Jimmy Wilson
Birth nameJimmie Ned Wilson
Born(1918-01-21)January 21, 1918 or 1921/23
Louisiana, U.S.
Died(1966-02-24)February 24, 1966 (aged 43–47)
Dallas, Texas, U.S.
GenresBlues
Instrument(s)Vocals
Years active1951–mid-1960s

Jimmy Wilson (possibly January 21, 1918,[1] 1921 or 1923[2] – February 5, 1965[2] or February 24, 1966[1]) was an American West Coast blues singer, best known for his 1953 hit "Tin Pan Alley".

Life and career

Details of Wilson's life are sketchy and uncertain. He may have been born Jimmie Ned Wilson in Gibsland, Louisiana, in 1918,[1] or (according to other sources) near Lake Charles, Louisiana a few years later.[2]

Wilson was singing with a gospel quartet, the Pilgrim Travelers, in California, when Bob Geddins began recording him in Oakland in 1951, initially with his band Bob Geddins' Cavaliers.[3] Further recordings were made under Wilson's own name, often accompanied by guitarist Lafayette Thomas.[4] Some of the masters were purchased by Aladdin, and Wilson then recorded for Aladdin in 1952 before returning to record for Geddins' Big Town Records in 1953.[5] The first side released,[4] "Tin Pan Alley", reached number 10 on the US Billboard R&B chart,[6] and helped to establish Geddins as a major figure in West Coast blues.[7]

Wilson continued to record for Big Town, and a few other labels,[4] but failed to capitalize on the success of "Tin Pan Alley". He returned to Louisiana, where he recorded for Goldband Records; his 1958 song "Please Accept My Love" was later recorded by B. B. King[4][2] and Elton Anderson.[8] His last recordings were for Duke Records in Houston, Texas in 1961.[3]

Wilson developed alcoholism, and died in Dallas, Texas, either on February 5, 1965[2] or on February 24, 1966.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Eagle, Bob; LeBlanc, Eric S. (2013). Blues – A Regional Experience. Santa Barbara: Praeger Publishers. p. 305. ISBN 978-0313344237.
  2. ^ a b c d e Komara, Edward and Lee, Peter (2004). Blues Encyclopedia. Routledge, p. 1092
  3. ^ a b Jimmy Wilson Discography, Wirz.de. Retrieved November 2, 2016
  4. ^ a b c d "Jimmy Wilson | Biography & History". AllMusic. February 5, 1965. Retrieved October 7, 2015.
  5. ^ Leadbitter, M., Fancourt, L. and Pelletier, P. (1994): Blues Records 1943–1970 Vol 2, London: Record Information Services, pp. 715–717
  6. ^ Whitburn, Joel (1996). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942–1995. Record Research. p. 487.
  7. ^ Santelli, Robert (2001). The Big Book of Blues: A Biographical Encyclopedia. Penguin Books, p. 524, ISBN 978-0141001456
  8. ^ Broven, John (1983). South to Louisiana: The Music of the Cajun Bayous. Pelican Publishing Company. p. 272. ISBN 9780882896083.
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