Cassandra Wilson, the acclaimed American jazz singer, songwriter and producer known for her distinctive contralto voice and adventurous approach to music, has died at the age of 70.

Wilson died at her home in Jackson, Mississippi, on Tuesday morning. Her manager said she died peacefully at home surrounded by family, close friends and her manager.

Born and raised in Jackson, Wilson developed an interest in music from an early age. Her father, Herman B Fowlkes, was a musician, while her mother, Mary Fowlkes, was a teacher.

She began taking piano lessons when she was six and later played clarinet in marching bands. Her early musical influences ranged from Motown artists to jazz greats Miles Davis and Thelonious Monk.

Wilson performed while studying at Millsaps College and Jackson State University before becoming involved with the jazz scene in New Orleans in the early 1980s.

She later moved to New York City, where she joined saxophonist Steve Coleman’s M-Base Collective and became one of the group’s prominent vocalists.

Over the years, Wilson developed a musical identity that extended well beyond conventional jazz. Her recordings drew on blues, folk, R&B, country, pop and traditions of the African diaspora.

Her work earned four Grammy nominations and two wins for Best Jazz Vocal Album.

Wilson received her first Grammy in 1997 for "New Moon Daughter" and won the award again in 2009 for "Loverly."

Her stature extended beyond awards. Time magazine named her America’s best singer in 2001, recognising the distinctive vocal style that had made her one of the most recognisable voices in contemporary jazz.

Billie Holiday was another important influence on Wilson’s career.

In 2015, Wilson performed at New York’s Apollo Theater as part of a concert marking the 100th anniversary of Holiday’s birth.

She also released "Coming Forth by Day" that year, an album paying tribute to Holiday. It became Wilson’s final album.

Wilson received one of American jazz’s highest honours in 2022 when the National Endowment for the Arts named her an NEA Jazz Master.

Musicians and public figures paid tribute following news of her death.

Jon Batiste highlighted Wilson’s ability to bring together folk traditions, R&B, music of the African diaspora, experimental ideas and popular sounds.

He also pointed to the importance of Mississippi in shaping her musical identity.

Jackson Mayor John Horhn described Wilson as an extraordinary daughter of the city whose music carried the sound, spirit and history of Mississippi to audiences around the world.

Wilson leaves behind a body of work that helped expand the boundaries of jazz vocals while connecting the genre with a wide range of American musical traditions.