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.
Deck the Halls
Jackie Wilson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Fa la la la la la la la la
'Tis the season to be jolly,
Fa la la la la la la la la
Don we now our gay apparel,
Fa la la la la la la la la
Troll the ancient Yuletide carol,
Fa la la la la la la la la.
Fast away the old year passes,
Fa la la la la la la la la
Hail the new, ye lads and lasses,
Fa la la la la la la la la
Sing we joyous all together,
Fa la la la la la la la la
Heedless of the wind and weather,
Fa la la la la la la la la.
The song 'Deck the Halls' is a traditional Christmas carol that has been popular since the late 1800s. The lyrics are inspired by the pagan winter solstice festival of Yuletide, which celebrated the rebirth of the sun, and later became absorbed into the Christian celebration of Christmas. The song is essentially an invitation to join in the festive celebrations, and to embrace the spirit of goodwill and generosity that characterizes the season.
The first stanza of the song sets the scene for the festive activities, with the singer inviting listeners to join in the decoration of the halls with holly boughs. The repetition of the 'fa la la la la' chorus adds a sense of joy and energy to the song, inviting the listener to sing along and join in the merriment. The second stanza is a call to embrace the new year, with the singer urging everyone to hail the arrival of the new year with singing and joy.
Overall, the song emphasizes the importance of community and togetherness, as well as the joy that comes with the holiday season. It is a song that celebrates the beauty of the winter season, and the sense of renewal and rebirth that comes with a new year.
Line by Line Meaning
Deck the halls with boughs of holly
Let's adorn the halls with holly branches
Fa la la la la la la la la
We sing joyfully
'Tis the season to be jolly,
It's the time of year to be happy
Don we now our gay apparel,
Let's put on our festive clothes
Troll the ancient Yuletide carol,
Sing the old holiday songs merrily
Fast away the old year passes,
The old year is quickly coming to an end
Hail the new, ye lads and lasses,
Let's welcome the new year, boys and girls
Sing we joyous all together,
Let's sing together, happy and full of joy
Heedless of the wind and weather,
Without worrying about the cold and windy weather
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Thomas Oliphant
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind