Teddy Wilson

For the American actor, see Theodore Wilson. For other uses, see Ted Wilson (disambiguation).

Teddy Wilson
Teddy Wilson at the Turkish Embassy, Washington, D.C., 1940 © William P. Gottlieb
Background information
Birth name	Theodore Shaw Wilson
Born	(1912-11-24)November 24, 1912 Austin, Texas, US
Died	New Britain, Connecticut, US
Genres	Jazz
Occupation(s)	Musician
Instruments	Piano
Associated acts	Louis Armstrong, Earl Hines, Billie Holiday, Lester Young, Lena Horne, Benny Goodman

Theodore Shaw "Teddy" Wilson (November 24, 1912 – July 31, 1986) was an American jazz pianist. Described by critic Scott Yanow as "the definitive swing pianist", Wilson's sophisticated and elegant style was featured on the records of many of the biggest names in jazz, including Louis Armstrong, Lena Horne, Benny Goodman, Billie Holiday, and Ella Fitzgerald. With Goodman, he was one of the first black musicians to appear prominently with white musicians. In addition to his extensive work as a sideman, Wilson also led his own groups and recording sessions from the late 1920s to the 1980s.

Biography

Wilson was born in Austin, Texas, on November 24, 1912. He studied piano and violin at Tuskegee Institute in Tuskegee, Alabama. After working in Speed Webb's 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 one of the first black musicians to perform prominently in a racially integrated group.

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, Helen Ward and Billie Holiday, including many of 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 he chaired the Artists' Committee to elect Benjamin J. Davis. In the 1950s, Wilson taught at the Juilliard School. Wilson can be seen appearing as himself in the 1955 motion picture The Benny Goodman Story. He also worked as music director for the Dick Cavett Show.

Wilson lived quietly in suburban Hillsdale, New Jersey, in the 1960s and 1970s. He performed as a soloist and with pick-up groups until the final years of his life, including leading a trio with his sons Theodore Wilson on bass and Steven Wilson on drums.

Wilson died in New Britain, Connecticut, on July 31, 1986; he was 73. He is buried at Fairview Cemetery in New Britain. In addition to Theodore and Steven, Wilson had three more children, William, James (Jim) and Dune.

Select discography

Wilson at a Benny Goodman rehearsal, 1950

• 1944: Teddy Wilson Sextet (The Onyx Club New York Original Live Recordings)
• 1949: Teddy Wilson Featuring Billie Holiday
• 1952: Runnin' Wild (MGM)
• 1952: Just A Mood - Teddy Wilson Quartet Starring Harry James & Red Norvo (Columbia EP B-1569/5-1277)
• 1956: I Got Rhythm
• 1956: Pres and Teddy
• 1954-56: Teddy Wilson Trio With Jo Jones (Complete Recordings)
• 1959: "Gypsy" in Jazz
• 1972: With Billie in Mind
• 1972: Moonglow (Black Lion)
• 1973: Runnin' Wild (Recorded live at the Montreux Festival) (Black Lion)
• 1976: Live at Santa Tecla
• 1980: Teddy Wilson Trio Revisits the Goodman Years
• 1990: Air Mail Special

As sideman:

• 1933–1942: Billie Holiday, The Quintessential Billie Holiday (Volumes 1-9)
• 1935: Mildred Bailey, Mildred Bailey and Her Alley Cats
• 1935–1939: Benny Goodman, The Complete RCA Victor Small Group Recordings
• 1938: Benny Goodman, The Famous 1938 Carnegie Hall Jazz Concert

External links

• Allmusic