The late Nancy Wilson worked tirelessly during her long singing and acting career. Days off were rare. Weekends meant work, and holidays meant work. If she wasn't touring to support one of her Capitol albums she was appearing at one of the country's top supper clubs. Or she was in Las Vegas or on television variety shows. Or she was acting in dramas. Many people are unaware that Nancy was an exceptional actress.
When Nancy announced her retirement from touring in 2011, I spoke with her by phone. She said, "Honey, I just want to go home and watch TV." Speaking of TV, here are nine clips of Nancy in action throughout the 1960s, my favorite period in her long career:
Here's Nancy Wilson on Jazz Scene USA in 1962 hosted by Oscar Brown Jr. She's backed by pianist Lou Levy, bassist Al McKibbon, and drummer and then husband Kenny Dennis...
Here's Nancy on the Hollywood Palace in 1964 backed only by a guitar and eventually strings...
Here she is again on the same show...
Here she is in 1964 on French TV...
Here's she is in 1964 on another Hollywood Palace episode in an unfortunate dress that could have embarrassed or killed her if she tripped (the sync is a little off but still worth seeing her perform)...
Here's Nancy singing in 1965 on the TV detective series Burke's Law, with Ronnell Bright on piano...
Here's Nancy singing in 1966 on TV's I Spy...
Here's Nancy with Andy Williams in 1966, just as the price of color TV sets was starting to drop...
And here's Nancy in 1968 on the Ed Sullivan Show, mid-pregnancy...