Cassandra
Wilson
The Mississippi Writers and Musicians Project of Starkville High School
Cassandra
Wilson
Cassandra Wilson is often described as not
only an accomplished jazz vocalist and composer but also as a lyricist,
producer, musical director, guitarist and pianist (Myers 1E).
Born in Jackson, Mississippi, in 1955, Cassandra Wilson has been
singing and performing since she sang at her brother’s kindergarten graduation
at the age of five. The youngest of three children, Wilson began playing
the piano and guitar at the age of nine. Cassandra attributes her interest
in music to her parents. Her mother, who is a retired elementary school
teacher, and father, who is a bass guitarist, often sang to her as a small
child. Her father introduced her to jazz (Yanow). Jazz was not a
very popular form of music during the 1960’s, but Cassandra loved it so
much that she wanted to share it with others (Nelson).
A former classmate,
Dr. Phillip Nelson, recalls a time when she shared her newfound love
for jazz with the entire student body at a Jackson's Powell Junior High
School talent show. “You have to remember that at that time the only thing
we listened to was R&B, and she got on stage with a guitar and played
a type of music no one had really heard before. It was much like
a ballad, and although she didn’t get a lot of attention (there was a lot
of talking going on), she didn’t get booed off stage either. I was
impressed by the courage she demonstrated to sing an alternative selection.
She sang well. She had great stage presence, and although she didn’t
play anything popular, she was good enough to have people stand there and
listen to her, and that’s when I realized that she had broader experiences,
at least musically, than most people at that age. She sang that song
because she loved it, and she didn’t care if you liked that song or not,
and I respected her for that” (Nelson).
When Cassandra was in the ninth grade, the
schools were desegregated in Mississippi. Her ninth and tenth
grade years were difficult as Cassandra recalls but were better for
the remainder of her high school years. Despite the racial tensions that
were present at her new school setting, she eventually adjusted to her
environment. In the eleventh grade she got the leading role as Dorothy
in The Wizard of Oz. “ For all the negative aspects,
experiencing things that were different from what I knew was also exciting,”
says Cassandra in an interview for The Oxford American
in it’s 1997 music issue ( Woodworth 31). Obtaining the star role
in the high school musical was not the first time Cassandra stepped over
the color lines and made a mark for herself and others. During her last
years in high school, Wilson formed a musical group with two young
men who were both white. “She had difficulty (with classmates)
because of the relationship she chose to have, but you had to respect the
choice she made”(Horhn). Wilson saw her interracial music group as a growing
period for her life as well as for others. “Music was the way
we (blacks and whites) came together. We traded albums at school.
I remember hearing James Taylor and then really getting into Joni
Mitchell. I turned some of my friends on to jazz they hadn’t heard
before” (Woodworth 31).
After obtaining a degree from Jackson State
University in mass communication, Wilson moved from Mississippi to New
Orleans and worked as an assistant in Public Affairs at a local television
station. In 1982, Wilson moved to New York. She began recording widely
in the 80’s initially with Steve Coleman and Henry Threadgill’s New
Air group. She became the main vocalist with their M/Base collection.
During her first decade in New York, she released seven records on the
JMT/Verve label while she also sang on other innovative projects for other
singers (Woodworth 31). By 1993 she had sung on ten albums produced
by JMT records with a wide variety of New York musicians, including
Mulgrew Miller and Greg Osby (Carr 701).
Cassandra’s
music has often been compared to artists like Betty Carter, Nina Simone,
and Shirley Horn, whom she also considers to be some of her musical influences.
Billy Holiday and Sarah Vaugh also influenced her (Murray C1). Cassandra
has come a long way from her high school music group and late night singing
at local clubs. Cassandra now concentrates more on the pure innovative
production of her own music albums. If Cassandra Wilson’s intentions are
to open people’s eyes to the broadness of her music through the messages
in her songs, then she is well on her way to achieving her goal.
Wilson’s emotional range and tone variations impress many critics, audiences,
and fellow musicians. Many critics write that she is one of the most promising
musicians on the horizon (Myers E-1). She has received many awards
due to her sensual and soulful voice. In her own hometown of Jackson,
Mississippi, she was selected to receive the 1997 Governor’s Award
for excellence in the Arts. Unfortunately, she was unable to accept
this award due to her tour with Wynton Marsalis. Her tour, entitled
Blood on the Fields, was Grammy nominated for best vocal
performance (Lucas). Wilson won the “best jazz vocalist” Grammy award for
her album
New Moon Daughter (Clevenger). Her album
New Moon Daughter has been described as one of her best albums,
with vocals that carry sultry and contralto undertones (Murray
C1). Cassandra’s album Blue Light Til’Dawn was
so exemplary that it won her the Downbeat’s “Singer of the Year”
title for 1994 and 1995. In 1996, this album also won her the same honor
in Down Beat’s Critic poll (Clevenger).She also has appeared on screen
in the Arnold Schwarzenegger movie Junio.
Cassandra Wilson is not overly concerned with
what other people think of her or how she performs. She was
named “most important and daring jazz vocalist” by Time magazine
in 1996. According to one writer for the internet website “Lush Lives,”
Cassandra Wilson is one of the top jazz singers of the 1990’s. The
writer continues, "Blessed with a distinctive and flexible voice, she is
not afraid to take chances (Yanow). Listeners can only wonder if Cassandra’s
unique sense of singing is what attributes to her rising success.
“I’m interested in crossing boundaries,” explains Wilson, “to be able to
operate in several worlds at once is the result of being open minded, whether
in music or some other part of the experience. I still believe that
things have to fall apart before something new can emerge. That’s
true for everything, including music”(Woodworth 31).
Wilson expresses herself through her music.
She has become well loved and admired because of her ability not
only to sell her music, but herself in the process. Senator
John Horhn states that the reason Cassandra has become so successful is
because she makes the music her own. “That in turn is why people love her
so much, because you feel what she is trying to tell you” (Interview).
Wilson sings with the intent of getting a message to her listeners. She
sings with her heart and so much of her soul that it seems as though
she is literally singing to you (Nelson interview). “ However much this
life consumes me, however unbalanced things get, I always want to remember
that when I look into someone else’s eyes I am seeing myself” (Woodworth
34). There is absolutely no doubt to that at the rate Cassandra is going,
her contralto, sensual voice and down-to-earth personality will draw a
lot of fans for a long time to come.
Since winning the Grammy award for her vocal
stylings on New Moon Daughter in 1997, the call
of the Delta has been beckoning her. She is currently working on
a CD with 81-year-old Boogaloo Ames and his partner Eden Brent tentatively
to be called Belly of the Sun. The CD will also include
Jackson musicians Jesse Robinson on guitar, Nellie McGinnis on bass, and
Rhonda Richmond on guitar.
Have you ever heard her sing in person?
“Yes. She has a wonderful, rich, full, melocholny voice.
She sing from her heart, and she winds up selling you her thoughts
and feelings at the same time you’re enjoying the melody of her song.
She sings with passion. She always wants people to remember who and where
they are. She makes a statement with her music.”
Was she popular in high school?
“Yes. She was popular. People warm up to her; there
is no way you can talk to her and not like her. In high school she
had difficulty because of the person she chose to date, but you had to
respect the choice she made. She made Who’s Who and Hall of Fame.
She loves the idea of being able to come home and no one knows who
she is. She’s loyal to her friends. She’s mischievous; she’s
witty; and she loves to laugh at a good joke. She uses her music to convey
her feelings.”
When was the last time you spoke with her?
“Last time, was this past fall (1997), when she came down to do
a charity concert in Jackson.”
Does she do a lot of performances? 
She’s really popular in New York, and the countries overseas just
love her. She goes out of the country quite a bit.
I know that in order to do things you must have normally have your family
behind you. Does her family support her musical career?
Her father was a bass musician himself. She was very close
to her father, the spitting image of him, but she had an estranged relationship
with her mother. At first her mother didn’t support her music career,
but now they have grown a lot closer. The song “Mama’s Little Baby,” she
just recently recorded is a lullaby her mom sang to her as a baby.
I’d have to say that this song was a major point of healing for them both,
even though they had patched things up way before this. It’s
a beautiful tribute,(and) beautiful song.”
What is she doing now?
“ A lot of touring. She writes about one half of the
material she’s recording now. On December 26, 1997, she was here in on
Jackson to do a concert for Alpha Kappa Alpha. She donated her services
to the group (her mom is an AKA). She opened with the song “Strange
Fruit” by Billie Holiday. She did one movie soundtrack, and a commercial
for the new Jaguar car. She sang over another song; it went
very well together. It was mystical. If there were one word
to describe Cassandra’s voice, it would be “mystical.”
How would you describe Cassandra Wilson?
“Extremely, extremely, extremely intelligent, and extremely, extremely,
extremely beautiful. Most beautiful woman in there with the Halle
Berrys and Vanessa Williamses of the world. She’s comfortable with
herself, which in turn makes you comfortable with her. Anyone who meets
her loves her; she has a wonderful personality!
1955- Cassandra Wilson is born in Jackson, Mississippi
1964- takes lessons playing the piano at age nine
1976- begins studies at Jackson State University
1978- 1981- performs as a solo folk guitarist, as lead vocalist for
a group called These Days
1980- graduates from Jackson State University with a mass communications
degree
1981- moves to New Orleans and works as an assistant public affairs
director at a television station
1982- moves to New York
1986- first album put out, Point of View, blends jazz,
R & B, rock, reggae, and Latin rhythms
1987- her second album, Day Aweigh, is released
1988- she records her third album entitled Blue Skies
1990- she records her fourth album, JumpWorld
1991- She Who Weeps is released. Her mother writes the
title track, and her father plays the bass
1992- Cassandra Wilson Live album recreates her live
performance in concert at Munich Corart
1993- After the Beginning Again is recorded (available
only in Europe and Japan)
1993- she signs with Blue Note recording industry and produces album,
Blue
Night Til' Dawn
1994 -named “female singer of the year” by Downbeat Reader’s
Poll
1995- again named “female singer of the year” by Downbeat
Reader’s Poll
1996- named “most important and daring jazz vocalist” by Time
magazine
1997 Grammy award for New Moon Daughter
2001-Plans to release Belly of the Sun with Mississippians
Boogaloo Ames and Eden Brent
Cassandra Wilson was born in Jackson, Mississippi, in
1957. She had an interesting childhood. She studied piano from the
age of nine, began writing her own songs at the age of twelve, and
began performing at the age of nineteen. She attended Jackson State
University and earned a degree in communications. She was an assistant
in public affairs in New Orleans. She met saxophonist Earl Turbinton,
who became a mentor for her. She has one son named Jeris.
Jazz
is her favorite type of music, but her first performances around
Mississippi and Arkansas was folk music. Many singers like Ella Fitzgerald,
Sarah Vaughan, and Betty Carter have influenced her music. Wilson's
father, Herman Fowlkes, was a jazz musician who played guitar and bass.
Her mom was an elementary school teacher. She is youngest of three children.
Although she is from Jackson, Mississippi, she now lives in
New York City.
Wilson has won several awards for her
music on her album named New Moon Daughter. She was
named female singer of the year in 1994 and 1995 in (DownBeat Reader’s
Poll), and her album was No.1 for Best Music of 1996 (Time
Magazine,1993). Ebony selected her one of America’s
fifteen most beautiful black women. She has been on the cover of
Essence magazine. DownBeat Magazines selected her Female
vocalist of the year for 1996. Esquire named her one
of the year's “Women we love” under the headlines “Diva of Desire.”
A New York Times critic has called the album “One of
the best albums of decade.” Time Magazine says that
she is the most accomplished jazz vocalist of her time. Her album
New
Moon Daughter on Blue Note Records is about different kinds
of relationships and the cycles they go through. She was the first singer
of her generation to win Jazz Vocalist of the year in 1993. The song “Blue
Light til Dawn" examines her roots in jazz music. Her album
New Moon Daughter won a Grammy award in 1997. However, Wilson's
musical interests range from jazz to popular music, rhythm and blues to
folk, blues to rock.
In
a musical summit meeting of two of the brightest stars of contemporary
jazz, vocalist Cassandra Wilson and pianist Jacky Terrasson join
forces. 
Clint Eastwood's latest film project is the big-screen adaptation of the blockbuster non-fiction bestseller Midnight In The Garden Of Good and Evil. .The album includes vocal contributions by a varied roster of talents, each of whom brings something new to Mercer's classic tunes. In addition to celebrated singers from the worlds of pop--k.d. lang, Paula Cole, Alison Krauss--and jazz--Cassandra Wilson, Diana Krall, etc.
Unofficial Cassandra Wilson's page includes the following: [Discography] [Filmography] [Links] [Articles] [Citations] [Other albums] [Video tapes ] [Cassandra on stage] [Rings] [CD Now] [Pics]
Jazzradio biography of Wilson can be found here.
Charlie
Rose interviews Cassandra Wilson and states that she has been
hailed as the greatest female jazz vocalist of her generation. She
is from Mississippi, but her music was shaped in New Orleans as well as
in New York, where she currently
lives. Her latest record, New Moon Daughter, has won rave reviews.
Audio clips from her CD's can be found here.
Brief biography from InfoPlease for Wilson.
http://www.stagebill.com/Jazz/profiles/index1.html.
http://www.ddg.com/LIS/InfoDesignF96/Ismael/jazz/jzindex.html.
Blumenfield, Larry B. “Cassandra Wilson”.n. pg. Online. Internet. June 1996. Available http://www.musicblvd.com
Carr, Ian, Digby, Fairweather, and Brian Priestley. Jazz: The Rough Guide. London: Penguin Books, 1995.
Clevenger, Andrew. “Jazz Profiles: New Moon Divas”.n. pag. Online. Internet. 20 April 1998. Available http://www.stagebill.com/Jazz/profiles/index1.html.
Horhn, John Senator. Telephone Interview. April 20, 1998.
Lucas, Sherry. “Schedule Keeps Singer from Mississippi Award.” The Clarion Ledger. Feb. 24, 1997.
Murray, Sonia. “Cassandra Wilson: Daring Daughter of Jazz.” The Atlantic Journal. April 29, 1996.
Myers, Leslie. “She’s So Hot.” The Clarion Ledger. April 24, 1994.
Nelson, Phillip Dr. Personal Interview. April 12, 1998.
Pettus, Gary. “Homesick Blues Can’t Claim Her.” The Clarion Ledger. June 19, 1987.
Woodworth, Marc. “Cassandra Wilson: As told to Marc Woodworth.” The Oxford American. Vol.16. 1997.
Yanow, Scott. “Lush Lives: Lady of Jazz from 1930 to 1990”.n.pag. Online. World Wide Web. 20 April 1996. Available http://www.ddg.com/LIS/InfoDesignF96/Ismael/jazz/jzindex.html.
