Spanky Wilson

Soulful Jazz and Funk Singer

Soul, funk and jazz vocalist, born circa 1947, in Philadelphia, PA, USA. Spanky Wilson was born in Philly but brought up in Pittsburgh. She hit it big as a singer after moving to LA. She started playing live gigs around the town and one venue she appeared at was Shelly's Manne-Hole. That first night she was just the featured vocalist with the Jimmy Smith Trio (May 67). However, her impact on the local jazz scene was so great that by March 69 she was starring at the club in her own right. By 1973, her profile on the US jazz scene was so strong that she was one of the nominated artists in Ebony Magazine for Female Jazz Singer of the Year.