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.
All My Love
Jackie Wilson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Give me the right to give you
All my love
With all my might
I'd give you all my love
If I had only half a chance
Into your world
Oh, let me come and being you
No other one could give you half the love
That I feel in my heart for you
Come to me
Come and let me share your destiny
Can you see
There's just you within the heart of me
So wonderful
I know our love could be so wonderful
For it is written in the stars above
That you were made for all my love
The lyrics of Jackie Wilson's song called "All My Love" portrays a man who is deeply in love with someone and is willing to give his all to be with her. The song expresses the love and affection of a man who desires nothing more than to share his life with the one he loves. The singer desires an opportunity to pour out all his love and strength to his lover. He desires a chance to show her that he is made for her and she is made for him.
The singer of the song is romantically inclined and is conveying his intense love sentiment through his mellifluous voice. He longs for an opportunity to be with the person he loves and shows the depth of his love by declaring that he will give her all that he has if he is given half a chance. He promises to share her destiny, says that she is within the heart of him, and knows that their love could be so wonderful. The song concludes with an assertion that it is written in the stars that the woman he loves was made for all of his love.
Overall, "All My Love" is a touching love song that expresses the yearning and devotion of a man deeply in love with a woman. The song is a plea from Jackie Wilson for his lover to give him a chance to show her the extent of his love.
Line by Line Meaning
All my love
I want to give you all my love
Give me the right to give you
I want you to allow me to love you
All my love
I will give you all my love
With all my might
I will give you everything I have
I'd give you all my love
I want to give you all my love
If I had only half a chance
I wish I had a chance to love you
Into your world
I want to be a part of your world
Oh, let me come and bring you
Let me come and love you
All my love
I want to give you all my love
No other one could give you half the love
No one else can love you like I do
That I feel in my heart for you
My love for you comes straight from my heart
Come to me
Come to me and let me love you
Come and let me share your destiny
Let's share our lives together
Can you see
Do you understand
There's just you within the heart of me
You are the center of my heart
So wonderful
Our love could be amazing
I know our love could be so wonderful
I am sure our love could be amazing
For it is written in the stars above
Our love is meant to be
That you were made for all my love
I am meant to love you with all of me
Writer(s): J. Wilson, B. Myles Copyright: Regent Music Corporation
Contributed by Madison S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Rick fisher
I was a huge Jackie Wilson fan and I consider this his masterpiece. I could listen to it over and over again.
Guy Manges
The greatest male voice of all time...... Jackie
Larry Lomenzo
Wow! What a beautiful and emotionally powerful song this is! Done by a true Master. Can anyone believe that Jackie Willson was only just past 26yrs old when this song first charted????!!!!!!! He was a rare talent, indeed, and was truly blessed. I'm certain he has been singing with the angels ever since he left us. Thank you, Jackie, for all the beautiful music you left us. You are sorely missed and will never be forgotten...
William Schuetze
I was 14 when this song was released. I was mesmerized then. I still am. The man simply has no equal. Tone, range, power, every positive adjective that can describe a male voice applies to Jackie Wilson.
bill chew
A true American treasure
Project DX
He was one of a kind. Even Elvis said Jackie was THE VOICE. He knew. But sadly in that time no black man ever got the respect and recognition his talent deserved.
Michael Jackson would put that straight 30 years later. But this man was the greatest singer to ever come out of popular music. And his name should be right up there with Elvis and Jackson if there were any justice.
Mike Vallen
@Project DX ......Amen
James Spencer
My wife and I were married at the end of 1960 and this was the song that told of my feelings for her. She's been gone for ten years now, wish she was still here to play this for her.
Stephen Perry
The voice from heaven,get it Jackie Wilson.
Pamela West
GREAT MUSIC!!!