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.
Love Is All
Jackie Wilson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All the people got to understand
So, love your neighbour
Like you love your brother
Come on and join the band
Well, all you need is love and understanding
Ring the bell and let the people know
Come on and let your feelings show
Love is all, well love is all
Love is all, can't you hear the call
Oh, love is all you need
Love is all you need at the Butterfly Ball
Ain't you happy that we're all together
At the ball in nature's countryside
And although we're wearing different faces
Nobody wants to hide
Love is all and love is all and
It's easy, yes it's so easy
At the Butterfly Ball where love is all
And It's so easy
All you need is love and understanding
Ring the bell and let the people know
We're so happy and we're celebrating
Let your feelings show
Love is all, yes love is all at the Butterfly Ball
Love is big, love is small
Love is free, love is all
At the Butterfly Ball
When your back's to the wall
When you're starting to fall
You got something to lean on
Love is everything
It can make you sing at the Butterfly Ball
Love is all, I say love is all, yes love is all
At the Butterfly Ball
The song "Love Is All" by Jackie Wilson is an uplifting, feel-good tune that promotes the idea of love and unity among all people. It begins with the lyrics "Everybody's got to live together, all the people got to understand." These lines are a call for a collective understanding that can bind everyone together harmoniously. The song then goes on to urge people to love their neighbors as they love their brothers and celebrate the joy of togetherness. The Butterfly Ball is a symbolic representation of a utopia where there is no discrimination, and everyone loves each other irrespective of their creed, color, or race.
The essence of the song is simple - love is the universal language that can conquer all barriers. The song promotes the idea of love as a solution to all problems and a way to bring people together in unity. The idea behind this song is deeply resonating and is still relevant today. The lyrics of the song are simple and easy to understand, and the tune is catchy and uplifting. The song continues to be one of the most popular songs of all time, and its message of love and unity remains relevant today.
Line by Line Meaning
Everybody's got to live together
We must all coexist in harmony.
All the people got to understand
We must all try to understand each other.
So, love your neighbour
We must love those around us.
Like you love your brother
We should love all as if they were family.
Come on and join the band
Let's all come together.
Well, all you need is love and understanding
Love and understanding are essential.
Ring the bell and let the people know
Spread the word.
We're so happy and we're celebrating
We're joyful and rejoicing.
Come on and let your feelings show
Don't be afraid to express yourself.
Love is all, well love is all
Love is everything.
Love is all, can't you hear the call
Love is calling out to us.
Oh, love is all you need
Love is the only thing necessary.
Love is all you need at the Butterfly Ball
Love is what we need here.
Ain't you happy that we're all together
Aren't you glad we're united?
At the ball in nature's countryside
Here at this event in nature.
And although we're wearing different faces
We may look different.
Nobody wants to hide
No one wants to conceal themselves.
Love is all and love is all and
Love is everything.
It's easy, yes it's so easy
Love is simple.
At the Butterfly Ball where love is all
Here where love reigns.
Love is all, yes love is all at the Butterfly Ball
Love is in abundance here.
Love is big, love is small
Love varies in size.
Love is free, love is all
Love is unconditional.
When your back's to the wall
When you're in a tough spot.
When you're starting to fall
When you're losing control.
You got something to lean on
Love is your support.
Love is everything
Love is all-encompassing.
It can make you sing at the Butterfly Ball
Love can fill you with such happiness you want to sing.
Love is all, I say love is all, yes love is all
Again, love is everything.
At the Butterfly Ball
Here at this event.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: JOHNNY LEHMANN, STAN LEBOWKSY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind