From the Rhythm n News Archives, October 19, 1965
Jackie Wilson’s career (past, present, and future) may be accurately summed up in one word – determination.
As if selling 13 million records wasn’t enough to make an entertainer happy, Jackie has plans to “touch on every phase of show business there is. I want to be in drama, a musical and a movie and I want to help people get started in this business.”
This sincere comment was one of the many Jackie expressed to me as we walked in a quiet hallway outside of the Hollywood A Go Go set. Between his recurring jokes and bits of laughter, the quick witted artist explained how he came up with his singing career.
SWITCHES TO SONGS
Following Junior College in Detroit, Jackie began boxing in Golden Gloves. Upon his mother’s insistence he gave up the boxing and began singing, his second love. “I became the lead singer in a group called Billy Ward and the Dominoes,” Jackie explained “but I couldn’t do what I wanted. That is, be an individual. So I decided to sing by myself.”
I asked Jackie if he was happy about giving up boxing for entertainment. “Tickled to death,” was his immediate reply. His first record “Lonely Teardrops” was a hit and his records have established a pattern for success that is equaled by very few.
JACKIE GRIPES
He has penned several of the tunes that have become million sellers. Among these are “Baby Workout”. “You Better Know It” and “Dogin’ Around.” Jackie admitted that he writes “when I get a bug. I can’t play any instruments, so I have to visualize the entire song in my mind.”
He became serious when he told me that “the smiles on people’s faces when you please them is the nicest thing about entertaining. Truthfully, it’s the greatest!”
Off on another note, Jackie laughed as I questioned him about what bothered him. “Putting on makeup!” He shouted “Ick! And you can quote me.” Also on his list of annoyances was the task of unpacking and packing. Being on the road two hundred days out of 365, he agreed it was an unavoidable consequence.
When does he get time off from his work, he confided that “I love to go to the country and fish and hunt. I’m going hunting, next month in upstate New York and I can hardly wait” he smiled.
POOR PERFORMERS
He became serious once again when I mentioned the British groups. “You mean record wise or promotional?” He asked. I suggested we discuss both and he did. “Record wise, I think they are great. They come up with some really fantastic sounds.” He went on “the promotion wise, I think they’re very poor. They don’t even move. I don’t feel the public gets their money’s worth.”
Jackie enjoys listening to all types of music. He picks Elvis Presley as his favorite performer “because of his fantastic showmanship.” In the female department, I love Barbra Streisand. She is the most beautiful woman in the world when she opens her mouth.” He also enjoys listening to Johnny Mathis, Ramsey Lewis, Judy Garland and Nancy Wilson.
Jackie does all of his own choreography and still practices constantly. But “the end” is a long way off for the gifted Mr. Wilson. He says he’s going to quit “when I’m 72!”
Black and White Photo by Ann Moses.
Editor’s Note: From the IMDb Biography: On September 29, 1975 Wilson suffered a major heart attack while on stage at Dick Clark’s “Traveling Oldies Revue”. As he fell he hit his head on some stage equipment, resulting in serious brain damage. He stayed in a coma until his death at 49 on January 21, 1984.
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