition from her peers and accolades to match. According to a note from her manager, Cassandra Wilson passed away on Wednesday (September 2) morning surrounded by her family and loved loved ones. Cassandra Wilson was born on December 4, 1955, in Jackson, Mississippi. As a young girl, Wilson was trained to play the piano and later picked up guitar. In the mid-1970s, Wilson found work as a singer across several genres. Her career expanded greatly after moving to New York and meeting saxophonist Steve Coleman, who introduced his “M-Base” theory, with Wilson joining the M-Base Collective and further developing her voice and style.In 1992, Wilson signed with the famed Blue Note Records label, releasing her studio album Blue Light ’til Dawn in 1993. This shift in sound from her earlier works with the M-Base Collective would become a hallmark of her career as she grew both as a songwriter and producer. While Wilson worked with a bevy of acts across the genres of R&B, jazz and big band, she also collaborated with The Roots. Wilson appeared on The Roots’ second album, Do You Want More?!...