Wilson was born in Austin, Texas in 1912. He studied piano and violin at Tuskegee Institute. 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 and Helen Ward, including many of Billie 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 (he performed in benefit concerts for The New Masses journal and for Russian War Relief, and chaired the Artists' Committee to elect Benjamin J. Davis).[1] In the 1950s he taught at the Juilliard School. Wilson can be seen appearing as himself in the motion picture The Benny Goodman Story (1955).
Wilson lived quietly in suburban Hillsdale, NJ in the 1960s and 1970s. He performed as a soloist and with pick-up groups until the final years of his life. Teddy Wilson died on July 31, 1986.
He rests at Fairview Cemetery in New Britain, CT
[edit] Discography
Wilson at a Benny Goodman rehearsal, 1950
* Teddy Wilson Featuring Billie Holiday (1949)
* I Got Rhythm (1956)
* Pres and Teddy (1956)
* With Billie in Mind (1972)
* Live at Santa Tecla (1976)
* Teddy Wilson Trio Revisits the Goodman Years (1980)
As sideman:
* Billie Holiday, The Quintessential Billie Holiday, vols. 1 - 9 (1933-1942)
* Benny Goodman, The Complete RCA Victor Small Group Recordings (1935-1939)
* Benny Goodman, The Famous 1938 Carnegie Hall Jazz Concert (1938)
Died July 31, 1986(1986-07-31) (aged 73)
Hillsdale, New Jersey
Genres Jazz
Associated acts Louis Armstrong
Earl Hines
Billie Holiday
Lester Young
Lena Horne
Benny Goodman
They Say
Teddy Wilson And His Orchestra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I just can't resist you
You're so desirable
I have to give in
That trim resolve I made
Has vanished away now
I'm happy to say now
You win
You're so adorable
The moment I saw you
It's just deplorable
The fool that I've been
And yet I'm glad
You've got my heart dear
Like a butterfly on a pin
You're so desirable
I had to give in
In Teddy Wilson & His Orchestra's song They Say, the lyrics discuss the power of desire and how it can overpower one's willpower and rationale. The singer conveys that despite their initial resistance towards the subject of the song, they have ultimately succumbed to temptation and given in to their desires. The use of words such as "desirable" and "adorable" emphasize the strong attraction the singer has towards this person.
The line "That trim resolve I made has vanished away now" implies that the singer had previously made a promise or decision to resist this person's charms, but it has proved to be futile. Additionally, the line "Like a butterfly on a pin" suggests that the singer's heart is captured and trapped, unable to escape their desire.
The repetition of the phrase "I had to give in" emphasizes the inevitability and power of desire, while also conveying a sense of resignation on the singer's part. Overall, the lyrics convey the idea that desire can be all-consuming and lead one to act against their better judgement.
Line by Line Meaning
You're so desirable
You are extremely attractive or appealing
I just can't resist you
I cannot help but be drawn to you
I have to give in
I have no choice but to succumb to your charm
That trim resolve I made
The strong determination I had
Has vanished away now
Has disappeared completely
I'm happy to say now
I am pleased to reveal that
You win
You have succeeded in winning me over
You're so adorable
You are cute and endearing
The moment I saw you
As soon as I laid eyes on you
It's just deplorable
It is a disgrace or shameful
The fool that I've been
The foolish person that I have acted as
And yet I'm glad
Despite this, I am still happy
You've got my heart dear
You have captured my affections, my dear
Like a butterfly on a pin
I am trapped or immobilized like an insect in a collection
You're so desirable
You are irresistible and captivating
I had to give in
I had no other choice but to surrender to your allure
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: RAY NOBLE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind