Kim Wilson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kim Wilson
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Wilson performing in 1996
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| Background information | |
| Born | January 6, 1951 Detroit, Michigan, United States |
| Genres | Blues |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments | Vocals, harmonica |
| Years active | Late 1960s–present |
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| Associated acts | The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Kim Wilson Blues Revue, Eric Clapton, Jimmy Reed, Muddy Waters, Mark Knopfler |
Kim Wilson (born January 6, 1951) is an American blues singer and harmonica player. He is best known as the lead singer for The Fabulous Thunderbirds. This band had two popular songs in the 1980s: "Tuff Enuff" and "Wrap It Up." "Tuff Enuff" was their only song to reach the Top 40 music charts.
Contents
Kim Wilson's Musical Journey
Kim Wilson was born in Detroit, Michigan, in 1951. He grew up in Goleta, California. Sometimes, he used the stage name "Goleta Slim."
Starting with the Blues
Kim started playing blues music in the late 1960s. He learned from famous blues musicians like Muddy Waters and Jimmy Rogers. He was also inspired by harmonica players such as Little Walter and James Cotton.
Before moving to Austin, Texas, in 1974, Kim led a band called Aces, Straights and Shuffles. They were based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and released one song.
Forming The Fabulous Thunderbirds
In Austin, Kim Wilson and guitarist Jimmie Vaughan started a band called The Fabulous Thunderbirds. They became the main band at Antone's, a famous blues club. This club was owned by Clifford Antone.
Performing Around the World
Kim Wilson still performs a lot of concerts every year. He plays at blues music festivals and clubs all over the world. He performs both with The Fabulous Thunderbirds and with his own group, Kim Wilson's Blues Allstars.
People say his harmonica playing is very powerful. It sounds like a whole section of horn instruments playing together.
In 2015, Kim played harmonica on Karen Lovely's album, Ten Miles of Bad Road. In 2016, he won a Blues Music Award for being the best harmonica player. Kim also appeared on the TV show Wiseguy in 1989.
Kim Wilson's Music Albums
Kim Wilson has released many albums, both on his own and with other musicians.
Solo Albums
These are albums where Kim Wilson is the main artist:
- 1993: Tigerman (Antone's)
- 1994: That's Life (Antone's)
- 1997: My Blues (Blue Collar)
- 2001: Smokin' Joint (M.C. Records)
- 2003: Looking for Trouble (M.C. Records)
- 2006: My Blues Sessions: Kim's Mix, Volume I (Bluebeat)
- 2017: Blues and Boogie, Vol. 1 (Severn)
- 2020: Take Me Back - The Bigtone Sessions (M.C. Records)
Guest Appearances
Kim Wilson has also played harmonica or sung on albums by other artists:
- Ronnie Earl, Smokin' (1983)
- Roomful of Blues, Dressed Up To Get Messed Up (1984)
- Ronnie Earl, They Call Me Mr. Earl (1984)
- Ron Levy's Wild Kingdon, Ron Levy's Wild Kingdom (1988)
- People Get Ready – A Tribute to Curtis Mayfield (1993)
- Snuff Johnson, Will The Circle Be Unbroken (Black Magic Records, 1994)
- Bonnie Raitt, Road Tested (1995)
- Kid Ramos, Kid Ramos (1999)
- James Cotton, 35th Anniversary Jam of the James Cotton Blues Band (Telarc, 2001)
- Big Jack Johnson, The Memphis Barbecue Sessions (2002)
- JW-Jones, Bogart's Bounce (guest, 2002)
- JW-Jones, My Kind of Evil (producer and guest, 2004)
- Wentus Blues Band, Family Album (Bluelight Records, 2004)
- Barrelhouse Chuck, Got My Eyes on You (2007)
- Omar Kent Dykes & Jimmie Vaughan, Jimmy Reed Highway (2007)
- Louisiana Red, Back to the Black Bayou (Ruf Records, 2008)
- Elvin Bishop, The Blues Rolls On (2008)
- Eric Clapton, Clapton (Reprise, 2010)
- Mark Knopfler, Privateering (2012)
- Smokin' Joe Kubek & Bnois King, Road Dog's Life (Delta Groove Productions, 2013)
- Barrelhouse Chuck, Driftin' From Town To Town (2013)
- The Robert Cray Band, 4 Nights of 40 Years (2015)
- Buddy Guy, Born to Play Guitar (2015)
- Thornetta Davis, Honest Woman (2016)
- Peter Karp, Blue Flame (2018)
- Ash Grunwald, Mojo (2019)
- Peter Frampton, All Blues (2019)
Images for kids
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Kim Wilson performing in San Diego, 2007
