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 |
| Labels |
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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 famous for being the lead singer of The Fabulous Thunderbirds. With this band, he had two popular songs in the 1980s: "Tuff Enuff" and "Wrap It Up." "Tuff Enuff" was their only song to reach the Top 40 on the music charts.
Contents
Kim Wilson's Musical Journey
Kim Wilson was born in Detroit, Michigan, in 1951. He grew up in Goleta, California. When he was young, he sometimes used the stage name "Goleta Slim." He started playing the blues in the late 1960s.
Learning the Blues
Kim learned from many great blues musicians. Some of his teachers included Muddy Waters, Jimmy Rogers, and Albert Collins. He was also inspired by harmonica players like Little Walter and James Cotton. These artists helped shape his unique style.
Forming The Fabulous Thunderbirds
Before moving to Austin, Texas, in 1974, Kim led a band called Aces, Straights and Shuffles. They released one single. In Austin, he met guitarist Jimmie Vaughan. Together, they formed The Fabulous Thunderbirds. Their band became the regular performers at Antone's, a famous blues club.
Performing Around the World
Kim Wilson is still very active in music today. He performs up to 300 concerts each 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. His harmonica playing is known for sounding like a full horn section.
Awards and Appearances
In 2015, Kim Wilson played harmonica on Karen Lovely's album, Ten Miles of Bad Road. The next year, in 2016, he won a Blues Music Award. This award was for being the best harmonica player. Kim also appeared on television in 1989. He played himself in an episode of the show Wiseguy.
Kim Wilson's Music Albums
Kim Wilson has released many albums, both on his own and with other artists.
Solo Albums
- 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 on Other Albums
Kim Wilson has also played on albums by many other musicians.
- Ronnie Earl, Smokin' (1983)
- Roomful of Blues, Dressed Up To Get Messed Up (1984)
- Katie Webster, The Swamp Boogie Queen (1988)
- People Get Ready – A Tribute to Curtis Mayfield (1993)
- Bonnie Raitt, Road Tested (1995)
- 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 (2002)
- Louisiana Red, Back to the Black Bayou (Ruf Records, 2008)
- Eric Clapton, Clapton (Reprise, 2010)
- Mark Knopfler, Privateering (2012)
- Smokin' Joe Kubek & Bnois King, Road Dog's Life (Delta Groove Productions, 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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Performing in San Diego 2007
