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.
The First Noel
Jackie Wilson Lyrics
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Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay;
In fields where they lay keeping their sheep,
On a cold winter's night that was so deep.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,
Born is the King of Israel.
They looked up and saw a star
And to the earth it gave great light,
And so it continued both day and night.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,
Born is the King of Israel.
And by the light of that same star,
Three wise men came from country far;
To seek for a King was their intent,
And to follow the star wherever it went.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,
Born is the King of Israel.
This star drew night to the northwest,
O'er Bethlehem it took its rest;
And there it did both stop and stay,
Right over the place where Jesus lay.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,
Born is the King of Israel.
Then entered in those wise men three,
Full reverently upon their knee;
And offered there in his presence,
Their gold, and myrrh, and frankincense.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,
Born is the King of Israel
The lyrics of Jackie Wilson's "The First Noel" tell the story of the night of Jesus' birth. As the angels appear in the sky, they tell the news of the savior's arrival to a group of poor shepherds. The scene is set with the cold winter night and the shepherds keeping watch over their flocks. The arrival of the angel and news of the birth of the king must have been such an awe-inspiring moment, as marked by the repeated 'Noel' in the chorus. The shepherds must have been filled with wonder and faith as they gazed upon the sky, basking in the light of a shining star.
Before long, three wise men arrive, traveling from afar after following the star in the sky. They seek the new king, and discover him in Bethlehem, where the star stopped. The wise men come bearing gifts of gold, myrrh, and frankincense. The portrayal of the wise men is one of reverence and humility as they humbly offer their treasures to this sleeping baby. The lyrics of "The First Noel" seamlessly weave together the different aspects of the story of the birth of Jesus, and convey a message of hope, joy, and praise.
Line by Line Meaning
The first Noel, the angel did say,
According to an angel, the first announcement of the birth of Jesus was made.
Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay;
The shepherds who were resting in fields were the ones who received the announcement.
In fields where they lay keeping their sheep,
The shepherds were staying in fields because of their work of keeping their sheep.
On a cold winter's night that was so deep.
It was a cold winter night when the announcement was made.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,
The word 'Noel' is being repeated to emphasize the importance of the message.
Born is the King of Israel.
The King of Israel, Jesus, has been born.
They looked up and saw a star
The shepherds looked up and saw a star in the sky.
Shining in the the East, beyond them far;
The star was shining in the East, beyond the shepherds' reach.
And to the earth it gave great light,
The star provided a great amount of light to the earth.
And so it continued both day and night.
The star continued to shine both day and night.
And by the light of that same star,
The wise men followed the same star that provided light to the earth.
Three wise men came from country far;
Three wise men came from a faraway land.
To seek for a King was their intent,
Their purpose was to search for a King.
And to follow the star wherever it went.
They followed the star wherever it led them.
This star drew night to the northwest,
The star led them towards the northwest.
O'er Bethlehem it took its rest;
The star stopped and rested over Bethlehem.
And there it did both stop and stay,
The star stopped and stayed in the same place.
Right over the place where Jesus lay.
The star stopped over the place where Jesus was born.
Then entered in those wise men three,
The three wise men entered into the place where Jesus was born.
Full reverently upon their knee;
They kneeled down in a respectful manner.
And offered there in his presence,
In the presence of Jesus, they offered their gifts.
Their gold, and myrrh, and frankincense.
The gifts they offered were gold, myrrh, and frankincense.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,
The repeated use of the word 'Noel' signifies the importance of the message.
Born is the King of Israel.
Jesus, the King of Israel, has been born.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: TRADITIONAL, AVRIEL KAPLAN, BEN BRAM, KEVIN OLUSOLA, SCOTT HOYING
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind