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.
Whispers
Jackie Wilson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Calling your name, Peaches
The whispers gettin' louder
Calling your name, Peaches
In my lonely, lonely room, there's nothing left but the past
I think of how our love used to be
And why it didn't last
I think of how sweet all the love was (yeha baby)
I want you to come home, 'cause I feel so all alone
And I feel oh, so sad
The whispers gettin' louder
Calling out your name, Peaches
The whispers gettin' louder
Calling your name, Peaches
Don't you hear it, Peaches
Don't you hear it, little baby?
Every time I think about you
I can hear you calling my name
And every time I'm all alone
Those whispers be come back again
Don't you hear it, Peaches?
Don't you hear it, little baby?
The whispers gettin' louder
Whispers gettin louder (the whispers gettin' louder)
Calling your name (the whispers gettin' louder)
Hear me baby (the whispers gettin' louder), oh
Calling to you Peaches (the whispers gettin' louder)
Louder, (the whispers gettin' louder), baby (the whispers gettin' louder)
The song "Whispers" by Jackie Wilson is a passionate plea to a former lover to come back home. Through the powerful words, Wilson conveys his strong yearning for the return of Peaches, the woman he once loved. The title of the song, "Whispers," suggests the soft tone of the calls, but as the song progresses, the whispers become louder, persistent and more intense.
Wilson's lyrics convey the pain of lost love and the overwhelming emotions that follow in its wake. The opening lines, "The whispers gettin' louder, calling your name, Peaches," articulate the urgency of his desire for her return. In the second verse, Wilson mentions how he is left alone in his room with only his memories of their past love and the thought of why it didn't last. The chorus echoes his call for Peaches to return, with the repetition of the lines "the whispers gettin' louder, calling your name, Peaches."
The third verse of the song emphasizes the intensity of his feelings, with Wilson pleading with Peaches to listen to the whispers and calls in her heart. The final chorus brings the song to a climax, with the calls becoming louder and more frequent. This emotional and heartfelt song speaks to the universal theme of love and loss, and the depth of human emotion that comes with it.
Line by Line Meaning
The whispers gettin' louder
The secret conversations about you are spreading more and more widely
Calling your name, Peaches
People are directly referencing you in these growing rumors or secret conversations
In my lonely, lonely room, there's nothing left but the past
The singer is reminiscing about their past romantic relationship while being alone in a room
I think of how our love used to be
The singer is reflecting on how their romantic relationship used to be
And why it didn't last
The singer is trying to understand why their romantic relationship ended
I think of how sweet all the love was (yeha baby)
The singer fondly remembers the good parts of their past romantic relationship
All the good times we had
The singer is reflecting on the enjoyable moments they shared with their past romantic partner
I want you to come home, 'cause I feel so all alone
The singer is expressing their desire to have their romantic partner return to them or to be with someone again
And I feel oh, so sad
The singer feels deeply sad about their current situation
Don't you hear it, Peaches
The singer is questioning whether their romantic partner is aware of the rumors or secret conversations about them
Every time I think about you
The singer's thoughts frequently revolve around their romantic partner
I can hear you calling my name
The singer feels as if their romantic partner is trying to gain their attention or reach out to them in some way
And every time I'm all alone
The singer is reminded of their loneliness when they aren't with their romantic partner
Those whispers be come back again
The rumors or secret conversations that the singer was previously referring to seem to resurface
Whispers gettin louder (the whispers gettin' louder)
The rumors or secret conversations are continuing to spread and intensify
Calling your name (the whispers gettin' louder)
The people involved in these rumors or secret conversations are using the singer's romantic partner's name and the rumors are becoming more overt
Hear me baby (the whispers gettin' louder), oh
The singer is pleading with their romantic partner to listen to them and possibly come back to them
Calling to you Peaches (the whispers gettin' louder)
The rumors or secret conversations seem to be particularly directed towards the singer's romantic partner
Louder, (the whispers gettin' louder), baby (the whispers gettin' louder)
The rumors or secret conversations are growing more intense and are more likely to be heard by others
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BARBARA ACKLIN, DAVID SCOTT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@clarabell4724
Boy when I was 14 we would play this song over and over! Jackie Wilson was in a class all by himself. I wish we had entertainers like him today. RIP Jackie!!
@user-bw3ug2yn6l
The last I heard this song, I was 8 years old. It sprung up in my memory out of nowhere, so I decided to look it up. Now I'm 68.... Haven't heard this song in 60 years, wow!
@robertburnett5751
Jackie was on a level by himself.
@MARILLIONROCKER45
Jackie was at the top of his game with this hit. I can only think of a few performers who could even come close to the excitement and electricity he generated on stage, James Brown, Al 'TNT' Braggs and Chuck Jackson but Mr. Wilson ( I saw him live four times in the sixties was just fantastic) Damn, I miss the great ones from the days of R&B glory but the memories I will have forever.
@u000drl
I think Higher and Higher was his peak
@Unfamous_Buddha
@@u000drl–
I'd say both songs were equally as good.
@barbaraAcklinJr
Hello All, and especially to the ones that posted the song. My mom, Barbara Acklin wrote this song for Mr. Wilson but most dont recognize that she was a fabulous writer as well as singer/artist. So here's a little info for those who didnt know. I love the internet!
@zzzzgirl9600
Barbara Acklin!!! An AMAZING woman! Cause we all know Love Makes a Woman! Thanks for sharing this enlightening education!!! 🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾
@melindalamar188
Jackie Wilson is sooo electrifying....Brings me back to the day...
@DickAllen4HOF
Critics have not neccesarily complimented Jakcie's later songs. Yet I absolutely love this one.