Chris Wilson (Australian musician) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Chris Wilson
Wilson performing at the East Brunswick Social Club, Melbourne, April 2008
Background information
Birth name	Christopher John Wilson
Born	(1956-12-02)2 December 1956 Alphington, Victoria, Australia
Died	16 January 2019(2019-01-16) (aged 62) Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Genres	Blues-rock, rock, country, folk
Occupation(s)	Musician, songwriter, teacher
Instruments	Guitar, vocals, harmonica, saxophone
Years active	1984–2018
Labels	Crawdaddy, Aurora/Mushroom, Black Market, Forge
Associated acts	Harem Scarem, Paul Kelly and the Coloured Girls, X, Crown of Thorns, Johnny Diesel

Christopher John Wilson (born 2 December 1956 – died 16 January 2019) was an Australian blues musician. He was known for his amazing singing and for playing the harmonica, saxophone, and guitar. Chris was part of several bands like the Sole Twisters, Harem Scarem, and Paul Kelly and the Coloured Girls. He also led his own band called Crown of Thorns.

Chris Wilson released many solo albums during his career. These included Landlocked (1992), The Long Weekend (1998), Spiderman (2000), King for a Day (2002), Flying Fish (2012), and his self-titled album Chris Wilson (2018). In 1996, he teamed up with Johnny Diesel for a blues project called Wilson Diesel. Their album, Short Cool Ones, was very popular and reached No. 18 on the Australian music charts. Besides music, Chris also taught English at high schools in Melbourne for about 20 years.

Sadly, in July 2018, it was announced that Chris was facing a serious health challenge and might not be able to perform anymore. His friends and fellow musicians quickly organized a fundraising concert, which sold out very fast. A special online page also raised a lot of money to support him. In 2020, Chris Wilson was honored by being added to the Music Victoria Hall of Fame.

Chris Wilson's Early Life and Music Journey

Growing Up and Starting Music (1956–1987)

Christopher John Wilson was born in 1956 and grew up in Alphington, a suburb of Melbourne, Australia. Before becoming a full-time musician, he studied at university and worked as an English teacher for about 20 years.

In 1984, Chris joined an R&B band called Sole Twisters. His early musical heroes were Australian blues bands like Chain and Carson. In September 1985, Chris, playing harmonica and saxophone, joined a blues group called Harem Scarem. They released their first album, Pilgrim's Progress, in 1986.

While with Harem Scarem, Chris also played harmonica on Paul Kelly and the Coloured Girls' first album, Gossip (1986). By May 1987, Chris left Harem Scarem to tour North America with Paul Kelly. Chris later said that Paul Kelly encouraged him to play more saxophone, even though he wasn't very experienced at the time. That same year, Chris also played on albums for Hunters & Collectors and Paul Kelly's next album, Under the Sun. He also performed with the hard rock band X.

Forming His Own Bands (1987–1991)

In 1987, Chris Wilson started his own band called Crown of Thorns. The band included Barry Palmer and Chris Rodgers. One music reviewer described their sound as a mix of different styles, including blues, country, and rock 'n' roll.

Their first release was a six-song collection called Gnawing on the Bones of Elvis in April 1988. It featured both electric blues and acoustic folk songs. Crown of Thorns then released a full album, Carnival, in 1989. This album was praised for mixing blues, country, and folk music with lots of energy. It included Chris's song "The Ballad of Slim Boy Fat," which was a highlight. In 1990, the band released another album, Babylon.

In late 1990, Chris formed a short-lived group called The Pub Dogs. They released a live recording called Scatter's Liver: Pub Dogs Live on the Wireless in 1991. Chris also provided lead vocals for Robin Casinader's first solo album, All This Will Be Yours, in August 1991.

Chris Wilson's Solo Career Takes Off (1992–1995)

In 1992, Chris Wilson formed the Chris Wilson Band. They released a short collection of songs called The Big One in May, followed by his solo album, Landlocked, in June. The band included talented musicians like Jen Anderson, Rebecca Barnard, Peter Luscombe, and Shane O'Mara.

In June 1992, Chris Wilson and Crown of Thorns toured together. One reviewer described Chris as a powerful performer who sang and played harmonica with incredible energy. In October, Chris released another collection of songs called Alimony Blues. It featured his amazing version of the song "Born Under a Bad Sign."

In March 1993, Chris performed at a concert in Hollywood called The Melbourne Shuffle, alongside other Australian singer-songwriters like Paul Kelly and Deborah Conway. A reviewer noted Chris's strong, dramatic voice and his witty comments between songs.

Chris Wilson was nominated for two major awards at the ARIA Music Awards of 1993: Best Male Artist and Breakthrough Artist – Album for Landlocked. In June 1993, Chris also played on Acuff's Rose's album, Never Comin' Down.

On 20 May 1994, Chris's performance at the Continental Hotel was recorded and released as the album Live at the Continental in October. This album earned him another nomination for Best Male Artist at the ARIA Music Awards of 1995. Chris toured a lot, playing at many festivals in Australia and overseas. He even shared the stage with famous artists like Bob Dylan and Johnny Diesel.

Continued Musical Success (1996–2012)

In March 1996, Chris Wilson and Johnny Diesel released their album Short Cool Ones as Wilson Diesel. This album was a big hit, reaching No. 18 on the Australian music charts. It featured 15 classic soul and R&B songs, plus one original song. This album became one of the most successful blues albums in Australian history.

Chris's next solo album, The Long Weekend, was released in March 1998 as a double CD. It had 22 excellent songs that blended blues, gospel, and country music. Chris received another nomination for Best Male Artist at the ARIA Music Awards of 1998 for The Long Weekend. In November, he performed at the Mushroom 25 Concert, both as a solo artist and with Wilson Diesel. In January 1999, Chris was a supporting act for Elvis Costello on his Australian tour.

By 2000, Chris had formed Chris Wilson and the Spidermen. He released his solo album Spiderman that year. Rhythms Magazine readers voted Spiderman as the Best Australian Blues Album of 2000. Reviewers praised the album for its mix of original songs and covers, noting how Chris made the cover songs feel like his own.

In May 2002, Chris recorded his next album, King for a Day, which was released in July 2002. It featured his band members and guest musicians. In March 2003, a reviewer described Chris's voice as "magnificent," ranging from soft and gentle to a powerful roar. They also noted his superb harmonica playing.

Later Years and Legacy (2013–Present)

On 26 October 2013, Wilson Diesel reunited to perform their entire Short Cool Ones album at the Sydney Blues & Roots Festival.

On 30 October 2019, Chris Wilson was honored by being inducted into the Blues Music Victoria Inc Hall of Fame as the 2019 Peoples Choice, Victorian Blues Legend. In 2020, he was also inducted into the Music Victoria Awards' Hall of Fame, recognizing his lasting impact on Australian music.

Chris Wilson's Family Life and Passing

Chris Wilson was married to Sarah, and they had two sons. He passed away on 16 January 2019, after being diagnosed with a serious illness in 2018.

Chris Wilson's Music Albums

Studio Albums

Live Albums

Singles (Songs Released Separately)

Awards and Nominations

ARIA Music Awards

The ARIA Music Awards are a big yearly event that celebrates the best in Australian music.

Blues Music Victoria Inc Awards

On 30 October 2019, Chris Wilson was added to the Blues Music Victoria Inc Hall of Fame as the 2019 Peoples Choice, Victorian Blues Legend.

Music Victoria Awards

The Music Victoria Awards are an annual event celebrating music from Victoria, Australia. In 2020, Chris Wilson was inducted into their Hall of Fame.