Jackie Wilson(1934-1984)
- Music Artist
- Actor
- Soundtrack
Jackie "Sonny" Wilson was born in Detroit, Michigan, and grew up in
Highland Park, the only son of Jack and Eliza Mae Wilson from Columbus,
Mississippi. His father was an alcoholic and constantly unemployed, and
his mother, who had lost two earlier children, doted on Jackie and
became a powerful influence in his life. He began to sing at an early
age, and even formed a quartet, The Ever Ready Gospel Singers Group,
which earned a small measure of fame among the local churches.
Wilson was a habitual truant, getting in trouble on a regular basis. He
began drinking at age nine, and in 1950 at age 16 dropped out of high
school. He married Freda Hood, his childhood sweetheart, and a daughter
arrived in March, 1951. At this time he was singing in local clubs with
Levi Stubbs(later of
The Four Tops fame). In 1953 he
successfully auditioned for
Billy Ward's Dominoes, replacing
Clyde McPhatter when the latter left the
group to form The Drifters. Their first
release was "You Can't Keep A Good Man Down", followed by "Rags to
Riches." In 1956 they had their first pop hit, "St. Therese Of The
Roses."
In 1957 Wilson embarked on a solo career. His manager was Al Green, a
music publisher and manager who was already managing
Della Reese,
Johnnie Ray and
La Vern Baker. Green was able to secure
Wilson a recording contract with Brunswick Records. However, Green
suddenly died the day before the deal was officially signed. He was
replaced by Nat Turnpool. Collaborating with
Berry Gordy and Roquel "Billy" Davis, Wilson
soon had a string of hits to his name, among them "To Be Loved," "Reet
Petite" and "That Is Why," as well as his biggest hit, "Lonely
Teardrops."
This partnership ended after disagreements between Tarnpool and the
team of Davis/Gordy over inadequate payments. After parting ways, Gordy
used his royalties to create Hitsville USA Studios, later to become
Motown Records. The rest is music history. Davis joined Chess Records
as A&R manager and would achieve success in his own right as a
songwriter and producer. Tarnpool, confident that he could do without
the Davis/Gordy team, had band leader Dick Jacobs produce most of
Wilson's recordings from 1957 through 1966, resulting in frequent
crossovers between R&B and pop. Wilson had moderate hits during this
period, with songs such as "Night" and "Alone at Last". In 1961 he
formed a songwriting partnership with Alonzo Tucker that yielded the
hit "Baby Workout."
Although married to Freda Hood since 1951, Wilson was notorious for his
numerous affairs with other women. Things came to a head in 1961 when
Juanita Jones, an aspiring model, shot Wilson twice in the stomach
after hearing about his affair with Harlean Harris, ex-girlfriend of
singer Sam Cooke. Wilson was rushed to
the hospital where quick surgery saved his life, although he lost a
kidney. Since one of the bullets was too close to his spine, doctors
ruled out surgery to remove it as far too dangerous. Wilson would have
to carry it around for the rest of his life.
Besides women, Wilson had another dangerous weakness: he was incredibly
naive and easily trusting, something that Tarnpool took advantage of.
Wilson had signed over power-of-attorney to him despite strong rumors
of Tarnpool's mob connections and his reputation as an unscrupulous
businessman. In 1962 the IRS seized Wilson's family home due to his
failure to pay back taxes (due mainly to the fact that Tarnpool had
been pocketing all of Wilson's earnings). Wilson realized that, despite
the success of his career, he was broke and homeless. Eventually he
made arrangements with the IRS to make restitution on the unpaid taxes
and was able to re-purchase his own house at an auction.
During this time the "British Invasion" took place, sending his career
into freefall. His last hit was "Your Love (Keeps Lifting Me Higher And
Higher)" in 1968. Two years later his 16-year-old son Jackie Jr. was
shot and killed during a confrontation with a neighbor. Jackie's wife
Frida had long since filed for divorce, having their marriage
officially annulled in 1965. Despite these circumstances, Jackie
treated her as though she was still his wife.
On September 29, 1975 Wilson suffered a major heart attack while on
stage at Dick Clark's "Traveling
Oldies Revue". As he fell he hit his head on some stage equipment,
resulting in serious brain damage. He stayed in a coma until his death
at 49 on January 21, 1984.
Highland Park, the only son of Jack and Eliza Mae Wilson from Columbus,
Mississippi. His father was an alcoholic and constantly unemployed, and
his mother, who had lost two earlier children, doted on Jackie and
became a powerful influence in his life. He began to sing at an early
age, and even formed a quartet, The Ever Ready Gospel Singers Group,
which earned a small measure of fame among the local churches.
Wilson was a habitual truant, getting in trouble on a regular basis. He
began drinking at age nine, and in 1950 at age 16 dropped out of high
school. He married Freda Hood, his childhood sweetheart, and a daughter
arrived in March, 1951. At this time he was singing in local clubs with
Levi Stubbs(later of
The Four Tops fame). In 1953 he
successfully auditioned for
Billy Ward's Dominoes, replacing
Clyde McPhatter when the latter left the
group to form The Drifters. Their first
release was "You Can't Keep A Good Man Down", followed by "Rags to
Riches." In 1956 they had their first pop hit, "St. Therese Of The
Roses."
In 1957 Wilson embarked on a solo career. His manager was Al Green, a
music publisher and manager who was already managing
Della Reese,
Johnnie Ray and
La Vern Baker. Green was able to secure
Wilson a recording contract with Brunswick Records. However, Green
suddenly died the day before the deal was officially signed. He was
replaced by Nat Turnpool. Collaborating with
Berry Gordy and Roquel "Billy" Davis, Wilson
soon had a string of hits to his name, among them "To Be Loved," "Reet
Petite" and "That Is Why," as well as his biggest hit, "Lonely
Teardrops."
This partnership ended after disagreements between Tarnpool and the
team of Davis/Gordy over inadequate payments. After parting ways, Gordy
used his royalties to create Hitsville USA Studios, later to become
Motown Records. The rest is music history. Davis joined Chess Records
as A&R manager and would achieve success in his own right as a
songwriter and producer. Tarnpool, confident that he could do without
the Davis/Gordy team, had band leader Dick Jacobs produce most of
Wilson's recordings from 1957 through 1966, resulting in frequent
crossovers between R&B and pop. Wilson had moderate hits during this
period, with songs such as "Night" and "Alone at Last". In 1961 he
formed a songwriting partnership with Alonzo Tucker that yielded the
hit "Baby Workout."
Although married to Freda Hood since 1951, Wilson was notorious for his
numerous affairs with other women. Things came to a head in 1961 when
Juanita Jones, an aspiring model, shot Wilson twice in the stomach
after hearing about his affair with Harlean Harris, ex-girlfriend of
singer Sam Cooke. Wilson was rushed to
the hospital where quick surgery saved his life, although he lost a
kidney. Since one of the bullets was too close to his spine, doctors
ruled out surgery to remove it as far too dangerous. Wilson would have
to carry it around for the rest of his life.
Besides women, Wilson had another dangerous weakness: he was incredibly
naive and easily trusting, something that Tarnpool took advantage of.
Wilson had signed over power-of-attorney to him despite strong rumors
of Tarnpool's mob connections and his reputation as an unscrupulous
businessman. In 1962 the IRS seized Wilson's family home due to his
failure to pay back taxes (due mainly to the fact that Tarnpool had
been pocketing all of Wilson's earnings). Wilson realized that, despite
the success of his career, he was broke and homeless. Eventually he
made arrangements with the IRS to make restitution on the unpaid taxes
and was able to re-purchase his own house at an auction.
During this time the "British Invasion" took place, sending his career
into freefall. His last hit was "Your Love (Keeps Lifting Me Higher And
Higher)" in 1968. Two years later his 16-year-old son Jackie Jr. was
shot and killed during a confrontation with a neighbor. Jackie's wife
Frida had long since filed for divorce, having their marriage
officially annulled in 1965. Despite these circumstances, Jackie
treated her as though she was still his wife.
On September 29, 1975 Wilson suffered a major heart attack while on
stage at Dick Clark's "Traveling
Oldies Revue". As he fell he hit his head on some stage equipment,
resulting in serious brain damage. He stayed in a coma until his death
at 49 on January 21, 1984.