20 years ago today, a great singer died.

[NightTrain]

His name was Jackie Wilson and he was one of the most talented vocalists of the past 50 years, in rock 'n' roll or any other genre you'd care to name.

Wilson began his singing career (after a brief flirtation with boxing) in 1953, replacing Clyde McPhatter as the lead singer of an R&B group called the Dominoes. He went solo in 1957 and enjoyed a string of late-'50s hits, most of them co-written by future Motown founder Berry Gordy, Jr. They included "Reet Petite," "To Be Loved," "Lonely Teardrops," "I'll Be Satisfied," "You Better Know It," "Am I The Man," and "That's Why (I Love You So)."

Wilson's hitmaking streak continued into the early '60s with songs like "Night," "Doggin' Around," "I'm Comin' On Back To You," "Shake! Shake! Shake!" and "Baby Workout." But like so many other first-generation rockers, Wilson's career suffered a decline with the rise of the British Invasion and soul music.

His fortunes changed in 1966, when Wilson hooked up with the Chicago-based record producer Carl Davis. Wilson's single "Whispers (Getting Louder)" shot into the R&B top 10 and just missed it on the pop side, where it peaked at #11. In 1967, Wilson enjoyed his biggest hit in four years, when "(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher" went to #1 R&B and #6 pop. Though the pop hits stopped coming for Wilson after 1967, he remained a constant presence in the R&B top forty through 1972, after which he enjoyed renewed popularity with the white audience on the oldies circuit.

It was during an '50s revival concert in New Jersey that Jackie Wilson suffered a heart attack and collapsed on stage in 1975. He subsequently lapsed into a coma that ended only with his death on January 21, 1984. Jackie Wilson was 49. Sadly, his estate was too poor to afford even a gravestone for the great singer.

Rest in peace, Brother Wilson! You may be gone, but your music most assuredly is not.

[Sapphocrat]

1. My God, has it been 20 years?

He was a pistol, he was. Inimitable.

[Old and In the Way]

2. Thanks for posting.....

I really liked his music. "Higher and Higher" was one of those tunes that'll always be a favorite. Don't listen to much Rap (actually none), but I was a big fan of Redding, Wonder (early 70s), Wilson, Green back in the good old days....

[Pale Blue Dot]

3. How long has it been since we lost Marvin Gaye?

I remember it being around the same time. "Higher and Higher" is one of the alltime great vocal performances.

[NightTrain]

5. Marvin's 20th anniversary is coming up on April 1st.

He died just a day before he would've turned 45. :(

[madrchsod]

4. this white boy

couldn`t get enough of jackie wilson`s music. first heard him on wlac -nashville and my buddies brother had a bunch of his 45`s from the 50`s..it was a toss up between him and jerry butler..ah to be young again,trying to be a cool white boy.....

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

6. Great post on one of my all time favorite entertainers

Doggin Around is my fav Wilson tune and Higher and Higher is my "dig me out of the doldrums" song. Loved that guy!

Thanks, Nighttrain!

[Shanty Oilish]

8. Higher and Higher

my "dig me out of the doldrums" song....

Mine too! I have it in my music files and play it as needed. Better than vitamins, scotch, nookie, even chocolate. :thumbsup:

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

9. Exactly..play then repeat til I SNAP out of it

[mitchum]

11. That song is sheer human exuberance

Every time I hear it, I imagine him thinking, "Hey y'all, dig this!"

RIP, Sweet Jackie Wilson

[DODI]

7. Jackie Wilson said

doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo
doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo
doo doo doo doo

Jackie Wilson said, it was Rick Petite,
Kind of love you got, knocks me off my feet.
Let it all hang out, oh let it all hang out

Ahh you know, I'm so wired up,
don't need no cofee in my cup,
let it all hang out, let it all hang out

watch this
Dang a lang a lang dang a lang a lang a lang.
Dang a lang a lang dang a lang a lang a lang.
doo doo doo doo doo

I'm in heaven, I'm in heaven,
I'm in heaven
when you smile, when you smile,
when you smile, when you smile

and when you walk across the road, it make my heart
go BOOM BOOM BOOM

let it all hang out
baby let it all hang out

There are times, you look my way
heaven child, you'd make my day
let it all hang it out
like the man said let it all hang out

Dang a lang a lang dang a lang a lang a lang.
Dang a lang a lang dang a lang a lang a lang.
doo doo doo doo doo

I'm in heaven, I'm in heaven, I'm in heaven
When you smile, when you smile
I'm in heaven, I'm in heaven, I'm in heaven
When you smile, one more time

I'm in heaven, I'm in heaven, I'm in heaven
When you smile, when you smile

[bubblesby2002]

10. This makes me so sad

It's nice to know someone other than me remembers him. I can still see him singin "Your love keeps lifting me higher and higher", with his jacket slung over his shoulder. Maybe it was on the Ed Sullivan Show. But that is one of my all time favourite songs. Man he could sing.:thumbsup: