Frank Wilson (musician) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Frank Wilson
Background information
Birth name	Frank Edward Wilson
Born	(1940-12-05)December 5, 1940 Houston, Texas
Died	September 27, 2012(2012-09-27) (aged 71) Duarte, California
Genres	Soul, gospel
Occupation(s)	Songwriter, record producer
Instruments	Vocals
Years active	1965–2012
Labels	Motown Records

Frank Edward Wilson (born December 5, 1940 – died September 27, 2012) was an American songwriter, singer, and record producer. He was well-known for his work with Motown Records.

Biography

In 1965, Berry Gordy, who started Motown Records, asked some producers to open a Motown office in Los Angeles. Frank Wilson joined their team. In December 1965, the first song released from this new office was "Stevie" by Patrice Holloway. Frank Wilson helped write this song.

Later, Berry Gordy asked Wilson to move to Detroit, where Motown's main office was. There, Frank Wilson became a very important songwriter and producer. He created many hit songs for famous artists like Brenda Holloway, Marvin Gaye, the Supremes, the Miracles, the Four Tops, the Temptations, and Eddie Kendricks. He became even more important after the famous songwriting team Holland-Dozier-Holland left Motown.

After leaving Motown, Wilson continued to produce music. He helped Lenny Williams, a former singer for Tower of Power, create an album that sold enough copies to earn a gold disc. He also produced albums for Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis Jr., who were once part of the Fifth Dimension. He even produced the Grammy-nominated album Motown Comes Home.

Frank Wilson also tried being a recording artist himself. He recorded a song called "Do I Love You (Indeed I Do)" for Motown's 'Soul' label. Only about 250 special demo records were made. Wilson decided he wanted to focus on producing instead, so he tried to get rid of these demos. However, at least two copies survived. One of these rare records sold for over £25,000 in 2009! Because it is so hard to find and the music is so good, this song is considered one of the rarest and most valuable records ever. It was very popular in the Northern soul music scene.

In 1976, Wilson left Motown and became a Christian minister. He traveled and wrote books with his wife, Bunny Wilson. He also produced gospel music. In 2004, he received an honorary doctorate degree. He also started the New Dawn Christian Village in Los Angeles.

Books

Frank Wilson wrote two books: The Master Degree-Majoring in Your Marriage and Unmasking the Lone Ranger. The second book was a best-seller for men. He led seminars based on his books both in the United States and other countries. Wilson also appeared on many television talk shows, including Two on the Town, The Other Half, and The Oprah Winfrey Show.

Early and personal life

Frank Wilson was born in Houston, Texas, on December 5, 1940. His parents were James Wilson and Samanther Gibbs. He attended Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, for one year. He lost his scholarship during his second year because he took part in a civil rights protest. While he was still a teenager, he moved to Los Angeles, California.

His first wife was singer Barbara Jean Dedmon, who passed away in 1966. His second wife was Bunny Wilson. They had four daughters together, including the author Fawn Weaver. He also had one son from an earlier relationship.

Frank Wilson passed away on September 27, 2012, in Duarte, California. He was 71 years old and had been battling prostate cancer for a long time.

Discography

Songwriting and song production highlights

Albums

Singles

See also

In Spanish: Frank Wilson para niños