Jazz musician Cassandra Wilson died on Wednesday at her home in Jackson, Mississippi at the age of 70.
After learning of the tragic death, Jon Batiste said in a Facebook post that he “learned so much from” Wilson while previously touring with her, as he wrote down his tribute.
“She had an unmistakable vocal tone, phrasing and her approach of weaving folkloric, R&B and diasporic music together with experimental and popular genres had a major impact on me,” Batiste said. “She sounded like the South.”
“Her Mississippi heritage was always present in everything no matter how expansive her artistry evolved,” he added.
Wilson’s death was confirmed to WBGO by her manager Robert Torre, who said, “It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Cassandra Wilson, the Grammy Award-winning and legendary jazz artist,” adding that she “transitioned peacefully at home, surrounded by family, close friends, and her manager.”
Torre further mentioned, “Her family and close friends respectfully ask for privacy during this difficult time as they grieve her loss. Further information regarding memorial services and arrangements will be shared at a later time.”
Wilson died as a result of natural causes, the Hinds County Coroner’s Office confirmed to PEOPLE magazine.
During her impeccable career, Cassandra Wilson twice won the Grammy for Best Jazz Vocal Album, in 1997 for New Moon Daughter and in 2009 for Loverly.
