Grammy-winning American jazz singer Cassandra Wilson dies at 70

Cassandra Wilson, whose deep, warm alto voice brought jazz into conversation with blues, folk and other musical traditions, has died at 70.

Several U.S. media outlets, including The New York Times, The Washington Post and Rolling Stone, reported her death, citing authorities in Mississippi. Wilson was born in Jackson, Mississippi, in 1955 and became one of the leading jazz singers of her generation.

Her career took shape in New York during the 1980s, when she gained recognition as a member of the M-Base jazz collective associated with saxophonist Steve Coleman. She later received two Grammy Awards. Her broad musical language and distinctive voice became central to her reputation.

Wilson also spoke about death in an interview with Die Zeit for its “I Have a Dream” series. She said she did not believe in death. Son House’s “Death Letter Blues,” one of the songs that had influenced her most, reinforced her belief that death transforms people from a physical state into a bodiless one. U.S. reports on Wednesday initially provided no information about the cause of her death.

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I do not believe in death.