Vocalist and Portland jazz icon Nancy King died Tuesday. She was 85 years old.
King was a staple in the jazz scene, whose work with Leroy Vinnegar and Ray Brown garnered worldwide attention and acclaim.
King netted two Grammy nominations in her career, one for “Live At Jazz Standard With Fred Hersch” in 2006 and another for her work “Porter Plays Porter” by Randy Porter in 2017. Both nominations were for Best Jazz Vocal Album.
Her distinct, dynamic voice, particularly in scat singing, and her iconic rose-colored glasses were just some of the many elements that made her a treasure in the jazz scene worldwide, but especially here in Oregon.
Growing up outside Eugene, King was raised by musical parents, who encouraged her to pursue a life in the arts.
Her work along the West Coast in the 1960s, especially in San Francisco (where she met her partner, Sonny King), brought her national attention.
Nancy King toured with Sonny’s band, which led to connections with artists like Jon Hendricks, Pharoah Sanders, Vince Guaraldi and Miles Davis. They eventually grew to be part of King’s extended jazz community.
In Portland, King recorded many stellar albums with longtime collaborators bassist Glen Moore and pianist Steve Christofferson.
King made a lifelong commitment to the Portland jazz scene. She taught at Portland State University, and students there continue to work on arrangements of her tunes today.
