Allen LaMar "Al" Wilson (June 19, 1939 – April 21, 2008) was an American so… Read Full Bio ↴Allen LaMar "Al" Wilson (June 19, 1939 – April 21, 2008) was an American soul singer best known for the hit song "Show and Tell", and in the UK for the earlier hit, "The Snake"
Wilson was born in Meridian, Mississippi. He showed little interest in education but performed in school plays, sang in talent shows and won first prize in a local art contest. Wilson began his career at the age of 12 leading his own spiritual quartet and singing in the church choir, even performing covers of country and western hits as circumstances dictated. While he was in high school, Wilson and his family relocated to San Bernardino, California, where he worked odd jobs as a mail carrier, a janitor, and an office clerk, in addition to teaching himself to play drums; after graduation he spent four years touring with Johnny Harris and the Statesmen before joining the U.S. Navy and singing with an enlisted men's chorus. He also developed his stand-up comedy routine to fall back on in case he didn't make it as a singer.
After a two-year military stint, Wilson settled in Los Angeles, touring the local nightclub circuit before joining the R&B vocal group the Jewels; from there he landed with the Rollers, followed by a stint with the instrumental combo the Souls. In 1966, Wilson signed with manager Marc Gordon, who quickly scored his client an a cappella audition for Johnny Rivers — the "Secret Agent Man" singer not only signed Wilson to his Soul City imprint, but also agreed to produce the sessions that yielded the 1968 R&B smash "The Snake" (U.S. #27),which has been very popular on the Northern Soul music circuit in the UK; it also provided Wilson with his only British chart hit, reaching number 41 in 1975. The minor hit "Do What You Gotta Do" appeared that same year. In 1969, Wilson charted with his cover of Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Lodi" (U.S. #67), and Rivers' own "Poor Side Of Town" (U.S. #75).
Wilson largely disappeared from sight until 1973, when he issued the platinum-selling Show And Tell — the album's success was spurred by the shimmering "Show and Tell", a Johnny Mathis castoff that sold well over a million copies.
"The La La Peace Song", released in 1974, proved another hit but caused some trouble as OC Smith had also recorded a version around the same time and sales suffered as a result. Two years later in 1976 he recorded "I've Got a Feeling We'll Be Seeing Each Other Again" for Playboy Records which cracked the R&B Top Three. He tried to leave Playboy Records but was unable to get a release from his contract. Two years later the label folded. With 1979's "Count the Days" Wilson scored his final chart hit, however, and he spent the next two decades touring clubs and lounges; in 2001 he re-recorded his classic hits for the album Spice of Life.
In March 2007 many of his original master tapes were lost to a fire that swept through his home garage he had converted into a recording studio.
Wilson died April 21, 2008 of kidney failure, in Fontana, California at the age of 68.
Wilson was born in Meridian, Mississippi. He showed little interest in education but performed in school plays, sang in talent shows and won first prize in a local art contest. Wilson began his career at the age of 12 leading his own spiritual quartet and singing in the church choir, even performing covers of country and western hits as circumstances dictated. While he was in high school, Wilson and his family relocated to San Bernardino, California, where he worked odd jobs as a mail carrier, a janitor, and an office clerk, in addition to teaching himself to play drums; after graduation he spent four years touring with Johnny Harris and the Statesmen before joining the U.S. Navy and singing with an enlisted men's chorus. He also developed his stand-up comedy routine to fall back on in case he didn't make it as a singer.
After a two-year military stint, Wilson settled in Los Angeles, touring the local nightclub circuit before joining the R&B vocal group the Jewels; from there he landed with the Rollers, followed by a stint with the instrumental combo the Souls. In 1966, Wilson signed with manager Marc Gordon, who quickly scored his client an a cappella audition for Johnny Rivers — the "Secret Agent Man" singer not only signed Wilson to his Soul City imprint, but also agreed to produce the sessions that yielded the 1968 R&B smash "The Snake" (U.S. #27),which has been very popular on the Northern Soul music circuit in the UK; it also provided Wilson with his only British chart hit, reaching number 41 in 1975. The minor hit "Do What You Gotta Do" appeared that same year. In 1969, Wilson charted with his cover of Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Lodi" (U.S. #67), and Rivers' own "Poor Side Of Town" (U.S. #75).
