Gerald Wilson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gerald Wilson
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Wilson in 2005
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Gerald Stanley Wilson |
| Born | September 4, 1918 Shelby, Mississippi, U.S. |
| Died | September 8, 2014 (aged 96) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Genres | Jazz, pop |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, composer, bandleader |
| Instruments | Trumpet |
| Years active | 1938–2012 |
| Labels | Capitol, Pacific Jazz, Discovery, Mack Avenue |
| Associated acts | Nancy Wilson, Sarah Vaughan, Ray Vasquez, Jimmy Lunceford |
Gerald Stanley Wilson (born September 4, 1918 – died September 8, 2014) was an amazing American jazz musician. He was a talented trumpet player, a leader of big bands, a composer (someone who writes music), and an arranger (someone who puts music together for different instruments). Wilson was born in Mississippi but lived in Los Angeles for most of his life, starting in the 1940s. He wrote music for many famous artists like Duke Ellington, Sarah Vaughan, and Ray Charles.
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Early Life and Music Beginnings
Gerald Wilson was born in Shelby, Mississippi. When he was 16, he moved to Detroit, Michigan. There, he went to Cass Technical High School. In 1939, he joined the Jimmie Lunceford orchestra, which was a very popular big band. He played the trumpet and also helped arrange music for the band. He even wrote some songs for them, like "Hi Spook" and "Yard-dog Mazurka."
During World War II, Wilson played in the U.S. Navy band for a short time. He played alongside other great musicians like Clark Terry. Later, many members of this Navy band reunited to play together again. Wilson also played and arranged music for other famous bands, including those led by Benny Carter, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, and Dizzy Gillespie.
Leading His Own Bands
In the mid-1940s, Gerald Wilson started his own band. They became quite successful. In 1956, his 20-piece orchestra played at a big jazz event called the "Cavalcade of Jazz" in Los Angeles. Many other famous musicians, like Dinah Washington and Little Richard, also performed that day.
In 1960, Wilson started another band in Los Angeles. This band made many popular recordings for the Pacific Jazz record label. His 1968 album California Soul had a song of the same name and even a jazz version of The Doors' hit song "Light My Fire". Many talented musicians played in his band over the years, including trumpeters Snooky Young and Carmell Jones, and saxophonists like Harold Land.
Gerald Wilson's wife, Josefina, was Mexican-American. Many of his songs were inspired by Spanish and Mexican culture. One of his most famous songs, "Viva Tirado," later became a hit for the rock band El Chicano. Wilson loved his family very much. He wrote songs for his three daughters, his son Anthony, and his grandchildren.
Later Career and Teaching
Wilson continued to lead bands and record music for many years. He often included his son, Anthony Wilson, who is a guitarist, in his recordings. He also kept writing songs with Spanish influences, like "Carlos" and "Lomelin," which were named after famous bullfighters.
In 1990, Gerald Wilson was given the NEA Jazz Masters Award, which is a very high honor for jazz musicians. He also created a special song for the Monterey Jazz Festival in 1998. He often conducted (led) jazz orchestras on both the West and East coasts of the U.S. He even conducted the BBC Big Band in England in 2005.
Wilson was also a teacher for many years. He taught jazz history at universities like California State University, Los Angeles and the University of California, Los Angeles. He even won a "teacher of the year" award!
Gerald Wilson had a very unique and exciting way of conducting his orchestra. He would move his body and hands like a dancer, making the music come alive. He once said, "I choreograph the music as I conduct." In 2007, he recorded an album called Monterey Moods, which featured songs he had written for the Monterey Jazz Festival's 50th anniversary. His last album, Legacy, was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2011.
Death
Gerald Wilson passed away at his home in Los Angeles, California, on September 8, 2014. He was 96 years old, and his death came just four days after his birthday.
Awards and Honors
Gerald Wilson received many important awards for his contributions to jazz music:
- 1990: NEA Jazz Masters Award
- 1996: The Library of Congress created an archive of his life's work.
- 1997: American Jazz Award for Best Arranger and Best Big Band
- 2008: Monterey Jazz Festival Jazz Legends Award
- 2012: Los Angeles County Museum of Art/Los Angeles Jazz Society L.A. Jazz Treasure Award
He was also nominated for several Grammy Awards, which are very famous music awards.
Discography as Leader
Gerald Wilson led many of his own albums. Here are some of them:
- You Better Believe It! (1961)
- Moment of Truth (1962)
- Portraits (1964)
- On Stage (1965)
- Feelin' Kinda Blues (1966)
- The Golden Sword (1966)
- Live and Swinging (1967)
- Everywhere (1968)
- California Soul (1968)
- Eternal Equinox (1969)
- Lomelin (1981)
- Jessica (1982)
- Calafia (1984)
- Jenna (1989)
- State Street Sweet (1994)
- Theme for Monterey (1997)
- New York, New Sound (2003)
- In My Time (2005)
- Monterey Moods (2007)
- Detroit (2009)
- Legacy (2011)
See also
In Spanish: Gerald Wilson para niños
