杰基·威尔逊（Jackie Wilson，1934年6月9日—1984年1月21日），美国传奇R&B歌手，以高亢的声线，华丽的舞步著称，影响了后世许多歌手，代表作《Lonely Teardrops》。

人物经历

Mr. Excitementrhythm and bluesintosoul. He was considered a master showman, one of the most dynamic and influential singers and performers in R&B and rock history.Gaining fame in his early years as a member of theR&Bvocal groupBilly Ward and His Dominoes, he went solo in 1957 and recorded over 50 hit singles that spannedR&B,pop,soul,doo-wopandeasy listening. During a 1975 benefit concert, he collapsed on-stage from a heart attack and subsequently fell into acomathat persisted for nearly nine years until his death in 1984, aged 49. By this time, he had become one of the most influential artists of his generation.

A two-timeGrammy Hall of FameInductee, Jackie Wilson was inducted to theRock and Roll Hall of Famein 1987.In 2004,Rolling Stonemagazine ranked Jackie Wilson #69 on their list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.

Early years and career

Jack Leroy Wilson, Jr. was born on June 9, 1934 inDetroit,Michigan, the only son of Jack Sr. and Eliza Mae Wilson, as she lost 2 previous children. Eliza Mae was born on The Billups-Whitfield Place inColumbus, Mississippi. Her parents were Tom and Virginia Ransom. Jackie often visited his family in Columbus and was greatly influenced by the choir at Billups Chapel. Growing up in the rough Detroit area ofHighland Park, Wilson joined a gang called the Shakers (the name taken from the Shaker Heights section of Detroit[sup]disputed(for: geographical accuracy) –discuss[/sup]) and often found himself in trouble. Wilson's father was frequently absent, as he was alcoholic and usually out of work. Wilson began singing at an early age, accompanying his mother, once a choir singer, to church. In his early teens Jackie joined a quartet, the Ever Ready Gospel Singers, which became a popular feature of churches in the area. Jackie wasn't very religious, he just loved to sing and the cash he and his group earned came in handy for the cheap wine which he drank since the age of nine.Jack Sr. and Eliza separated shortly after Jackie turned nine.

Wilson dropped out of high school at age 15, having already been sentenced to detention in the Lansing Corrections system for juveniles twice. During his second stint in detention, he learnedboxingand started performing in the amateur circuit in the Detroit area at the age of 16. His record in the Golden Gloves was 2 and 8. After his mother pleaded with him to quit, Wilson got married to Freda Hood and became a father at 17. It is rumored that he fathered at least 10 other children and was forced to marry Hood by her father. He gave up boxing for music, first working at Lee's Sensation club as a solo singer,then forming a group called the Falcons (not to be confused with The FalconsWilson Pickettwas part of), that included cousinLevi Stubbs, who later went on to lead theFour Tops(two more of Wilson's cousins, Hubert Johnson and Levi's brother Joe, later became members ofThe Contours). The other members joinedHank Ballardas part ofThe Midnighters.

Jackie Wilson was soon discovered by talent agentJohnny Otis, who assigned him to join a group called the Thrillers. That group would later be known asThe Royals(who would later evolve into R&B group,The Midnighters, but Wilson wasn't part of the group when they changed their name and signed withKing Records).LaVern Baker,Little Willie John,Johnnie RayClyde McPhatter, who had left and formed his own group,The Drifters

Ward felt a stage name would fit The Dominoes' image, henceJackieRoy Brownwas also an influence on him, and Wilson grew up listening toThe Mills Brothers,The Ink Spots,Louis JordanandAl Jolson.

Brunswick.

Solo stardom

Reet PetiteHe's So FineGwendolynThat's Why (I Love You So)Lonely Teardrops

James Brown,Michael JacksonandElvis Presley

In 1958, Davis and Gordy left Wilson and Brunswick after royalty disputes escalated between them and Nat Tarnopol. Davis soon became a successful staffsongwriterand producer forChess Records, while Gordy borrowed $800 from his family and used money he earned from royalties writing for Wilson to start his own recording studio,Hitsville USA, the foundation ofMotown Recordsin his native Detroit. Meanwhile, convinced that Wilson could venture out of R&B androck and roll, Tarnopol had the singer recordoperaticballads and easy listening material, pairing him with Decca Records' veteran arranger Dick Jacobs.

Also in 1961, Wilson recorded a tribute album toAl Jolson,Nowstalgia...You Ain't Heard Nothin' Yet

Count Basie, as well as a series of duets withrhythm and blueslegend Lavern Baker andgospelsinger Linda Hopkins.

In 1966, he scored the first of two big comeback singles with establishedChicago soulproducerCarl Davis(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and HigherI Get the Sweetest FeelingEdwin Starr,Will Young,Erma Franklin(Aretha's sister) andLiz McClarnon.

