Reverend Wiley Murray Burton was a celebrity spouse, best known as the husband of American jazz singer Nancy Wilson. He died on 1 August 2008 after a short illness and left behind his wife and their two daughters. Wiley’s wife was a singer and actress from the mid-1950s until her retirement in the early 2010s. Her notable singles were (You Don’t Know) How Glad I Am and her version of Guess Who I Saw Today. During her career life, she recorded over 70 albums and won three Grammy Awards.
Who is Reverend Wiley Burton’s daughter? Keep on reading to get a glimpse into Wiley and his family’s lives.
Reverend Wiley Burton Bio
Reverend Wiley Murray Burton Jr. was born on 21 January 1942 in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. He served as a Presbyterian minister but was best known as the second husband of singer Nancy Sue Wilson. Nancy and Wiley met and married a month later, on 22 May 1973, and stayed together until Wiley died on 1 August 2008, aged 66.
Reverend Wiley Burton’s Children
Wiley and Nancy welcomed their only child together, Samantha Burton, in 1975. In 1976, the lovebirds adopted Sheryl Burton. Wiley had a son named Kenneth (Kacy) Dennis Jr. from her first marriage to drummer Kenny Dennis.
Reverend Wiley Burton’s Wife
Wiley’s wife, Nancy Wilson, was born on 20 February 1937 in Chillicothe, Ohio. Her father, Olden Wilson, was an iron Foundry worker, and her mother was Lillian Ryan. She attended Burnside Elementary School, West High School, Columbus, and Central State University, where she pursued her B.S. degree in education. She developed her singing skills by participating in church choirs. In high school, she won a talent contest and, as a reward, got a role as a host for a local television show.
Nancy moved to New York City in 1959, hired a manager, and signed with Capitol Records. She got her first break four weeks later at The Blue Morocco club permanently. She sang four nights at the club and worked as a secretary for the New York Institute of Technology during the day.
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Nancy’s debut single was Guess Who I Saw Today, and its massive success led Capital Records to release five of her albums between April 1960 and July 1962. Her first album was Like in Love and of the Rhythm and Blues genre. She later steered away from the pop style towards jazz and ballads. Ten of her albums hit the Top 10 on Billboard’s Top LPs chart between March 1964 and June 1965.
Nancy made several guest appearances on television before getting her series on NBC, The Nancy Wilson Show, which ran from 1967 to 1968. The show won an Emmy. She appeared mainly as herself in tens of shows, including I Spy, Room 222, The Danny Kaye Show, Kraft Music Hall, The Ed Sullivan Show, and The Tonight Show.
In the ’80s, she recorded five albums with Japanese labels since they agreed to record her performing live compared to American labels, which did not give her the option.
Her awards and accolades include 7 Grammy nominations and 3 Grammy wins, the 2004 National Endowment for the Arts, and the 2005 NAACP Image Award. She was inducted into the International Civil Rights Walk of Fame at the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site.
Wrapping Up
Reverend Wiley Burton was lucky to find love in Nancy Wilson. She even abstained from performing in venues like supper clubs due to her husband’s ministerial position.
