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
Easy Living
Teddy Wilson and His Orchestra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's easy to live when you're in love
And I'm so in love
There is nothing in life but you
I never regret the things that I'm giving
They're easy to give when you're in love
I'm happy to do whatever I do for you
For you maybe I'm a fool
But it's fun
People say you rule me with one wave of your hand
Darling, it's grand
They just don't understand
Living for you is easy living
It's easy to live when you're in love
And I'm so in love
There's nothing in life but you
For you maybe I'm a fool
But it's fun
People say you rule me with one wave of your hand
Baby, it's grand
They just don't understand
Living for you is easy living
It's easy to live when you're in love
And I'm so in love
There's nothing in life but you
The lyrics of Teddy Wilson and His Orchestra's song 'Easy Living' describe how the singer feels about their lover. The singer finds it easy to live and give everything to their lover. They are so in love, to the point where there is nothing else in their life but their lover. The singer expresses that even though people may think they are a fool for giving their all to their lover, it's worth it because being in love is fun. People may say that their lover rules over them, but the singer does not care because they are happy with their relationship.
The lyrics of this song paint a picture of someone who is deeply in love and willing to do anything for their partner. It portrays a feeling of contentment and fulfillment found in being in love with another person. It's clear that the singer is happy and feels cherished in their relationship. This song evokes feelings of warmth and devotion, and reminds listeners of the beauty of love.
Line by Line Meaning
Living for you is easy living
It's effortless to exist when you're giving your all to someone
It's easy to live when you're in love
Being in love makes life feel light and uncomplicated
And I'm so in love
I'm head over heels for you
There is nothing in life but you
You are the only thing that matters to me
I never regret the things that I'm giving
I don't think twice about what I'm doing for you because it's a joy to give to someone I love
They're easy to give when you're in love
It's effortless to give when you're head over heels for someone
I'm happy to do whatever I do for you
I get joy out of doing things for you
For you maybe I'm a fool
Some may think I'm foolish for how head over heels I am for you
But it's fun
But I'm having a blast being in love with you
People say you rule me with one wave of your hand
Others believe you have complete control over me with a simple gesture
Darling, it's grand
But they just don't understand how wonderful it is
They just don't understand
People outside of our relationship can't comprehend how great it is to be in love
Baby, it's grand
But we know how amazing it is to be in love with each other
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Capitol CMG Publishing, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: LEO ROBIN, RALPH RAINGER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@mrjimmienoone2130
One of her most beautiful performances. Lester Young's short solo is just marvellous.
@judyglasel5870
Hello Jose Angel Gonzalez,
Thank you for making this wonderful music available to us ! Is there any chance you could post the names of the band members ? I would appreciate it SO much !
@marialazcano5702
Precioso.
@thexxredxpickle
Ive slowly come to realize that most of my music taste come from fallout 3
@mrs.purple4784
so delicious... <3
@Semper_Fidelis_
1:37
Start