Jimmy Wilson (possibly January 21, 1918, 1921 or 1923 – February 5, 1965 or February 24, 1966) was an American West Coast blues singer, best known for his 1953 hit "Tin Pan Alley".
Details of Wilson's life are sketchy and uncertain. He may have been born Jimmie Ned Wilson in Gibsland, Louisiana in 1918, or (according to other sources) near Lake Charles, Louisiana a few years later.
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| Rising Star Gospel Singers |
Jimmy Wilson was never interviewed, and the very little known about him comes from the memories of a couple of musicians who worked with him at various times. He started out singing with a gospel quartet, the Pilgrim Travelers in California and toured the West Coast ,but his first recordings were with the Rising Star Gospel Singers by Bob Geddings in 1946. He switched to R&B at the instigation of west coast producer-songwriter Geddins who began to record him in Oakland in 1951.
Initially Wilson was with Bob Geddins' Cavaliers, but further recordings were made under Wilson's own name, often accompanied by guitarist Lafayette Thomas. Some of the masters were purchased by Aladdin Records which was based in Los Angeles, and Wilson recorded for Aladdin in 1952 before returning to record for Geddins' Big Town Records in 1953.
Most of his records sold well locally, without crossing over to the mainstream. The one exception was Jimmy’s ‘signature song’, the original version of the blues standard ‘Tin Pan Alley’ which reached number 10 on the US Billboard R&B chart in 1953 and helped to establish Geddins as a major figure in West Coast blues. In 1954 he had a local on the subsidiary Rhythm label with “Strangest Blues.”
Wilson failed to capitalize on the success of "Tin Pan Alley". Jimmy moved away from North California and continued recording in Louisiana, where he recorded for Goldband Records. His 1958 song "Please Accept My Love" was later recorded by B. B. King and Elton Anderson. His last recordings were for Duke Records in Houston in 1961. Wilson became an alcoholic and died on arrival at Parkland Hospital in Dallas, Texas on February 24, 1966. Virtually forgotten by the record-buying public, he was buried at Lincoln Memorial Cemetery in Dallas.
(Edited from Wikipedia, Wirz’ American Music, Jasmine & Acrobat liner notes)
