Nancy Wilson was encouraged to move to New York to pursue a career as a vocalist by jazz saxophone master Cannonball Adderley. Her notoriety quickly spread after filling in for vocalist Irene Reid, and she eventually signed with Capitol Records in 1959. Her first single for Capitol, "Guess Who I Saw Today," became such a hit that she ended up recording five records worth of material in the first two years of her contract, including a collaboration with Adderley that is one of the most beloved jazz vocal albums of all time.

By the late 1960s she had become a regular sight on television, appearing as a guest on several notable shows and even winning an Emmy for "The Nancy Wilson Show," which aired from 1967-1968. Over her career she received numerous awards, including being inducted into the International Civil Rights Walk of Fame for her work during the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s. By the time she gave her last public performance in 2011, she had achieved a level of personal and musical success that is matched by very few figures in music history.