Jack Leroy "Jackie" Wilson (June 9, 1934 – January 21, 1984) was an America… Read Full Bio ↴Jack Leroy "Jackie" Wilson (June 9, 1934 – January 21, 1984) was an American soul and R&B singer born in Detroit, Michigan, where he became active in the music business. He joined Billy Ward and his Dominoes in 1953, replacing Clyde McPhatter. After losing McPhatter, the group's only recording success with Wilson came in June of 1956 with the single "St. Therese of The Roses" that reached number 13 on the Pop charts.

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.

Talk That Talk
Jackie Wilson Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Shooby do do wop do
Shooby do do wop do

You ought to see my baby
Walkin down the isle with me
Arm and arm with me
It's a beautiful sight to see
You ought to hear my lovin baby

Whisper in my ear
Tender words she knows I love to hear

Man, you ought to see her
Walk that walk
Gives me fever when she
Talks that talk
My baby just walks that walk
talks that talk for me.. woooo

Here she come now
Walk that walk
C'mon baby talk that talk
My baby just walks that walk
Talks that talk for me

She sets my soul on fire
When ever she talks that talk
She's so doggone fine
When she tells me she's mine all mine
I want the world to see my baby
Maybe they will understand
That she's my love
I'm her lovin man

Man, watch her
Walk that walk, c'mon baby
talk that talk, my baby just walks that walk
talks that talk for me
Woooo Here she comes now
walk that walk,c'mon woman
talk that talk my baby just
walks that walk talks that talk for me

Here she comes
Don't you Love It

Overall Meaning

The song "Talk That Talk" by Jackie Wilson is about the singer's love for his partner and the way she makes him feel. The first two lines of the song, "Shooby do do wop do/Shooby do do wop do," serve as a musical placeholder, similar to a introductory riff in a guitar solo, that sets the tone for the catchy, upbeat melody of the song.

The singer expresses his admiration for his partner in the second verse, declaring that it is a beautiful sight to see her walking down the aisle with him. He goes on to share that it is equally lovely to hear her whisper tender words into his ear, making his heart melt. The chorus of the song describes how the singer's partner's confident walk and sultry voice sends shivers down his spine. He loves the way she talks and how she seamlessly walks the walk.

The bridge of the song has a call and response format, where the singer encourages his partner to walk and talk with him, while emphasizing how much he adores her for doing so. The song is an ode to the way that love can make someone feel about their partner.

Line by Line Meaning

Shooby do do wop do
Nonsensical intro

You ought to see my baby
I wish you could see my loved one

Walkin down the isle with me
Walking with me, taking my hand in hers

Arm and arm with me
Side by side, our arms intertwined

It's a beautiful sight to see
Our love is a joy to behold

You ought to hear my lovin baby
I wish you could hear my lover

Whisper in my ear
Speaking softly and intimately to me

Tender words she knows I love to hear
Expressions of love that make my heart sing

Man, you ought to see her
I wish you could witness her

Walk that walk
The way she moves is mesmerizing

Gives me fever when she
She makes my blood boil with excitement