Documentos de Académico
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Contents [hide]
1 Biography
2 Select discography
2.1 As leader
2.2 As sideman
3 References
4 External links
Biography[edit]
Wilson was born in Austin, Texas, on November 24, 1912. He studied piano and violin
at Tuskegee Institute in Tuskegee, Alabama. After working in Speed Webb's band,
with Louis Armstrong, and also understudying Earl Hines in Hines's Grand Terrace
Cafe Orchestra, Wilson joined Benny Carter's Chocolate Dandies in 1933. In 1935, he
joined the Benny Goodman Trio (which consisted of Goodman, Wilson and drummer Gene
Krupa, later expanded to the Benny Goodman Quartet with the addition of Lionel
Hampton). The trio performed during the big band's intermissions. By joining the
trio, Wilson became one of the first black musicians to perform prominently in a
racially integrated group.
Jazz producer and writer John Hammond was instrumental in getting Wilson a contract
with Brunswick, starting in 1935, to record hot swing arrangements of the popular
songs of the day, with the growing jukebox trade in mind. He recorded fifty hit
records with various singers such as Lena Horne, Helen Ward and Billie Holiday,
including many of Holiday's greatest successes. During these years, he also took
part in many highly regarded sessions with a wide range of important swing
musicians such as Lester Young, Roy Eldridge, Charlie Shavers, Red Norvo, Buck
Clayton, Sarah Vaughan and Ben Webster. From 1936 to 1942 he recorded for Brunswick
Records and Columbia Records. In the 1950s he recorded on Verve Records.
Wilson formed his own short-lived big band in 1939, then led a sextet at Caf�
Society from 1940 to 1944. He was dubbed the "Marxist Mozart" by Howard "Stretch"
Johnson due to his support for left-wing causes: he performed in benefit concerts
for The New Masses journal and for Russian War Relief, and he chaired the Artists'
Committee to elect Benjamin J. Davis (a New York City council member running on the
Communist Party USA ballot line).[3] In the 1950s, Wilson taught at the Juilliard
School. Wilson can be seen appearing as himself in the 1955 motion picture The
Benny Goodman Story. He also worked as music director for the Dick Cavett Show.
Wilson lived quietly in suburban Hillsdale, New Jersey.[4] He was married three
times, including to the songwriter Irene Kitchings. He performed as a soloist and
with pick-up groups until the final years of his life, including leading a trio
with his sons Theodore Wilson on bass and Steven Wilson on drums.[5]
In 1979, Wilson was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Music from Berklee College of
Music. [6]
Wilson died in New Britain, Connecticut, on July 31, 1986; he was 73. He is buried
at Fairview Cemetery in New Britain. In addition to Theodore and Steven, Wilson had
three more children, William, James (Jim) and Dune and three grandchildren, James
II, Olivia and Liam Wilson.[7]
Select discography[edit]
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