Jackie Wilson
Jack Leroy "Jackie" Wilson (June 9, 1934 – January 21, 1984) was an America… Read Full Bio ↴Jack Leroy "Jackie" Wilson (June 9, 1934 – January 21, 1984) was an American soul and R&B singer born in Detroit, Michigan, where he became active in the music business. He joined Billy Ward and his Dominoes in 1953, replacing Clyde McPhatter. After losing McPhatter, the group's only recording success with Wilson came in June of 1956 with the single "St. Therese of The Roses" that reached number 13 on the Pop charts.
Wilson's solo career begin with 1957's "Reet Petite", written by the then unknown Berry Gordy, Jr. and recorded on the Brunswick Records label with whom Wilson would remain throughout his career. He had his first top 40 hit in 1958 with "To Be Loved". At the end of that year he had his first big success with "Lonely Teardrops" that went to #7 on the charts. The song, also written by Berry Gordy, Jr. became his signature tune. That same year saw Wilson release his first LP titled He's So Fine.
Wilson's brand of pop-soul and R&B helped him cross over to the mainstream, having several pop hits. His dynamic stage performances earned him the nickname "Mr. Excitement". His performance of "Lonely Teardrops" on the Ed Sullivan Show is considered one of its classics. In the 1960s, Wilson continued to record singles, many of them operatic, such as "Danny Boy" or "Night", others were up-tempo and exciting, such as "Baby Workout" in 1963. Although married to Frida Hood since 1951, Wilson was a notorious womanizer and was shot and wounded by one of his alleged lovers, Juanita Jones, on February 15 1961 in a jealous rage as he returned to his apartment with another woman, fashion model Harlean Harris, an ex-girlfriend of singer Sam Cooke. As a married man conducting extra-marital affairs, his management decided, as a way not to damage his career, to concoct a story that Jones was an obsessed fan who threatened to shoot herself, and that Wilson's intervention concluded in him being shot. Astonishingly, the story was accepted, and no charges were brought against Juanita Jones. He was divorced from Frida in 1965, and married Harlean Harris from 1967 until his death in 1984.
His career began to suffer in the mid-60s, though he managed a brief revival by collaborating with Carl Davis, a legendary Chicago producer. This resulted in two hits, "Whispers" and "(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher". The revival was short-lived, though, and Wilson rarely charted in the 1970s. Wilson suffered a massive heart attack while playing a Dick Clark show at the Latin Casino in New Jersey on September 29, 1975, falling head-first to the stage; he was singing "Lonely Teardrops". A comatose Wilson lived in a hospital until his death in 1984 at age 49. His medical costs were paid for by Dick Clark. In 1985, successful soul/funk band The Commodores, recorded "Nightshift" which was a song in memory of Wilson, as well as soul singer Marvin Gaye, who died in the same year as Wilson.
Van Morrison also recorded a tribute song called "Jackie Wilson Said (I'm In Heaven When You Smile)" on his 1972 hit album Saint Dominic's Preview. This song was later covered by Dexy's Midnight Runners. When the track was performed on the British TV show Top of the Pops, a picture of Wilson was intended to be used in the background - but an intentional joke by the band and the production staff meant that a picture of darts player Jocky Wilson was used instead. Wilson is mentioned in the rap song "thugs mansion" Tupac and Nas. The exact quote is, "Seen a show with Marvin Gaye last night, it had me shook Drinkinn peppermint Schnapps, with Jackie Wilson, and Sam Cooke".
Wilson scored a posthumous hit when "Reet Petite" reached number one in the United Kingdom in 1986. The following year,he also hit the UK charts again with "I Get The Sweetest Feeling"(No.3), and "Higher and Higher"(No.11). He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987; that same year, he was portrayed in the Richie Valens biopic La Bamba by Howard Huntsberry.
Wilson is interred in the Westlawn Cemetery in Wayne, Michigan.
Wilson's solo career begin with 1957's "Reet Petite", written by the then unknown Berry Gordy, Jr. and recorded on the Brunswick Records label with whom Wilson would remain throughout his career. He had his first top 40 hit in 1958 with "To Be Loved". At the end of that year he had his first big success with "Lonely Teardrops" that went to #7 on the charts. The song, also written by Berry Gordy, Jr. became his signature tune. That same year saw Wilson release his first LP titled He's So Fine.
Wilson's brand of pop-soul and R&B helped him cross over to the mainstream, having several pop hits. His dynamic stage performances earned him the nickname "Mr. Excitement". His performance of "Lonely Teardrops" on the Ed Sullivan Show is considered one of its classics. In the 1960s, Wilson continued to record singles, many of them operatic, such as "Danny Boy" or "Night", others were up-tempo and exciting, such as "Baby Workout" in 1963. Although married to Frida Hood since 1951, Wilson was a notorious womanizer and was shot and wounded by one of his alleged lovers, Juanita Jones, on February 15 1961 in a jealous rage as he returned to his apartment with another woman, fashion model Harlean Harris, an ex-girlfriend of singer Sam Cooke. As a married man conducting extra-marital affairs, his management decided, as a way not to damage his career, to concoct a story that Jones was an obsessed fan who threatened to shoot herself, and that Wilson's intervention concluded in him being shot. Astonishingly, the story was accepted, and no charges were brought against Juanita Jones. He was divorced from Frida in 1965, and married Harlean Harris from 1967 until his death in 1984.
His career began to suffer in the mid-60s, though he managed a brief revival by collaborating with Carl Davis, a legendary Chicago producer. This resulted in two hits, "Whispers" and "(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher". The revival was short-lived, though, and Wilson rarely charted in the 1970s. Wilson suffered a massive heart attack while playing a Dick Clark show at the Latin Casino in New Jersey on September 29, 1975, falling head-first to the stage; he was singing "Lonely Teardrops". A comatose Wilson lived in a hospital until his death in 1984 at age 49. His medical costs were paid for by Dick Clark. In 1985, successful soul/funk band The Commodores, recorded "Nightshift" which was a song in memory of Wilson, as well as soul singer Marvin Gaye, who died in the same year as Wilson.
Van Morrison also recorded a tribute song called "Jackie Wilson Said (I'm In Heaven When You Smile)" on his 1972 hit album Saint Dominic's Preview. This song was later covered by Dexy's Midnight Runners. When the track was performed on the British TV show Top of the Pops, a picture of Wilson was intended to be used in the background - but an intentional joke by the band and the production staff meant that a picture of darts player Jocky Wilson was used instead. Wilson is mentioned in the rap song "thugs mansion" Tupac and Nas. The exact quote is, "Seen a show with Marvin Gaye last night, it had me shook Drinkinn peppermint Schnapps, with Jackie Wilson, and Sam Cooke".
Wilson scored a posthumous hit when "Reet Petite" reached number one in the United Kingdom in 1986. The following year,he also hit the UK charts again with "I Get The Sweetest Feeling"(No.3), and "Higher and Higher"(No.11). He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987; that same year, he was portrayed in the Richie Valens biopic La Bamba by Howard Huntsberry.
Wilson is interred in the Westlawn Cemetery in Wayne, Michigan.
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Jackie Wilson Lyrics
(You Were Made For) All My Love All my love Give me the right to give you All my…
(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher & Higher Your love, liftin' me higher Than I've ever been lifted befo…
(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher Your Love, Lifting Me Higher Than I've Ever Been Lifted Befo…
A Perfect Day When you come to the end of a perfect day, And…
A Woman A Lover A Friend Yeah, I want somebody to hold my hand Somebody to love…
A Woman, a Lover, a Friend i want somebody to hold my hand somebody to love me…
A Women a Lover a Friend Yeah, I want somebody to hold my hand Somebody to love…
Adeste Fideles [Chorus] O come, all ye faithful, Joyful and triumphant, O c…
All My Love All my love Give me the right to give you…
All My Lovin' Well, lookabell, lookabell, lookabell, lookabell Oooooh Wee…
All of My Love Everybody's got to live together All the people got to under…
Alone At Last Alone at last, you and I Together locked in a sigh The…
Am I the Man Wooooo-hooooo Hey, a-hey, hey, hey You ought a be a here a…
Am I the Man? Wooooo-hooooo Hey, a-hey, hey, hey You ought a be a here a…
Anniversary Song Oh, how we danced on the night we were wed…
