Grammy award-winning singer Nancy Wilson dies at 81 after long illness

Grammy award-winning jazz singer Nancy Wilson is no more. She was 81.

Nancy Wilson

The artiste, who retired from touring in 2011, died after a long illness at her home in Pioneertown, a California desert community near Joshua Tree National Park, her manager and publicist Devra Hall Levy revealed on Thursday night, reported. 

She resisted being identified with a single category, especially jazz, and referred to herself as a "song stylist".

"How glad I am" brought her a Grammy in 1965 for best R&B performance, and she later won Grammys for best jazz vocal album in 2005 for "R.S.V.P (Rare Songs, Very Personal)" and in 2007 for 'Turned to Blue'. Wilson was married twice; to drummer Kenny Dennis, whom she divorced in 1970; and to Wiley Burton, who died in 2008. She is survived by her son, Kacy Dennis; daughters Samantha Burton and Cheryl Burton; sisters Karen Davis and Brenda Vann and five grandchildren.

Influenced by Dinah Washington, Nat ``King'' Cole and other stars, Wilson covered everything from jazz standards to ``Little Green Apples'' and in the 1960s alone released eight albums that reached the top 20 on Billboard's pop charts. Sometimes elegant and understated, or quick and conversational and a little naughty, she was best known for such songs as her breakthrough ``Guess Who I Saw Today'' and the 1964 hit ``(You Don't Know) How Glad I Am,'' which drew upon Broadway, pop and jazz.