In 1932, he moved with his family from Memphis to Detroit. In Detroit, he studied music in high school and played with the Plantation Music Orchestra.
Eventually, Wilson would write scores for Ellington, Basie, and Gillespie. In the fifties, he performed with small groups led by Buddy Collette, Curtis Counce and Leroy Vinnagar and began a career as one of the finest west coast arrangers, working in film and television. His behind-the-scenes association with Ellington intensified, and continued until Duke's death in 1974.
California Soul
Gerald Wilson Orchestra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That lingers in your ear
You can't forget
From sunrise to sunset
It's all in the air
You hear it everywhere
No matter what you do
California soul
California soul
They say the sun
Comes up every morning
And if you listen carefully
The winds that ride
On the high tide
Whistle a melody
So the people started to sing
And that's how the
Surf gave birth untold to
California soul
California soul
When you hear the beat
You wanna pat your feet
And you've gotta move cause
It's really such a groove
Puts a brand new kind of
Thinking in your mind
And you can't go wrong
'Cause you're happy all day long
California soul
California soul
They had the melody and the beat
But it still didn't seem complete
Until they saw two lovers kissing
They knew just what was missing
So happy they were
Rocking and reeling
Because they added
That loving feeling
To California soul
California soul
California soul
Now if they move you
Will it move you
It can groove, you, baby
California soul
California soul, yeah
California soul
Satisfaction, darling
The song California Soul by Gerald Wilson And His Orchestra is an ode to the state of California and the spirit of the people who live there. The lyrics describe a sound that lingers in your ear, from sunrise to sunset, that is present in the air and heard everywhere. No matter what you do, it will get a hold on you. This is what the California soul is all about - a feeling of happiness and contentment that permeates the state and its people.
The lyrics go on to describe how the people of California started to sing and give birth untold to the surf culture that has become synonymous with the state. The music and beat of California soul are infectious and inspire people to move and dance, putting a brand new kind of thinking in your mind. The song also talks about the importance of love and how it completes the California soul, bringing a sense of happiness and fulfillment to those who experience it.
Overall, California Soul is a celebration of the culture, lifestyle, and energy of the state of California. It captures the essence of what makes the state so special and highlights the music, dance, and love that are at the heart of the California soul.
Line by Line Meaning
Like a sound you hear
The sounds that you hear are unforgettable
That lingers in your ear
It stays in your memory long after you hear it
You can't forget
The melody is memorable and unforgettable
From sunrise to sunset
It's always present, from morning to night
It's all in the air
The lively soul of California is in the atmosphere
You hear it everywhere
The beat and melody resonates all over the place
No matter what you do
It's irrefutable
It's gonna get a hold on you
It'll seize your soul
California soul
The lively soul of California
California soul
The lively soul of California
They say the sun
Rumored to be that the sun
Comes up every morning
Rises every day
And if you listen carefully
If you pay attention
The winds that ride
The air that blows
On the high tide
Over the sea waves
Whistle a melody
Produces a tuneful melody
So the people started to sing
Singing emerged as a result
And that's how the
That was how the
Surf gave birth untold to
Surfing resulted in giving birth to
California soul
The lively soul of California
California soul
The lively soul of California
When you hear the beat
When you hear the rhythm
You wanna pat your feet
It makes you want to tap your feet
And you've gotta move cause
You must move because
It's really such a groove
It has an involving rhythm
Puts a brand new kind of
It injects a refreshing style of
Thinking in your mind
A different thought process in your mind
And you can't go wrong
It's perfect
'Cause you're happy all day long
It brings joy throughout the day
They had the melody and the beat
They possessed the melody and rhythm
But it still didn't seem complete
Something was still missing
Until they saw two lovers kissing
They found it after observing two lovers kissing
They knew just what was missing
They correctly identified what was absent
So happy they were
They were gleeful
Rocking and reeling
Dancing in elation
Because they added
Because they included
That loving feeling
The atmosphere of love
To California soul
To the lively soul of California
California soul
The lively soul of California
California soul
The lively soul of California
Now if they move you
Now, if it captures your attention
Will it move you
Will it make you want to move
It can groove, you, baby
It has the rhythm, my dear
California soul
The lively soul of California
California soul, yeah
The lively soul of California, yes
California soul
The lively soul of California
Satisfaction, darling
Fulfillment, dearest
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: NICKOLAS ASHFORD, VALERIE SIMPSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@sylvesterjohns7968
WOW!! And to know that he was born in Shelby, Mississippi, is extremely awesome. I invited him to come to speak to my marching band students while I was teaching at Broad Street High School. Mr. Wilson gladly accepted the invitation, and he even offered to give me some arranging pointers. Oh, did I mention I was also born and raised in Shelby, Mississippi. 😊
@InfiniteLogic718
A.D.O.R. - Let It All Hang Out & Pete Rock brought me here but the wonderful soul of Mr. Gerald Wilson kept me here and opened my mind to great music as a kid!
RIP Gerald Wilson.
@kyser3ify
I think DJ Premier got to it first
@rwyatt26
@@kyser3ify DJ Premier used the Marlena Shaw version for Gang Starr’s “Check The Technique”!!! But both versions are nice!!!
@Bringmeoneofthosechickens
Nobody can make music like us. Proud to be Black American
@cbs2don
I saw the Gerald Wilson perform at the Lighthouse Cafe in Hermosa Beach in the 60's several times. Thank goodness he left us with a many recordings to show his genius.
@shamalama29
I can’t believe Mr Wilson, was our landlord as a kid: 5207 S. Cimarron St. LA. 90062, back in 1968ish
@oxdrift76
I saw him several times at the Lighthouse in Hermosa Beach, CA. One time I was making a sales call on a customer in LA that happened to be across from an elementary school. As I walked down the sidewalk I passed a Thunderbird parked at the curb and it was Gerald Wilson in the driver's seat. I stopped and said "do you know you look just like Gerald Wilson?" He laughed and I had a long chat with him until his daughter came and got in the car. Very nice gentleman and a real thrill for me.
@rayszymarek2920
Gerald Wilson fronted big bands way back in the l940s. He always surrounded him self with top shelf musicians. I listened to the early Gerald Wilson and was really moved with his big bands. I bought this record at the Army P X after coming home from Viet Nam. It sounded great on the small Webcor Hi Fi we had in the assembly room. Today in 2018 it sounds just as fabulous as ever. Gerald Wilson an accomplished leader musician of many musical talents. Very much admired and respected by me and many others.
@ace7669
Any similar songs/albums you recommend?