Grammy-winning jazz artist Cassandra Wilson has died aged 70.
The Mississippi-born singer died in Jackson, MI on Tuesday morning (September 1). According to a statement from her manager to jazz radio station WBGO, Wilson died “peacefully at home, surrounded by family, close friends, and her manager”.
No cause of death was given.
Tributes have poured in for the singer across social media, with singer Jill Scott writing: “Soft warm sand. Deep purrs. Grand pourings. Passionate sincerity. Grace. Intensity. Wonderful Cassandra Wilson. Truly”.
On Instagram, Jools Holland commented the news was “so sad to hear”, adding: “I send love and condolences to all her friends and family”. Skin’s Skunk Anansie also paid tribute to the singer, writing: “Such sad news, she was a wonderful singer, best wishes to her family & friends”. Take a look at more tributes to the singer below:
Soft warm sand. Deep purrs. Grand pourings. Passionate sincerity. Grace. Intensity. Wonderful Cassandra Wilson. Truly pic.twitter.com/W8e03f1iE0
— ⭐Jill Scott⭐ (@missjillscott) September 2, 2026
Very saddened by the news that Cassandra Wilson has passed away. One of the most distinctive voices in modern jazz, Cassandra wove an alluring tapestry of jazz, blues, folk & R&B into a singular sound that opened up new avenues of expression for vocal jazz https://t.co/3qQcy2FEit pic.twitter.com/C6rcKTjze1
— Blue Note Records (@bluenoterecords) September 2, 2026
Born in Jackson, Mississippi, Cassandra Wilson was born to Herman Fowlkes Jr. and Mary McDaniel. The youngest of three, Wilson was surrounded by Motown and jazz as a child, and would take classical piano lessons from age six.
Learning the clarinet and performing in marching bands, her father guided her to self-teach herself guitar using Mel Bay method books. It was during this time where Wilson would begin to write her own folk songs.
Going to Millsaps College and Jackson State University to study mass communications, Wilson played in a wide variety of bands, including R&B, funk, and pop cover bands. Eventually graduating, it was in New Orleans where Wilson began to pursue a career in jazz, where she was coached by the likes of Earl Turbinton, Alvin Batiste and Ellis Marsalis.
Moving to New York, Wilson would found the M-Base collective alongside leader and alto saxophonist Steve Coleman. She would focus her improvisational singing during this time, and would go on to appear on a number of Coleman’s albums.
Wilson also released a number of her own solo albums, including her criticially acclaimed 1988 album ‘Blue Skies’, the Blue Note-released ‘New Moon Daughter’, which won her a Grammy for Best Jazz Vocal Album in 1997, and ‘Loverly’, which netted her another Grammy in 2007.