A key to his musical rebirth was that Davis insisted that Wilson no longer record with Brunswick's musicians in New York; instead, he would record with legendary Detroit musicians normally employed byMotown Recordsand also Davis' own Chicago-based session players. The Detroit musicians, known asThe Funk Brothers, participated on Wilson's recordings due to their respect for Davis and Wilson.

By 1975, Wilson andThe Chi-Lites

Death

On September 29, 1975, Wilson was one of the featured acts inDick Clark'sGood Ol' Rock and Roll RevueThe Coasters, who was backstage, noticed Wilson was not breathing. Gunter was able to resuscitate him and Wilson was then rushed to a nearby hospital.

Medical personnel worked nearly 30 minutes to stabilize his vitals, but the lack ofoxygento hisbraincaused him to slip into acoma. He briefly emerged in early 1976, and was even able to take a few wobbly stepsbut slipped back into a semi-comatose state. He was a resident of the Medford Leas Retirement Center in Mount Holly, NJ when he was admitted into Memorial Hospital of Burlington County, NJ due to having trouble taking nourishment, according to Wilson's attorney John Mulkerin.

Jackie Wilson died on January 21, 1984, at the age of 49 from complications of pneumonia. Initially, he was buried in an unmarked grave at Westlawn Cemetery near Detroit. In 1987, a fundraiser collected enough money to purchase a headstone.

Tributes and legacy

In 1985, the soul/funk bandthe CommodoresNightshiftMarvin Gaye, who had both died in 1984. Reaching No. 1 R&B and No. 3 pop in the US, and topping theDutchsingles chart, it was the group's biggest post-Lionel Richiehit.

Van MorrisonJackie Wilson Said (I'm in Heaven When You Smile)Saint Dominic's Preview. This song was later covered byDexy's Midnight Runners. When the track was performed on the British TV showTop of the Pops, a picture ofdartsplayerJocky Wilsonwas used instead. This has often been speculated to be a mistake but Dexy's frontmanKevin Rowlandstated that it was a deliberate joke by the band.

Michael Jacksonhonored Jackie Wilson at the 1984Grammy Awards. Jackson dedicated his Album of the Year Grammy forThriller

Until Jackson's comments, Wilson's recording legacy had been dormant for almost a decade. Tarnopol owned Wilson's recordings due to Brunswick's separation fromMCA, but the label had essentially closed down, essentially deleting Wilson's considerable recorded legacy. But when Jackson praised Wilson at the Grammys, interest in the legendary singer stirred, and Tarnopol released the first Wilson album (a two-record compilation) in almost nine years throughEpic Records, Jackson's label at the time. Through Tarnopol's son, Wilson's music has become more available.

In theVH-15-part television special,Say It Loud: A Celebration of Black Music in America, fellow Rock and Roll Hall of FamersSmokey RobinsonandBobby Womackthemost dynamic singer and performer that I think I'veeverrealElvis Presley, as far as I'm concerned...and Elvis took a lot from him too.

In his autobiographyTo Be Loved(named for one of the hit tunes he wrote for Jackie) Motown founderBerry GordyTo Be Lovedby Berry Gordy,1994, pg 88.)

Thugz MansionTupac Shakur. The lyric is:

Seen a show with Marvin Gaye last night,

It had me shook, sippin' peppermint schnapps

With Jackie Wilson, and Sam Cooke.

Reet PetiteUnited Kingdom,Irelandand theNetherlandsI Get the Sweetest Feeling(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher

Lonely TeardropsRolling Stonemagazine's list of the500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

Wilson was inducted into theRock and Roll Hall of Famein 1987; that same year, he was portrayed in theRitchie ValensbiopicLa BambabyHoward Huntsberry.

John Mellencamp.

Wilson and 'Lonely Teardrops' are referenced in the 1993 song 'Jupiter and Teardrop' byGrant Lee Buffaloon their debut album 'Fuzzy.'

Coming to America, when Akeem and Lisa were falling in love. Akeem (Eddie Murphy) later came back home singing the song loudly (and poorly), waking up and infuriating his neighbors.

Ghostbusters II,thesoundtrack albumof which featured acover versionof the song by Howard Huntsberry.

In 1992, Wilson was portrayed in theABCminiseries by Grady Harrell inThe Jacksons: An American Dream.

Also in 1994,Peter TorkStranger Things Have Happened.

In 2007, Wilson's music was featured in afilm adaptationofIrvine Welsh's bookEcstasy: Three Tales of Chemical Romance.

In September 2010, Wilson's hit song, That's Why (I Love You So), appeared onDick Clark's Rock, Roll and Remember.

On November 18, 2011 theBlack Ensemble TheaterofChicago, produced a musical about Jackie Wilson's life that closed March 18, 2012