Teacho Wiltshire facts for kids

George "Teacho" Wiltshire (born Audrick Gladstone Wiltshire; September 20, 1909 – September 29, 1968) was a talented musician. He was born in Barbados and became a successful American R&B pianist. Teacho was also a bandleader, leading his own musical groups. He was an arranger, helping musicians create their songs. He also worked as an A&R man, finding new musical talent. Teacho wrote many songs too. He worked with famous artists like Annie Ross, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, the Isley Brothers, and the Drifters. His career was very successful in the 1950s and 1960s.

Early Life and Moving to America

Teacho Wiltshire was born on September 20, 1909. His birth name was Audrick Gladstone Wiltshire. He was born on a farm near Belleplaine in St Andrew Parish, Barbados. In 1917, when he was about eight years old, Teacho moved to the United States. He moved with his mother and they settled in Brooklyn, New York City. Specifically, they lived in the Bedford-Stuyvesant area. Later, his mother got married. Teacho then used his stepfather's last name, Rock, for school. However, as an adult, he was known as George Wiltshire. He got married in 1929, but the couple soon separated.

Music Career and Military Service

In the 1930s, Teacho started playing piano in clubs. These clubs were located in Greenwich Village, New York City. In 1940, he joined the US Marines. He became part of the music department for the 51st Defense Battalion. This group was led by a musician named Bobby Troup. While in the Marines, Teacho got to play with famous musicians. He played with legends like Lionel Hampton, Duke Ellington, and Louis Jordan.

After the war ended, he started using the name "Teacho." No one knows for sure where this nickname came from. He began working as a singer and pianist. He also worked as a talent scout. This meant he looked for new musicians to help them start their careers.

Working in the Music Industry

In 1951, Teacho began working for Prestige Records. He worked in their A&R department. This department helps find and develop new artists. His band played for King Pleasure's 1952 hit song, "Moody's Mood for Love." This song was an early example of vocalese. Vocalese is when words are added to a jazz improvisation.

In the same year, Teacho led the band for Annie Ross. He played piano, Percy Heath played bass, and Art Blakey played drums. They helped Annie Ross record her successful song, "Twisted." Teacho also found and recorded with a group called the Mello-Moods. They released music on the Prestige label.

Success as an Arranger and Collaborator

In 1955, Teacho started working with Tin Pan Alley. This record label focused on "song poems." This meant they took lyrics written by people who weren't professional songwriters. Teacho would then set these lyrics to music and record them. The next year, he joined Hull Records. There, he worked with Mable Lee. He also recorded music with an orchestra under his own name.

By the late 1950s, Teacho was known as a great orchestrator and arranger. He worked as a freelancer, meaning he worked for different musicians. He worked with groups like the Fidelitys, Nappy Brown, and Marie Knight. As a pianist, he played on Dion's famous song, "Runaround Sue."

Teacho's reputation grew even more with his arrangements for Sister Rosetta Tharpe. He arranged her 1962 album, The Gospel Truth. In the early 1960s, he worked with many other artists. These included Chuck Jackson, Derrick Harriott, The Exciters, and The Isley Brothers. He arranged their hit song, "Twist and Shout." He also worked with The Shirelles and Wilson Pickett. Teacho arranged "Saturday Night at the Movies" for the Drifters. He also arranged "Baby I'm Yours" for Barbara Lewis.

Teacho Wiltshire passed away in Teaneck, New Jersey in 1968. He was 59 years old.