April Showers Life is not a highway strewn with flowers Still it holds…
As Long As I Live As long as I live if it be one hour Or…
Baby Hey, you Come out here on the floor Let's rock some more Com…
Baby That's All Up in the mornin' out on the job, work like…
Baby Work Out Hey, you Come out here on the floor Let's rock some more Com…
Be My Girl I've got sunshine on a cloudy day. When it's cold outside…
Be My Love Be my love, for no one else can end this…
Because Of You Darling since I met you, my whole life has been…
Blue Moon Blue moon you saw me standing alone Without a dream in…
Body & Soul My heart is sad and lonely For you I sigh, for…
Body and Soul My heart is sad and lonely For you I sigh, for…
By The Light Of The Silver Moon By the light of the silvery moon, I want to spoon,…
California Here I Come When the wintry winds are blowing and the snow is…
Chain Gang With Count Basie Don't you know That's the sound of the men…
Christmas in Heaven It's Christmas in Heaven And it's Heaven here with you And d…
Cry If your sweetheart sends a letter of goodbye It's no secret…
Danny Boy Oh, Danny boy The pipes, the pipes are calling, yeah From gl…
Danny Boy (version 1) Oh Danny boy, the pipes, the pipes are calling From glen…
Deck the Hall Deck the halls with boughs of holly Fa la la la…
Do Your Thing Oh I'd work for you, I'd slave for you, I'd be…
Doggin You better stop yeah doggin' me around If you don't stop…
Don't You Know I Love You The way you make me feel like I belong The way…
Dream Give me a kiss to build on and my imagination…
Eleanor Rigby Ah! Look at all the lonely people Ah! Look at all…
Even When You Cry Between the day you're born and the day you die, You're…
First Noel The first Noel, the angel did say, Was to certain poor…
For All My Love All my love Give me the right to give you All my…
For Once in My Life For once in my life I have someone who needs…
For Your Precious Love Your precious love means more to me Than any love could…
Give Me You (Keep me hangin' on) Set me free why don't cha babe Get…
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen God rest ye merry, gentlemen, Let nothing you dismay; Rememb…
Hearts Well, lookabell, lookabell, lookabell, lookabell Oooooh Wee…
Higher Your love, lifting me higher Than I've ever been lifted befo…
Hold On I'm Comin' Hold On I'm Comin Don't you ever feel sad, Lean on…
I Am The Man Wooooo-hooooo Hey, a-hey, hey, hey You ought a be a here a…
I Apologize If I told a lie, if I made you cry When…
I Believe I believe for every drop of rain that falls a…
I Believe I'll Love On Sweetheart if you should stray a million miles away I'll alw…
I Found Love The way you make me feel like I belong The way…
I Get The Sweetest Feeling The closer you get The better you look baby The better you…
I Got It Bad Though folks with good intentions Tell me to save my tears W…
I Just Can't Help It Oh, I can't help it, I can't help it, Loving…
I Know I'll Always Be in Love With You Sweetheart if you should stray a million miles away I'll alw…
I Ll Be Satisfied Just a kiss, just a smile Hold my hand, baby Just once…
I still love you The way you make me feel like I belong The way…
I wanna be around I wanna be around to pick up the pieces When somebody…
I Was Made To Love Her I was born in Lil' Rock Had a childhood sweetheart We were…
I'll Always Be in Love With You Sweetheart if you should stray a million miles away I'll alw…
I'll Be Around This is our fork in the road Love's last episode There's…
I'll Be Satisfied Just a kiss, just a smile Hold my hand, baby Just once…
I'm Comin Back to You I was a fool to step aside And let you run…
I'm Coming on Back to You Du-du-du-du-du-du-du-dut) (Du-du-du-du-du-du-du-dut) I was …
I'm So Lonely The way you make me feel like I belong The way…
If I Can't Have You Don't know why I'm surviving ev'ry lonely day When there's …
Im Comin On Back to You I was a fool to step aside And let you run…
Indian Love Call Oo-Oo-Oo-Oo, Oo-Oo-Oo-Oo When I'm calling you Oo-Oo-Oo-Oo, O…
It Came Upon a Midnight Clear It came upon a midnight clear that glorious song of…
It Only Happens It only happens when I look at you How can…
It Only Happens When I Look at You Happens every time I look into your eyes I can almost…
It's All A Part Of Love Just a kiss, just a smile Hold my hand, baby Just once…
