Wilson's sophisticated and elegant style was featured on the records of many of the biggest names in jazz including Louis Armstrong, Lena Horne, Benny Goodman, Billie Holiday, and Ella Fitzgerald. With Goodman, he was perhaps the first well-known black musician to play publicly in a racially integrated group. In addition to his extensive work as a sideman, Wilson also led his own groups and recording sessions from the late 1920s to the '80s.
Wilson was born in Austin, Texas, on November 24, 1912. He studied piano and violin at Tuskegee Institute in Tuskegee, Alabama. After working in the Lawrence "Speed" Webb band, with Louis Armstrong, and also understudying Earl Hines in Hines's Grand Terrace Cafe Orchestra, Wilson joined Benny Carter's Chocolate Dandies in 1933. In 1935, he joined the Benny Goodman Trio (which consisted of Goodman, Wilson and drummer Gene Krupa, later expanded to the Benny Goodman Quartet with the addition of Lionel Hampton). The trio performed during the big band's intermissions. By joining the trio, Wilson became the first black musician to perform in public with a previously all-white jazz group.
Noted jazz producer and writer John Hammond was instrumental in getting Wilson a contract with Brunswick, starting in 1935, to record hot swing arrangements of the popular songs of the day, with the growing jukebox trade in mind. He recorded fifty hit records with various singers such as Lena Horne, Helen Ward and Billie Holiday, including many of Holiday's greatest successes. During these years, he also took part in many highly regarded sessions with a wide range of important swing musicians such as Lester Young, Roy Eldridge, Charlie Shavers, Red Norvo, Buck Clayton, and Ben Webster.
Wilson formed his own short-lived big band in 1939, then led a sextet at Café Society from 1940 to 1944. He was dubbed the "Marxist Mozart" by Howard "Stretch" Johnson due to his support for left-wing causes. Wilson performed in benefit concerts for The New Masses journal, for Russian War Relief and he chaired the Artists' Committee to elect Benjamin J. Davis). In the 1950s, Wilson taught at the Juilliard School. Wilson can be seen appearing as himself in the 1955 motion picture The Benny Goodman Story. He also worked as music director for the Dick Cavett Show.
Wilson lived quietly in suburban Hillsdale, New Jersey, in the 1960s and 1970s. He performed as a soloist and with pick-up groups until the final years of his life.
Wilson died in New Britain CT, on July 31, 1986; he was 73. He is buried at Fairview Cemetery in New Britain, Connecticut.
Where Are You?
Teddy Wilson & His Orchestra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In my imagination, may feeling the drilling through
In my imagination, I pay just seen a vet to see
In my imagination, my hero thinks these words to me
You are my lucky star
I saw you from afar
Two lovely eyes, at me they were gleaming, beaming
You're all my lucky charms
I'm lucky in your arms
You've opened heaven's portal
Here on earth
For this poor mortal
You are my lucky star
The lyrics of Teddy Wilson & His Orchestra's song "Where Are You?" depict the power of imagination and the longing for love and connection. The opening lines convey the idea that the singer finds solace and fulfillment in their own imagination. They live out their desired experiences and emotions, suggesting that their imagination is a source of escape and enjoyment in their life.
The repetition of the phrase "In my imagination" emphasizes the significance of this mental space for the singer. They find comfort in imagining situations and feelings that may not exist in their reality. It could also signify the singer's yearning for something greater or a sense of dissatisfaction in their current circumstances.
The lyric "In my imagination, my hero thinks these words to me" expresses a desire for a connection with someone who understands them completely. The singer longs for a figure who can offer guidance, support, and affection, someone who can inspire them with words of affirmation and encouragement. This hero represents a source of hope and inspiration for the singer.
The chorus of the song introduces the lyrical theme of luck and the overwhelming impact of encountering the person the singer is singing about. The line "You are my lucky star" suggests that the person being sung to holds immense significance in the singer's life. They are portrayed as a symbol of fortune and positivity, someone who brings joy and brightness into the singer's world.
The following lines reflect the singer's awe and admiration for this person. The phrase "star-struck" conveys a sense of being captivated and enchanted by the presence of the person they are addressing. It represents a feeling of being overwhelmed with emotions, much like the experience of seeing a star shining brightly in the night sky.
The lyrics also highlight the reciprocal nature of the connection between the singer and the person they are singing to. The singer refers to the person as their "lucky charm," emphasizing the idea that the person brings them luck and happiness. The mention of being "lucky in your arms" suggests a sense of safety, warmth, and contentment when they are together.
The final lines express the transformative and heavenly effect the person has on the singer's life. They are seen as a gateway to an elevated existence, a connection to something divine and otherworldly. This person's presence on earth is analogous to opening the portal to heaven and bringing a touch of the celestial to the singer's earthly existence.
Overall, the lyrics of "Where Are You?" convey the longing for connection, the transformative power of love, and the significance of imagination as a means of finding solace and fulfillment.
Line by Line Meaning
In my imagination, I live the things I like to do
In my mind, I vividly experience and engage in the activities that bring me joy
In my imagination, may feeling the drilling through
Through my imagination, I can sense and deeply connect with these experiences
In my imagination, I pay just seen a vet to see
In my imagination, I have recently observed a veterinarian
In my imagination, my hero thinks these words to me
In my imagination, my role model expresses these words of encouragement to uplift me
You are my lucky star
You symbolize the source of great fortune and happiness in my life
I saw you from afar
I caught a glimpse of you from a distance
Two lovely eyes, at me they were gleaming, beaming
Your beautiful eyes were shining brightly and radiating happiness towards me
I was star-struck
I felt awe-inspired and captivated by your presence
You're all my lucky charms
You represent all the fortunate and magical elements in my life
I'm lucky in your arms
Being embraced by you brings me immense luck and happiness
You've opened heaven's portal
Your presence has brought about a sense of heavenly bliss and possibility
Here on earth
Even in this earthly realm
For this poor mortal
For someone like me, who is limited and imperfect
You are my lucky star
You continue to be the symbol of good fortune and happiness in my life
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Arthur Freed, Nacio Herb Brown
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@yogirocket
I can hear my grandma ❤️ada sing this song , one of her favorites
@paulviardot4400
Grande sobriétè mais quelle efficacité de Mr TEDDY WILSON . Mme Helen ward est toujours aussi brillante.
La diction est parfaite!