Wilder was awarded the Temple University Jazz Master's Hall of Fame Award in 2006. The National Endowment for the Arts honored him with its highest honor in jazz, the NEA Jazz Masters Award for 2008.
Wilder was born into a musical family led by his father Curtis, a bassist and bandleader in Philadelphia. Wilder's first performances took place on the radio program, "Parisian Tailor's Colored Kiddies of the Air." He and the other young musicians were backed up by such illustrious bands as Duke Ellington's and Louis Armstrong's that were also then playing at the Lincoln Theater. Wilder studied at the Mastbaum School of Music in Philadelphia, but turned to jazz when he felt that there was little future for an African American classical musician. At age 19, Wilder joined his first touring big band, Les Hite's band.
Wilder was one of the first thousand African Americans to serve in the Marines during World War II. He worked first in Special Weapons and eventually became Assistant Bandmaster at the headquarters' band. Following the war during the 1940's and early 1950's, he played in the orchestras of Jimmie Lunceford, Herbie Fields, Sam Donahue, Lucky Millinder, Noble Sissle, Dizzy Gillespie, and finally with the Count Basie Orchestra. From 1957 to 1974, Wilder did studio work for ABC-TV, New York, and in the pit orchestras for Broadway musicals, while building his reputation as a soloist with his albums for Savoy (1956) and Columbia (1959). His Jazz from Peter Gunn (1959), features ten songs from Henry Mancini ("Peter Gunn") television score in melodic and swinging fashion with a quartet. He was also a regular sideman with such musicians as NEA Jazz Masters Hank Jones, Gil Evans, and Benny Goodman. He became a favorite with vocalists and played for Billie Holiday, Lena Horne, Johnny Mathis, Harry Belafonte, Eileen Farrell, Tony Bennett, and many others. Wilder earned a bachelor of music degree in 1953, studying classical trumpet at the Manhattan School of Music with Joseph Alessi, where he was also principal trumpet with the school's symphony orchestra under conductor Jonel Perlea. In the 1960s, he performed on several occasions with the New York Philharmonic under Andre Kostelanetz and Pierre Boulez and played lead for the Symphony Of The New World from 1965 to 1971.
He appeared on The Cosby Show episode "Play It Again, Russell" (1986), and played the trumpet in the Malcolm X Orchestra in Spike Lee's "Malcolm X" (1992). Since 1991 he returned as a leader and recorded three albums for Evening Star. He died on May 9, 2014 in New York City, of congestive heart failure.
Discography
As leader
1956 Wilder N' Wilder Jazz Savoy
1956 Softly With Feeling Jazz Savoy
1959 The Pretty Sound of Joe Wilder Jazz Columbia
1959 Jazz from "Peter Gunn" Jazz Columbia
1991 Alone With Just My Dreams Jazz Evening Star
1993 No Greater Love Jazz Evening Star
2003 Among Friends Jazz Evening Star
As sideman
With Trigger Alpert
Trigger Happy! (Riverside, 1956)
With Gil Evans
Into the Hot (Impulse!, 1961)
With Dizzy Gillespie
Gillespiana (Verve, 1960)
With Tadd Dameron
The Magic Touch (1962)
With Etta Jones
From the Heart (Prestige, 1962)
With Yusef Lateef
10 Years Hence (Atlantic, 1974)
The Doctor is In... and Out (Atlantic, 1976)
With Mundell Lowe
New Music of Alec Wilder (Riverside, 1956)
With Oliver Nelson
The Spirit of '67 with Pee Wee Russell (Impulse!, 1967)
With Houston Person
Broken Windows, Empty Hallways (Prestige, 1972)
With Shirley Scott
Great Scott!! (Impulse!, 1964)
With Sonny Stitt
What's New!!! (Roulette, 1966)
With others
Joe Newman: Hangin´ Out (Concord, 1984)
Benny Carter: A Gentleman and His Music (Concord, 1985)
Ruby Braff: Being With You (Arbirs, 1996)
Charlie Byrd: For Louis' (Concord, 1996)
Jay Jay Johnson: The Brass Orchestra (Verve, 1996)
The Heath Brothers: Jazz Family (Concord, 1998)
But Not For Me
Joe Wilder Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Never tell me dreams come true
Just try it and I'll start a riot
Beatrice Fairfax don't you dare
Ever tell me he will care
I'm certain it's the final curtain
I never want to hear from any cheerful Pollyannas
Who tell you fate supplies a mate
They're writing songs of love but not for me
A lucky star's above but not for me
With love to lead the way I've found more clouds of gray
Than any Russian play could guarantee
I was a fool to fall and get that way
Hi-ho, alas, and also lack-a-day
Although I can't dismiss the memory of his kiss
I guess he's not for me
I was a fool to fall and get that way
Hi-ho, alas, and also lack-a-day
Although I can't dismiss the memory of his kiss
The lyrics to Joe Wilder's "But Not For Me" reflects the heartache and disappointment of unrequited love. The opening lines of the song set the tone for its melancholic theme, as the singer dismisses the notion of dreams coming true and warns against false hope. He declares that he would "start a riot" if anyone suggested that the person he loves might come to care for him. The reference to 'Beatrice Fairfax' refers to an advice columnist, and the singer seems to be saying that even such a figure of trust could not convince him that his love will ever be reciprocated. The final lines of the first verse suggest a sense of finality, as the singer admits that he does not believe in the idea of fate providing a "mate."
The chorus of the song further emphasizes the futility of the singer's love. He notes that while love songs may be written, they are not written for him. There may be a "lucky star" shining above, but it is not for him. He has found nothing but "clouds of gray" in his search for love, even more than any Russian play could offer. Although he may hold on to the memory of a kiss, he ultimately acknowledges that the person he loves is not meant to be. The repetition of the lines "I was a fool to fall and get that way" suggest a sense of remorse, as if the singer blames himself for allowing his emotions to get the best of him. The song ends on a wistful note, as the singer concedes to his fate and acknowledges that the one he loves is "not for me."
Line by Line Meaning
Old man sunshine listen you
I'm addressing the bright and positive aspects of life.
Never tell me dreams come true
Don't try to convince me that my hopes and aspirations will be fulfilled.
Just try it and I'll start a riot
I'll protest and fight against this idea.
Beatrice Fairfax don't you dare
I won't accept any advice from someone who claims to know everything about love.
Ever tell me he will care
I don't believe that any man will truly love me.
I'm certain it's the final curtain
I'm convinced that my love life is over.
I never want to hear from any cheerful Pollyannas
I don't want to hear from anyone who is overly optimistic about love.
Who tell you fate supplies a mate
I don't believe in destiny or the idea that there is one perfect person for everyone.
It's all bananas
It's all ridiculous and meaningless.
They're writing songs of love but not for me
Love songs don't speak to my personal experience and struggles.
A lucky star's above but not for me
Others may have found happiness, but it's not meant for me.
With love to lead the way I've found more clouds of gray
Despite searching for love, I've only encountered disappointment and sadness.
Than any Russian play could guarantee
Even the most tragic or pessimistic works of art cannot match my romantic misfortune.
I was a fool to fall and get that way
I regret allowing myself to become vulnerable and emotionally invested in someone.
Hi-ho, alas, and also lack-a-day
I'm expressing my sorrow and disappointment about my situation.
Although I can't dismiss the memory of his kiss
I still fondly recall moments of intimacy and affection with my past lover.
I guess he's not for me
I've come to terms with the fact that this person is not the right one for me.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@mistermister6686
Joe Wilder × Wilder 'N' Wilder
Tracks:
A1 Cherokee 00:00
A2 Prelude To A Kiss 10:44
A3 My Heart Stood Still 15:49
B1 Six Bit Blues 20:21
B2 Mad About The Boy 28:51
B3 Darn That Dream 33:23
Credits:
Trumpet – Joe Wilder
Piano – Hank Jones
Drums – Kenny Clarke
Bass – Wendell Marshall
Recorded January 19, 1956.
@mistermister6686
Joe Wilder × Wilder 'N' Wilder
Tracks:
A1 Cherokee 00:00
A2 Prelude To A Kiss 10:44
A3 My Heart Stood Still 15:49
B1 Six Bit Blues 20:21
B2 Mad About The Boy 28:51
B3 Darn That Dream 33:23
Credits:
Trumpet – Joe Wilder
Piano – Hank Jones
Drums – Kenny Clarke
Bass – Wendell Marshall
Recorded January 19, 1956.
@solveigmwilder2512
Love this Record ! Thanks for sharing !❤❤❤
@user-iq9tf4qf6c
ハンク・ジョーンズのピアノが光りますね🎹🎶🎺👌👌👌
@bojanboskovic6744
Frankly, all moving parts stading still. Relaxation!
@jazzhonk21
This is a great one; thanks.
@bradking1536
Thank you for sharing, like your channel🎉, hope you are well God loves you deeply shalom 🤗🐼♥️✝️💐 Philippians 4:8
@ronaldunkel2681
Joe in his element with a superb rhythm section lead by master-pianist Hank Jones. Nice easy swinging session folks. G’day & Cheers!
@LongwingSeagull
This seems to be one of Mr. Wilder`s few releases as leader during the 50`s (only three to be exact). Worked as sideman quite a bit and outside of the jazz world as well.
@alcom3101
MAGNIFIQUE🔬🎼🎺🌌
@user-he4jf8qq4c
Very good ~~~~ ☆☆☆