3/19/16 O&A NYC GOSPEL SUNDAY IN MEMORIUM: Daryl Coley

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Daryl Coley began performing with Edwin Hawkins in the Edwin Hawkins Singers. He played keyboards for The Hawkins Family from 1977 until he left to collaborate with James Cleveland in 1983. Later, he served as musical director for Tramaine Hawkins when she launched her solo career. Concurrently, Coley branched out in secular circles, singing in jazz clubs, working with artists like Sylvester, Pete Escovedo, and others. He would later collaborate with jazz artists such as Nancy Wilson and Rodney Franklin, and pop artists such as Philip Bailey of Earth, Wind & Fire fame. Continue reading

2/21/16 O&A NYC SUNDAY AFTERNOON JAZZ CONCERT: Happy Birthday Nancy! Nancy Wilson and Carl Anderson (Carnegie Hall)

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Nancy Wilson in a live stage performance at the 1987 JVC Jazz Festival in New York City. In Nancy Wilson at Carnegie Hall Wilson is joined onstage by Carl Anderson. Continue reading

2/12/15 O&A Throwback Thursday: Nancy Wilson

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Nancy Wilson is an American entertainment living legend. With more than 70 albums, and three Grammy Awards she has been labeled a singer of blues, jazz, cabaret and pop; a consummate actress; and the complete entertainer.  The title she prefers, however, is song stylist.

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Wilson recorded the 1934 pop standard The Very Thought of You, with music and lyrics by Ray Noble in 1963. One year earlier during a successful collaboration with Cannonball Adderley, he suggested that she should steer away from her original pop style and gear her music toward jazz and ballads. 

The Very Thought Of You 1964

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Wilson released her debut single, Guess Who I Saw Today in 1960. It was so successful that between April 1960 and July 1962 Capitol Records released five Nancy Wilson albums.

Guess Who I Saw Today 1994

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In 1999, Wilson hosted a show in honor of Ella Fitzgerald entitled Forever Ella on the A & E Network

Someone to Watch Over Me 1999