Editing Jackie Wilson (section)

==Life and career==

===Early years ===
Jack Leroy Wilson Jr. was born on June 9, 1934 in [[Highland Park, Michigan]], the third and only surviving child of Eliza Mae Wilson (1900–1975) and singer Jack Leroy Wilson, Sr. (1903–1983). Eliza Mae was born on the Billups-Whitfield Place in [[Lowndes County, Mississippi]] to Virginia and Tom Ransom. Wilson often visited his family in [[Columbus, Mississippi|Columbus]] and was greatly influenced by the choir at Billups Chapel. Growing up in the suburban Detroit enclave of [[Highland Park, Michigan|Highland Park]], Wilson joined a gang called the Shakers and often got himself into trouble. His alcoholic father was frequently absent and usually unemployed, and in 1943 the Wilsons separated shortly after Jackie's ninth birthday. 

Jackie Wilson began singing as a youth, accompanying his mother, an experienced church-choir singer. In his early teens he joined the Ever Ready Gospel Singers, who gained popularity in local churches. Wilson was not very religious, but he enjoyed singing in public. The money the quartet earned from performing was often spent on alcohol, and Wilson began drinking at an early age.<ref name="history-of-rock.com">{{cite web|url=http://history-of-rock.com/jackie_wilson.htm |title=Jackie Wilson |website=History-of-rock.com |access-date=August 18, 2015}}</ref>

Wilson dropped out of high school at 15, having been sentenced twice to detention in the [[Lansing Correctional Facility|Lansing Corrections]] system for juveniles. During his second stint in detention, Wilson learned to [[boxing|box]] and began competing in the Detroit amateur circuit at age 16.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|title=Singer-songwriter Jackie Wilson, whose 1958 best-seller 'Lonely Teardrops' made...|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1984/01/22/Singer-songwriter-Jackie-Wilson-whose-1958-best-seller-Lonely-Teardrops-made/3213443595600/|date=January 22, 1984|website=UPI|language=en}}</ref> His record in the [[Golden Gloves]] was 2 and 8. After his mother forced him to quit boxing,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90tqWrDEodw| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130725023742/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90tqWrDEodw&feature=related| archive-date=July 25, 2013 | url-status=dead|title=Jackie Wilson - The Man Behind The Music - Rare Interview|access-date=June 16, 2021|publisher=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> Wilson got his girlfriend Freda Hood pregnant and her father forced him to marry her. He became a father at 17.

=== Early career ===
Wilson began working at Lee's Sensation Club as a solo singer,<ref name="Honkers And Shouters 1978">Arnold Shaw, ''Honkers And Shouters. The Golden Years of Rhythm And Blues''. New York: Crowell-Collier Press, 1978.</ref> then formed a group called the Falcons that included cousin [[Levi Stubbs]], who later led the [[Four Tops]]. (Two more of Wilson's cousins, Hubert Johnson and Levi's brother Joe, later became members of [[the Contours]].) The other Falcons joined [[Hank Ballard]] as part of [[the Midnighters]],<ref>Shaw, ''Honkers And Shouters'', 1978, p. 442.</ref> including Alonzo Tucker and [[Billy Davis (guitarist)|Billy Davis]], who worked with Wilson several years later as a solo artist. Tucker and Wilson collaborated as songwriters on a few songs Wilson recorded, including his 1963 hit "[[Baby Workout]]".

Wilson was discovered by talent agent [[Johnny Otis]], who recruited him for a group called the Thrillers. That group evolved into [[The Royals (group)|the Royals]] (who later became R&B group, [[the Midnighters]], though Wilson was not part of the group when it changed its name and signed with [[King Records (USA)|King Records]]). Wilson signed on with manager Al Green (not to be confused with R&B singer [[Al Green]] or Albert "Al" Green of the now-defunct [[National Records]]). Green, who also managed [[LaVern Baker]], [[Little Willie John]], [[Johnnie Ray]], and [[Della Reese]], owned two music publishing companies, Pearl Music and Merrimac Music; and Detroit's Flame Show Bar, where Wilson met Baker.

After Wilson recorded his first version of "[[Danny Boy]]" and a few other tracks on [[Dizzy Gillespie]]'s record label [[Dee Gee Records]] under his nickname, Sonny Wilson, he was eventually hired by Billy Ward in 1953 to join a group Ward formed in 1950 called [[Billy Ward and His Dominoes|the Dominoes]], after Wilson's successful audition to replace the immensely popular [[Clyde McPhatter]], who left the Dominoes and formed [[the Drifters]].<ref name=pc3>{{Pop Chronicles|3|2}}</ref> Wilson almost blew his chance that day, showing up calling himself "The shit" Wilson and bragging about being a better singer than McPhatter.<ref name="books.google.com">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pLgqFaYmgw8C&pg=PA144|last=Gulla|first=Bob|title=Icons of R&B and Soul: Volume 1|publisher=ABC-CLIO|year=2008|isbn=9780313340444|access-date=April 30, 2012}}</ref>

Billy Ward felt a stage name would better fit the Dominoes' image, hence ''Jackie'' Wilson. Before leaving the Dominoes, McPhatter coached Wilson on the sound Billy Ward wanted for his group, influencing Wilson's singing style and stage presence. "I learned a lot from Clyde, that high-pitched choke he used and other things{{nbsp}}... Clyde McPhatter was my man. Clyde and Billy Ward."<ref name="Honkers And Shouters 1978"/> 1940s blues singer [[Roy Brown (blues musician)|Roy Brown]] was also a major influence on him, and Wilson grew up listening to [[the Mills Brothers]], [[the Ink Spots]], [[Louis Jordan]] and [[Al Jolson]].

Wilson was the group's lead singer for three years, but the Dominoes lost some of their stride with the departure of McPhatter. They made appearances riding on the strength of the group's earlier hits, until 1956 when the Dominoes recorded Wilson with an interpretation of the pop hit "St. Therese of the Roses", giving the Dominoes another brief moment in the spotlight. (Their only other post-McPhatter/Wilson successes were "Stardust", released July 15, 1957, and "Deep Purple", released October 7, 1957.<ref>"Billboard Top Forty", {{ISBN|0-8230-8280-6}}, et al.</ref>) In 1957 Wilson began a solo career, left the Dominoes, collaborated with his cousin Levi, and secured performances at Detroit's Flame Show Bar. Later, Al Green secured a deal with [[Decca Records]], and Wilson was signed to its subsidiary label [[Brunswick Records|Brunswick]].

===Solo stardom===
[[File:Jackie Wilson.png|thumb|Wilson in 1966]]
Shortly before Wilson signed a solo contract with Brunswick, Green suddenly died. Green's business partner [[Nat Tarnopol]] took over as Wilson's manager (and ultimately rose to president of Brunswick). Wilson's first single was released, "[[Reet Petite]]" (from his first album ''He's So Fine''), which became a modest R&B success (many years later, an international smash hit). "Reet Petite" was co-written by future [[Motown]] Records founder [[Berry Gordy|Berry Gordy Jr.]] (another former boxer who was a native son of Detroit),<ref name=pc25>{{Gilliland |url=https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc19780/m1/ |title=Show 25 – The Soul Reformation: Phase two, the Motown story. [Part 4]}}</ref> with partner [[Billy Davis (songwriter)|Roquel "Billy" Davis]] (using the pseudonym Tyran Carlo) and Gordy's sister [[Gwen Gordy Fuqua|Gwendolyn]]. The trio composed and produced six additional singles for Wilson: "To Be Loved", "I'm Wanderin{{'"}}, "We Have Love", "[[That's Why (I Love You So)]]", "[[I'll Be Satisfied]]", and Wilson's late-1958 signature song, "[[Lonely Teardrops]]", which peaked at No. 7 on the pop charts, ranked No. 1 on the R&B charts in the U.S., and established Wilson as an R&B superstar known for his extraordinary, operatic multi-octave vocal range.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc19767/m1/ |title=Show 17 – The Soul Reformation: More on the evolution of rhythm and blues. [Part 3&#93; : UNT Digital Library |website=Digital.library.unt.edu |access-date=September 18, 2010}}</ref> Wilson's  "Lonely Teardrops" sold over one million copies, and was awarded a [[music recording sales certification|gold disc]] by the [[Recording Industry Association of America|RIAA]].<ref name="The Book of Golden Discs">{{cite book
| first= Joseph
| last= Murrells
| year= 1978
| title= The Book of Golden Discs
| edition= 2nd
| publisher= Barrie and Jenkins Ltd
| location= London
| page= [https://archive.org/details/bookofgoldendisc00murr/page/120 120]
| isbn= 0-214-20512-6
| url= https://archive.org/details/bookofgoldendisc00murr/page/120
}}</ref>
Wilson's fervor when performing, his dynamic dance moves, impassioned singing, and fashion sense, earned him the nickname "Mr. Excitement", a moniker that remained throughout his career. His stagecraft in his live shows inspired [[James Brown]], [[Teddy Pendergrass]], [[Michael Jackson]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.esquire.com/the-side/opinion/michael-jackson-obituary-062609|title=Michael Jackson: The First Punk, the King at Last  |last=Junod |first=Tom |date=June 29, 2009|website=Esquire|access-date=December 30, 2009}}</ref> and [[Elvis Presley]], as well as a host of other artists that followed. Presley was so impressed with Wilson that he set out to meet him, and the two instantly became good friends. In a photo of the two posing together, Presley's caption in the autograph reads "You got you a friend for life". Wilson was sometimes called "The Black Elvis".<ref>{{Cite book|last=Miller|first=James|title=Flowers in the Dustbin: The Rise of Rock and Roll, 1947–1977|publisher=Fireside|date=September 19, 2000|page=160|isbn=0-684-86560-2}}</ref> Reportedly, when asked about this Presley said, "I guess that makes me the white Jackie Wilson." Wilson also said he was influenced by Presley, saying, "A lot of people have accused Elvis of stealing the black man's music, when in fact, almost every black solo entertainer copied his stage mannerisms from Elvis."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.elvis.com/elvisology/quotes/aboutelvis.asp|title=Quotes By and About Elvis|website=Elvis.com|access-date=December 30, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100102180030/http://elvis.com/elvisology/quotes/aboutelvis.asp|archive-date=January 2, 2010}}</ref>

Wilson's powerful, electrifying live performances rarely failed to bring audiences to a state of frenzy.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.loti.com/fifties_music/jackie_wilson.htm|title=Jackie Wilson: Mr. Excitement – A R&B Pioneer and Balladeer|last=Cox|first=Erica|website=Loti.com|access-date=December 30, 2009}}</ref> His live performances consisted of knee-drops,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://soundcloud.com/resnikmusicgroup/jackie-wilson-all-my-love |title=Jackie Wilson – All My Love by Resnik Music Group &#124; Free Listening on SoundCloud |website=Soundcloud.com |access-date=August 18, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://alchemyandaccident.wordpress.com/tag/jackie-wilson/ |title=Jackie Wilson &#124; Alchemy & Accident |website=Alchemyandaccident.wordpress.com |access-date=August 18, 2015}}</ref> splits, spins, back-flips,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gainformer.com/files/Entertianment%20Folder/jackie%20wilson%20Entertainment%20profile.html |title=Entertainment Profile: Jackie Wilson |website=Gainformer.com |access-date=August 18, 2015 |archive-date=September 24, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924020417/http://www.gainformer.com/files/Entertianment%20Folder/jackie%20wilson%20Entertainment%20profile.html |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gnXQSqTx2h0C&q=Jackie+Wilson+back+flips&pg=PT261 |title=African Americans in the Performing Arts – Steven Otfinoski – Google Books |via=Google Books |isbn=9781438128559 |access-date=August 18, 2015|last1=Otfinoski |first1=Steven |year=2010 |publisher=Infobase }}</ref> one-footed across-the-floor slides, removing his tie and jacket and throwing them off the stage, basic boxing steps like advance and retreat shuffling,<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BrEDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA14 |magazine=Jet|title=Jackie Wilson Mourned By 1,500 During Funeral At Baptist Church In Detroit |date=February 13, 1984 |publisher=Johnson Publishing Company|access-date=April 30, 2012}}</ref> and one of his favorite routines, getting some of the less attractive women in the audience to come up to the stage and kiss him. Wilson often said "if I get the ugliest girl in the audience to come up and kiss me, they'll all think they can have me and keep coming back and buying my records."<ref>Arnold Shaw, Honkers And Shouters. The Golden Years Of Rhythm And Blues. New York: Crowell-Collier Press, 1978, pg. 442.</ref>

Wilson was a regular on TV, making regular appearances on such shows as ''[[The Ed Sullivan Show]]'', ''[[American Bandstand]]'', ''[[Shindig!]]'', ''[[Shivaree (TV series)|Shivaree]]'' and ''[[Hullabaloo (TV series)|Hullabaloo]]''. His only movie appearance was in the rock and roll film ''[[Go, Johnny, Go!]]'', where he performed his 1959 hit song "You Better Know It".<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=http://history-of-rock.com/jackie_wilson.htm|title=Jackie Wilson|website=History-of-rock.com|access-date=October 26, 2017}}</ref>

In 1958, Davis and Gordy left Wilson and Brunswick after royalty disputes escalated between them and Nat Tarnopol. Davis soon became a successful staff songwriter and producer for [[Chess Records]], while Gordy borrowed $800 from his family and used money he earned from royalties writing for Wilson to start his own recording studio, [[Hitsville USA]], the foundation of [[Motown Records]] in his native Detroit. Meanwhile, convinced that Wilson could venture out of R&B and [[rock and roll]], Tarnopol had the singer record operatic ballads and easy-listening material, pairing him with Decca Records' veteran arranger Dick Jacobs.

Wilson scored hits as he entered the 1960s with the No. 15 "Doggin' Around", the No. 4 pop ballad "[[Night (Jackie Wilson song)|Night]]", another million-seller,<ref name="The Book of Golden Discs 2">{{cite book
| first= Joseph
| last= Murrells
| year= 1978
| title= The Book of Golden Discs
| edition= 2nd
| publisher= Barrie and Jenkins Ltd
| location= London
| page= [https://archive.org/details/bookofgoldendisc00murr/page/130 130]
| isbn= 0-214-20512-6
| url= https://archive.org/details/bookofgoldendisc00murr/page/130
}}</ref> and "[[Baby Workout]]", another Top 10 hit (No. 5), which he composed with [[The Midnighters]] member Alonzo Tucker. His songwriting alliance with Tucker also turned out other songs, including "No Pity (In The Naked City)" and "I'm So Lonely."<ref name="LarkinSM">{{cite book|title=[[Encyclopedia of Popular Music|The Guinness Who's Who of Soul Music]]|editor=[[Colin Larkin (writer)|Colin Larkin]]|publisher=[[Guinness Publishing]]|date=1993|edition=First|isbn=0-85112-733-9|pages=300/2}}</ref> Top 10 hits continued with "[[Alone at Last (song)|Alone at Last]]" (No. 8 in 1960) and "My Empty Arms" (No. 9 in 1961).

Also in 1961, Wilson recorded a tribute album to [[Al Jolson]], ''Nowstalgia&nbsp;... You Ain't Heard Nothin' Yet'', which included the only album liner notes he ever wrote: "...&nbsp;to the greatest entertainer of this or any other era&nbsp;... I guess I have just about every recording he's ever made, and I rarely missed listening to him on the radio&nbsp;... During the three years I've been making records, I've had the ambition to do an album of songs, which, to me, represent the great Jolson heritage&nbsp;... This is simply my humble tribute to the one man I admire most in this business&nbsp;... to keep the heritage of Jolson alive."<ref>Giddins, Gary. ''Rhythm-a-ning: Jazz Tradition and Innovation'', Da Capo (2000), pgs 148–149</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lkCOor91yo|title=Jackie Wilson's Tribute to Al Jolson|via=YouTube|access-date=December 30, 2009}}</ref> The album was a commercial failure.

Following the success of "Baby Workout", Wilson experienced a lull in his career between 1964 and 1966 as Tarnopol and Brunswick Records released a succession of unsuccessful albums and singles. Despite the lack of sales success, Wilson still made artistic gains as he recorded an album with [[Count Basie]], as well as a series of duets with R & B artist [[LaVern Baker]] and [[Gospel music|gospel singer]] [[Linda Hopkins]].

In 1966, Wilson scored the first of two big comeback singles with the established [[Chicago soul]] producer [[Carl Davis (record producer)|Carl Davis]] with "Whispers (Gettin' Louder)" and "[[(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher]]", the latter a No. 6 pop hit in 1967 that became one of his final hits.<ref name="LarkinSM"/> "[[I Get the Sweetest Feeling]]",<ref name="LarkinSM"/> despite its modest initial chart success in the U.S. (Billboard Pop No. 34), has since become one of his biggest international chart successes, ranking in Top 10 twice in the UK (in 1972 and 1987), and in the Top 20 of the [[Dutch Top 40]]. "I Get the Sweetest Feeling" spawned numerous cover versions by other artists such as [[Edwin Starr]], [[Will Young]], [[Erma Franklin]] ([[Aretha Franklin]]'s sister) and [[Liz McClarnon]].

A key to Wilson's musical rebirth was Davis insisting that he no longer record with Brunswick's musicians in New York; instead, he recorded with Detroit musicians normally employed by [[Motown Records]] and also Davis' own Chicago-based session players.<ref name="LarkinSM"/> The Detroit musicians, known as [[the Funk Brothers]], participated on Wilson's recordings due to their respect for Davis and Wilson.

By 1975, Wilson and [[the Chi-Lites]] were the only significant artists left on Brunswick's roster. Wilson had continued to record singles that found success on the R&B chart, but found no significant pop-chart success. His final hit, "You Got Me Walkin{{'"}}, written by [[Eugene Record]] of the Chi-Lites, was released in 1972 with the Chi-Lites backing him on vocals and instruments.