Wilson largely disappeared from sight until 1973, when he issued the platinum-selling Show And Tell — the album's success was spurred by the shimmering "Show and Tell", a Johnny Mathis castoff that sold well over a million copies.
"The La La Peace Song", released in 1974, proved another hit but caused some trouble as OC Smith had also recorded a version around the same time and sales suffered as a result. Two years later in 1976 he recorded "I've Got a Feeling We'll Be Seeing Each Other Again" for Playboy Records which cracked the R&B Top Three. He tried to leave Playboy Records but was unable to get a release from his contract. Two years later the label folded. With 1979's "Count the Days" Wilson scored his final chart hit, however, and he spent the next two decades touring clubs and lounges; in 2001 he re-recorded his classic hits for the album Spice of Life.
In March 2007 many of his original master tapes were lost to a fire that swept through his home garage he had converted into a recording studio.
Wilson died April 21, 2008 of kidney failure, in Fontana, California at the age of 68.
Keep On Lovin' You
Al Wilson Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'Keep On Lovin' You' by these artists:
-qI 愿主赐福保护你 愿上帝用祂的脸光照你 赐你平安 愿上帝用祂的脸光照你 赐你恩惠 愿主赐恩惠给你 阿们…
Ella & Buddy Johnson Drifting, dreaming In an azure mood Stardust gleaming Throug…
Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes featuring Teddy Pendergrass Oh girl, oh girl Alright Baby (oh, baby, oh) Keep on lovin'…
Harold Melvin feat. The Blue Notes The way you walk and the way you smile Thats just…
KIX・S 沈んでく夕陽黄昏のなか かさなるビルの谷間へと 凍えるこの手あなたにあずけ はしゃいだ私がいる 言い出せずにいた苦い思い…
palet 街は今 色づき 全てが動きだす ねえ 出かけよう! 枯れていた心も 春の陽射し浴びて 花 開いてく 傷ついた想い出 …
PRINCESS PRINCESS 気紛れな 私のわがままを 怒りもせずに 受け止めた 全て許す暖かな瞳 今も時おり追い越す ふたり寄り添った 鏡 ふと見れ…
REO Speedwagon You should have seen by the look in my eyes,…
S.C.D When I had you I treated you bad And wrong my dear And…
Steel Magnolia (Country Pop) Maybe life has got you run down I think it's time…
The O'Jays Lovin' you is such a pleasure Especially when you're holdin'…
We have lyrics for these tracks by Al Wilson:
Do What You Gotta Do Girl I can understand how it might be kinda hard to…
I Won't Last a Day Without You Day after day I must face a world of strangers where…
I Won't Last A Day Without You / Let Me Be The One Some sweet blessed night If you should find yourself alone L…
I Won't Last a Day Without You Let Me Be the One Some sweet blessed night If you should find yourself alone L…
I Won’t Last A Day Without You / Let Me Be The One Some sweet blessed night If you should find yourself alone L…
La La Peace Song Mmm hmm, la la, oh, yeah What's that sound, so profound Ove…
Poor Side of Town How can you tell me how much you miss me When…
Show These are the eyes that never knew how to smile Till…
Show & Tell These are the eyes that never knew how to smile Till…
Show and Tell These are the eyes that never knew how to smile Till…
Show and Tell (Re-Recorded) These are the eyes that never knew how to smile…
Show and Tell - Rerecorded These are the eyes that never knew how to smile…
Snake On her way to work one morning Down the path alongside…
The Snake On her way to work one morning Down the path alongside…
Touch and Go We can make it, baby If we only try Don't let our…
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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drwhatson
I have this on UK Bell and personally think this is his most soulful recording. Magnificent. I love the swooning backing harmony.
Serbona Records
grew up listening to this song...thank you
D.A. Elliott Jr.
This sure is a whole lot better than the early 80s song of the same name by REO Speedwagon!
Michael Mapps
The jam
lance007lance
I'm a bit disappointed but glad I heard it anyway. Disappointed because it's not the song I'm thinking of. The song in question appearered on one of those "Original artists re record their hits" type of releases. The song was Keep Lovin' You by Clem Curtis & The Foundations. Along with "Let's Stay Together" & others, incl "Build Me Up Buttercup", "Baby Now That I've Found You" etc, it was on an early 90's release. Who sang it first? Any ideas? And to this song, well Al Wilson yeah!