It's Been a Long Time Kiss me once, then kiss me twice Then kiss me once…
I´ll Be Satisfied Just a kiss, just a smile Hold my hand, baby Just once…
Jingle Bells Sleigh bells ring are you listening in the lane snow is glis…
Just Be Sincere (Just be sincere to me) (Just be sincere to me) You say…
Light My Fire You know that it would be untrue. You know that I…
Little Things Mean a Lot Blow me a kiss from across the room Say I look…
Lonely Life It's been such a lonely life Since you walked out on…
Lonely Tear Drops (Shoo bee doo bop, bop, bow) (Shoo bee doo bop, bop,…
Love The way you make me feel like I belong The way…
Love For Sale When the only sound on the empty street Is the heavy…
Love Is All Everybody's got to live together All the people got to under…
Love Is Funny That Way Oh, love is funny that way, yeah, baby Oh, love is…
Mood Indigo You ain't never been blue; no, no, no, You ain't…
My Empty Arms My empty arms Are reaching for you But like a dream You vani…
My Girl I've got sunshine on a cloudy day When it's cold outside…
My Heart Belongs to Only You My heart belongs to only you I've never loved as I…
My Way And now the end is near And so I face the…
My Yiddish Momme Of things I should be thankful for I've had a…
New Girl in Town Well, look there, look there, look there, look there, ooh,…
Night Night, here comes the night Another night to dream about you…
No Pity Hmm, hmm, there's no pity in the naked city, yeah When…
No Pity (In the Naked City) (J. Wilson - A. Tucker - J. Roberts) Mmm-hmm, there's no…
No Pity In The Naked City Hmm, hmm, there's no pity in the naked city, yeah When…
No Time Out I know you think I'm foolish But somewhere down the line I'l…
O Come All Ye Faithful God of God, Light of Light, Lo! He abhors not the Virgin's…
O Holy Night O holy night! The stars are brightly shining, It is the…
O Little Town of Bethleham Oh little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee…
Ode To Billie Joe It was the third of June, another sleepy, dusty Delta…
Once In A Lifetime For once in my life I have someone who needs…
One Moment With You Sweetheart if you should stray a million miles away I'll alw…
Only You Only Me It only happens when I look at you How can…
Over The Rainbow Somewhere over the rainbow, way up high There's a land that…
People People, People who need people, Are the luckiest people in t…
Perfect Day When you come to the end of a perfect day, And…
Plaease Tell Me Why I tried so hard to make you stay Now it doesn't…
Pledging My Love Forever my darling our love will be true Always and forever…
Rags to Riches I know I'd go from rags to riches If you would…
Reet petite Well, lookabell, lookabell, lookabell, lookabell Oooh, weee…
Reet Petite (Digitally Remastered) Well, look-a there, look-a there Look-a there, look-a there,…
Reet Petite (The Finest Girl You Ever Want to Meet) Well, lookabell, lookabell, lookabell, lookabell Oooooh Weee…
Reet Petitie Well, look-a there, look-a there Look-a there, look-a there,…
Reet Reet Petite Well, lookabell, lookabell, lookabell, lookabell Oooh, weee…
Respect What you want Honey you've got it And what you need Baby you…
Right Now Right now, let me take you by the hand Right now,…
Rock-A-Bye Your Baby With A Di Mammy mine Your little rollin' stone that rolled away Stroll…
Shake a Hand With Linda Hopkins Just leave it to me. Don't ever be asham…
Shake Shake Shake Come on and shake awhile Come on and drive me wild Get…
She'll Be There I know you think I'm foolish But somewhere down the line I'l…
She's All Right She's All Right (Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah) She's All Rig…
Silent Night Silent night Holy night All is calm, all is bright…
Silver Bells Silver bells, silver bells It's Christmas time in the city R…
Since You Showed Me How to Be Happy From my heart I give thanks to you For, stayin at…
Somebody Up There Likes You Ahh-ahh!) (Ahh-ahh!) The way you make me feel like I belong…
Sonny Boy Climb upon my knee, Sonny Boy, Though you're only three, Son…
Soulville Placed on top of the mountain Looking over the sea (yeah…
Squeeze Her-Tease Her When you are in love And your love is true And there's…
St Louis Blues I hate to see that evening sun go down I hate…
St. James Infirmary It was down by old Joe's barroom, on the corner…
St. Louis Blues I hate to see that evening sun go down I hate…
St. Louis Blues (Billy Ward & The Dominoes) I hate to see that evening sun go down, I hate…
