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.
By The Light Of The Silvery Moon
Jackie Wilson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I want to spoon, to my honey I'll croon love's tune,
Honeymoon keep a shining in June,
Your silvery beams will bring love dreams, we'll be cuddling soon,
By the silvery moon.
Act two, scene new, roses blooming all around the place;
Cast three, you, me, Preacher with a solemn looking face.
Act two, all through, every night the same encore.
By the light, (By the light, By the light),
Of the silvery moon, (The silvery moon).
I want to spoon, (Want to spoon, Want to spoon)
To my honey I'll croon love's tune.
Honeymoon, (Honeymoon, Honeymoon),
Keep a shining in June. (Keep a shining in June)
Your silvery beams will bring love dreams,
We'll be cuddling soon,
By the silvery moon.
Your silvery beams will bring love dreams,
We'll be cuddling soon,
By the silvery moon. (The silvery moon).
By the light that's silvery!
In Jackie Wilson's classic tune "By the Light of the Silvery Moon," the singer expresses his desire to spoon and croon love's tune to his beloved, all while basking in the silvery beams of the moonlight. The first verse lays out the romantic setting, where the couple will be cuddling soon beneath the night sky. The second verse describes an idyllic scene of roses blooming, followed by a wedding ceremony where the preacher proclaims the couple wed for evermore. The final verse reiterates the desire to be held close by the one they love, under the silvery moon.
The lyrics of the song capture a sense of nostalgia for a simpler, more innocent time when love was all that mattered. The romantic setting of the outdoor moonlit scene, combined with the purity of the wedding ceremony, paint a picture of a bygone era. The repetition of the longing to be with their love creates a sense of urgency and desire. Overall, the lyrics evoke a sentiment of yearning and devotion, while also celebrating the beauty of nature and the sanctity of marriage.
Line by Line Meaning
By the light of the silvery moon,
Under the bright moonlight, I want to cuddle with my loved one and serenade them with a love song.
I want to spoon, to my honey I'll croon love's tune,
I want to embrace my sweetheart closely and sing them a romantic melody.
Honeymoon keep a shining in June,
May the joy and romance of our honeymoon in June continue to shine brightly.
Your silvery beams will bring love dreams, we'll be cuddling soon,
The moonlight will bring us both sweet dreams of love, and we will soon be wrapped in each other's arms.
Act two, scene new, roses blooming all around the place;
A new scene in our love story begins, with beautiful flowers blooming all around us.
Cast three, you, me, Preacher with a solemn looking face.
The main actors in this scene are you and I, with a serious-looking preacher officiating our wedding.
Choir sings, bell rings,Preacher: "You are wed for evermore."
The choir sings and the bells ring out as the preacher declares us married for eternity.
Act two, all through, every night the same encore.
The following nights of our marriage will be the continuation of this act, with the same intense love and passion.
By the light, (By the light, By the light),
Under the magical glow, (the glow of the moonlight)
Of the silvery moon, (The silvery moon).
That silvery celestial body (the moon).
I want to spoon, (Want to spoon, Want to spoon)
I yearn to snuggle (to hug and be close)
Honeymoon, (Honeymoon, Honeymoon),
This romantic vacation (a trip taken by a newly-married couple)
Keep a shining in June. (Keep a shining in June)
May the brightness continue next month too (June)
Your silvery beams will bring love dreams,
Under the light of the moon, we'll experience wonderful dreams of affection
We'll be cuddling soon,
Very soon we will be holding each other close
By the silvery moon. (The silvery moon).
Under the soft light of the moon. (again, the moon)
Your silvery beams will bring love dreams,
Under the light of the moon, we'll experience wonderful dreams of affection
We'll be cuddling soon,
very soon we will be holding each other close
By the silvery moon. (The silvery moon).
Under the soft light of the moon. (again, the moon)
By the light that's silvery!
Under the bright and shining light of the silver moon!
Lyrics © DistroKid, Universal Music Publishing Group, Downtown Music Publishing, Songtrust Ave, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Edward Madden, Gus Edwards
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Patricia Arantes
I taught my students to sing and we used to walk around the school singing..awesome!!
Dee530 Luvz2BeLoved
Makes you kind of feel like tap dancing, wow my Parent's would love this music, but Jackie makes this song sound great, this looks like the first JW album I ever bought, just a kid then. After that, I never bought another one again-- untill my recent collection. Real nice... Peace- M
Tom Smith
I love to hear old songs performed, and Jackie's interpretation is innovative and infectious! The orchestra was conducted by Dick Jacobs and he produced similiar arrangements for one of my other favourite singers, Teresa Brewer, when she recorded standards.
hohum488
Jackie Wilson has such a powerful voice; he can sing anything. Doggin Around is a favorite too! Awesome!
Daniel Anderson
Seen Jackie Wilson in Detroit in the early 60s the man had a lot of talent.
prtrice2003
Had a lot of talent? That's an understatement......
Mike Vallen
Helen Davis ......I couldn't have said it better myself.....your comment is very elegant.....and so well deserved for Jackie Wilson .
Helen Davis
Mr.jackie Wison was a gifted singer of his day, a impeccable dresser,young,handsome,truly was Mr Excitement,a man for the times,a genius, who was a pretty boy, not many black or white singers has his classic looks, in dress or style.he was the man, skin skinned man,good to look at, was superb with his operatic octave's, unusal for a singer, swift in his feet, dancing was his calling card, imitated but no one could exhibit his grace .wow ,aprivilege to had heard of his exploits.shame they stole his money,but his legacy still lives on today. May he rest in peace,he came ,he saw, he conquered, the one and only Mr.Jackie Wilson. A man for a Season pastorhelen7@gmail.com
voiskumbeaver
Lucky!
LohengrinTh
was there actually a time when a pop singer could sing that phenomenally well? then madona came! and singing is no longer required