Theodore Shaw "Teddy" Wilson (born 1912-11-24 in Austin, Texas-died 1986-07… Read Full Bio ↴Theodore Shaw "Teddy" Wilson (born 1912-11-24 in Austin, Texas-died 1986-07-31 in New Britain, Connecticut) was a jazz pianist from the United States . His sophisticated and elegant style graced the records of many of the biggest names in jazz, including Louis Armstrong, Benny Goodman, Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald.
Wilson studied piano and violin at Tuskegee Institute. After working in the Speed Webb and Louis Armstrong bands, he 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 the first black musician to perform in public with a previously all-white jazz group.
In the 1930s and 1940s he recorded fifty hit records with various singers such as Lena Horne and Helen Ward, including many of Billie Holiday's most successful records. During these years he also recorded many highly regarded sessions with a wide range of important swing musicians, such as Lester Young, Roy Eldridge, Charlie Shavers, Red Norvo, Buck Clayton and Ben Webster.
Wilson formed his own short-lived big band in 1939, then led a sextet at Cafe Society from 1940 to 1944. In the 1950s he taught at the Juilliard School. Wilson performed as a soloist and with pick-up groups up until the final years of his life.
Wilson studied piano and violin at Tuskegee Institute. After working in the Speed Webb and Louis Armstrong bands, he 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 the first black musician to perform in public with a previously all-white jazz group.
In the 1930s and 1940s he recorded fifty hit records with various singers such as Lena Horne and Helen Ward, including many of Billie Holiday's most successful records. During these years he also recorded many highly regarded sessions with a wide range of important swing musicians, such as Lester Young, Roy Eldridge, Charlie Shavers, Red Norvo, Buck Clayton and Ben Webster.
Wilson formed his own short-lived big band in 1939, then led a sextet at Cafe Society from 1940 to 1944. In the 1950s he taught at the Juilliard School. Wilson performed as a soloist and with pick-up groups up until the final years of his life.
More Genres
No Artists Found
More Artists
Load All
No Albums Found
More Albums
Load All
No Tracks Found
Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Search results not found
Song not found
The Complete Verve Recordings
Teddy Wilson Lyrics
Ain't Misbehavin' No one to talk with All by myself No one to walk…
All Of Me You took my kisses and you took my love You taught…
Almost Like Being In Love What a day this has been! What a rare mood I'm…
April In Paris There's snowflakes in the sky And geese are flying high But …
Avalon I Found My Love In Avalon Beside The Bay I Left…
Basin Street Blues Won't you come along with me To the Mississippi We'll take a…
Bye Bye Blues I got a big surprise when I saw you smile I…
Emaline Don't you hear my heart whisper thru your window, Emaline? …
Everything Happens To Me Black cats creep across my path Until I'm almost mad I must…
Fine And Dandy Please forgive this platitude But I like your attitude You a…
How Deep Is The Ocean How much do I love you? I'll tell you no lie How…
How High The Moon Somewhere there's music How faint the tune Somewhere there's…
I Got Rhythm 'Cause he ain't got rhythm Every night he sits in the…
I Wanna Be Happy I'm a very ordinary man Trying to work out life's happy…
I've Got The World On A String I've got the world on a string, sittin' on a…
If Dreams Come True If dreams come true I'll be with you I love that smile…
If I Had You I could show the world how to smile I could be…
Imagination Magic mirror come and search my heart Can you tell me…
It Don't Mean A Thing It don't mean a thing If it ain't got that swing (doo…
It Had To Be You It had to be you, it had to be you. I…
It's The Talk Of The Town We were more than lovers, We were more than sweethearts, I…
Jeepers Creepers I don't care what the weatherman says When the weatherman s…
Lady Be Good Listen to my tale of woe, It's terribly sad but…
Laura You know the feeling of something half remembered Of somethi…
Love Is Here To Stay It's very clear, our love is here to stay Not for…
Lover You went away I let you We broke the ties that bind I…
Nice Work If You Can Get It The man who only lives for making money Lives a life…
On The Sunny Side Of The Street Walked with no one and talked with no one And I…
Runnin' Wild My gal and I, we had a fight And I'm…
Someone To Watch Over Me There's a saying old says that love is blind Still were…
Stars Fell On Alabama Moonlight and magnolia, starlight in your hair All the world…
Sweet And Lovely Sweet and lovely sweeter than the roses in May Sweet and…
Sweet Lorraine Like a little old fashioned music box With just one tune…
Tea For Two Picture you upon my knee, Just tea for two and…
That Old Feeling Last night I started out happy Last night my heart was…
The Birth Of The Blues Oh! they say some people long ago Were searching for a…
The One I Love I'm in the mood for love Simply because you're near me. Funn…
Time On My Hands Time on my hands, you in my arms Nothing but love…
Unforgettable Unforgettable That's what you are Unforgettable Tho' near or…
When You're Smiling When you're smiling When you're smiling The whole world smil…
Whispering Don't worry I'm not looking at you Gorgeous and dressed in…
Who's Sorry Now Who's Sorry Now? Who's Sorry Now? Who's heart is aching for …
You Took Advantage Of Me When a girl has the heart of a mother It must…