Stormy Weather Don't know why There's no sun up in the sky Stormy weather S…
Swanee I've been away from you a long time. I never thought…
Sweetest Feeling The closer you get the better you look baby The better…
Talk Talk Talk Shooby do do wop do Shooby do do wop do You ought…
Tell Me I tried so hard to make you stay Now it doesn't…
Tenderly The evening breeze caressed the trees tenderly The trembling…
That Lucky Old Sun Up in the mornin' out on the job, work like…
That's Why The way you make me feel like I belong The way…
That's Why (I Love You So) Gordy/Carlo/Gordy) (Ahh-ahh!) (Ahh-ahh!) The way you make …
That's Why I Love You So The way you make me feel like I belong The way…
The Fairest Of Them All Right now, let me take you by the hand Right now,…
The First Noel The first Noel, the angel did say, Was to certain poor…
The Fountain Three coins in the fountain, Each one seeking happiness. Thr…
The Greatest Hurt Oh the greatest hurt The heart will ever know Is when the…
The Sweetest Feeling The closer you get the better you look baby The better…
The Tear of the Year I never thought I'd see, You turn your back on…
The Way I Am Hmm, yeah Well, don't try to change my beat, babe I ain't…
The Who Who Song (Yeah-yeah, lah-lah) (Who am I, who am I) A thousand times …
There'll Be No Next Time I know you think I'm foolish But somewhere down the line I'l…
Think Twice With Lavern Baker I said you better think twice Before you …
This Bitter Earth This bitter earth Well, what fruit it bears What good is lov…
This Boy's in Love With You You see this guy, this guy's in love with you Yes…
This Guy's In Love With You You see this guy, this guy's in love with you Yes…
This Love Is Real (I can feel those vibrations) (Vibrations) Baby, I think…
Three Coins in a Fountain Three coins in the fountain, Each one seeking happiness. Thr…
To be love Sweetheart if you should stray a million miles away I'll alw…
To Be Loved Someone to care Someone to share Lonely hours And moments of…
To Change My Love Forever my darling our love will be true Always and forever…
Toot Toot Tootsie Goodbye Toot, toot, Tootsie, good-bye! Toot, toot, Tootsie, don't cr…
Try a Little Tenderness Oh she may be weary Them young girls they do get…
Until The Real Thing Comes Along I'd wait for you I'd slave for you I'd be a beggar…
Uptight Baby, everything is all right, uptight, out of sight Baby, e…
We Have Love We have love Wonderful love Beautiful love We have love Lov…
When The Saints Go Marchin' In Oh, when the saints go marching in (2x) I want to…
Where Is Love Everybody's got to live together All the people got to under…
Whispers The whispers gettin' louder Calling your name, Peaches The w…
Whispers (Gettin' Louder) (Whispers gettin' louder) Callin' out your name, Peaches (Wh…
Whispers (Getting Louder) Calling your name, Peaches Calling your name, Peaches In my …
White Christmas Silent Night, Holy night, all is calm, all is bright 'Round…
Who Am I (Yeah-yeah, lah-lah) (Who am I, who am I) A thousand times …
Years From Now Years from now Maybe I'll be thankful You said goodbye But i…
You Better Know Well I want you to rrrrun to me baby Run…
You Don't Know What It Means You don't know what it means, yeah, To lose the…
You Got Me Walking Yeah, yeah, yeah Yeah, baby Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah Yea…
You Keep Me Hangin' On Set me free why don't cha baby Get out of my…
You Keep Me Hanging On (Keep me hangin' on) Set me free why don't cha babe Get…
You Love Keeps Lifting Me Hight and Higher Your love, lifting me higher Than I've ever been lifted befo…
You Were Made for All My Love All my love Give me the right to give you All my…
You'll Never Walk Alone When you walk through a storm Keep your chin up high And…
You're Love Keeps Lifting Me Higher & Higher Your love, lifting me higher Than I've ever been lifted befo…
Your Love Keeps Lifting Higher and Higher Your love lifting me higher Than I've ever been lifted befor…
Your Love Keeps Lifting Me Higher and Higher Your love, liftin' me higher Than I've ever been lifted bef…
Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher Your love, lifting me higher Than I've ever been lifted befo…
Your One & Only Love Your one and only love That's all I want to be Your…
ザッツ・ホワイ(That's Why I Love You So) The way you make me feel like I belong The way…