Nancy Wilson’s style is so elegant and diverse that it is hard to classify. Since 1962 she has been entertaining audiences with her own brand of jazz, blues and classic ballads. Ms. Wilson’s singing career began at the age of fifteen with the debut of her own show Skyline Melody, on a local Columbus, Ohio television station.
In 1959, Nancy moved to New York City to launch her professional singing career. Her debut single “Guess Who I Saw Today” was so successful that between April, 1960 and July, 1962 Capitol Records released five Nancy Wilson albums. In 1963, “Tell Me The Truth” became her first major hit record. Time Magazine once wrote of Wilson, “She is, all at once, both cool and sweet, both singer and storyteller.”
After years with Capitol Records, during many of which she was second in sales only to the Beatles, Wilson became involved in a number of other successful projects in radio, television and youth education. Her illustrious fifty year career in show business has seen her honored with three GRAMMY awards (“How Glad I Am” – 1964, Best Jazz Vocal Album – 2005, Best Jazz Vocal Album – 2007), two NAACP Image Awards, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. She has retired from touring, but continues to perform select engagements.
A native New Yorker, Najee began his iconic career playing clarinet, saxophone and flute in high school. He studied at the Manhattan School of Music in New York City and at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston. Prior to becoming a successful, platinum-selling artist himself, Najee toured with Me’lisa Morgan, Chaka Khan and Freddie Jackson. He has worked with a number of other influential R&B, jazz and soul musicians, and has toured extensively throughout the United States, Europe, Asia and Africa.
The Dell Music Center 2011 lineup:
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