Departures of note

Cassandra Wilson was an American jazz singer, songwriter, and producer from Jackson, Mississippi, widely regarded as one of the most successful female jazz vocalists of her generation. Born December 4, 1955, she grew up in a musical household, studying piano and clarinet before teaching herself guitar. She attended Millsaps College and Jackson State University, and in the early 1980s moved to New Orleans before establishing herself in the New York jazz scene as part of the M-Base collective around Steve Coleman.

Wilson released her debut album Point of View in 1986 and gained critical acclaim through albums such as Blue Skies and Live. Her 1993 album Blue Light 'til Dawn and its 1995 follow-up New Moon Daughter, which won a Grammy for Best Jazz Vocal Performance, cemented her reputation for reinterpreting pop and blues standards with a distinctive smoky alto. She won two Grammy Awards over her career and was named "America's Best Singer" by Time magazine in 2001.

Over a career spanning more than three decades, Wilson recorded over twenty albums, collaborating with artists across jazz, blues, and pop. She was praised by critics for her unique phrasing and her ability to transform well-known songs into fresh, personal statements. She died on September 1, 2026, at the age of 70.