Jackson, Mississippi (December 4, 1955 -September 1, 2026) 70 yrs

Cassandra Wilson was an American jazz singer, guitarist, composer, arranger and producer from Jackson, Mississippi. She was one of the most successful female jazz singers and has been described by critic Gary Giddins as “a singer blessed with an unmistakable timbre who has expanded the playing field” by incorporating blues, country, and folk music into her work. She won numerous awards, including two Grammys, and was named “America’s Best Singer”. Wilson recorded songs by Robert Johnson, Son House and Muddy Waters. She put Hank Williams, Joni Mitchell and the Monkees along side them. Miles Davis was one of Wilson’s greatest influences. In 1999, she produced the album Traveling Miles as a tribute to Davis. The National Endowment for the Arts made her a Jazz Master in 2022. There is a marker with her name on it on the Mississippi Blues Trail.