Teddy Wilson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Teddy Wilson
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Wilson in 1940
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| Background information | |
| Born | November 24, 1912 Austin, Texas, U.S. |
| Died | July 31, 1986 (aged 73) New Britain, Connecticut, U.S. |
| Genres | Jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments | Piano |
Theodore Shaw Wilson (born November 24, 1912 – died July 31, 1986) was an American jazz pianist. He was known for his smooth and elegant playing style. Many people called him "the best swing pianist."
Teddy Wilson played with some of the biggest names in jazz. These included Louis Armstrong, Lena Horne, Benny Goodman, Billie Holiday, and Ella Fitzgerald. He was also one of the first Black musicians to perform widely with white musicians, which was a big step for music at the time. Besides playing with others, Wilson also led his own bands and recorded many songs from the late 1920s to the 1980s.
Contents
Early Life and Musical Start
Teddy Wilson was born in Austin, Texas. He learned to play both piano and violin. He studied music at the Tuskegee Institute in Tuskegee, Alabama.
After his studies, Wilson started playing with different bands. He worked with Speed Webb's band and even played with the famous Louis Armstrong. He also filled in for Earl Hines in Hines's Grand Terrace Cafe Orchestra. In 1933, he joined Benny Carter's group called the Chocolate Dandies.
Breaking Barriers with Benny Goodman
In 1935, Teddy Wilson joined the Benny Goodman Trio. This group included Goodman, Wilson, and drummer Gene Krupa. Later, Lionel Hampton joined, and it became the Benny Goodman Quartet. This group was very important because it was one of the first times Black and white musicians performed together in a popular band. They played during breaks in the bigger Benny Goodman band's shows.
Recording Hits and Leading Bands
A jazz producer named John Hammond helped Wilson get a record deal with Brunswick in 1935. Wilson recorded many popular swing songs. These songs were very popular on jukeboxes. He made hit records with singers like Lena Horne, Helen Ward, and Billie Holiday.
During these years, Wilson also played with many other great swing musicians. These included Lester Young, Roy Eldridge, and Ben Webster. He recorded for Brunswick Records and Columbia Records from 1936 to 1942. In the 1950s, he recorded for Verve Records.
In 1939, Wilson started his own big band for a short time. From 1940 to 1944, he led a smaller group called a sextet at a famous club called Café Society.
Teaching and Later Years
Teddy Wilson was also known for supporting certain social causes. He performed in concerts to help different groups and even chaired a committee to support a political candidate.
In the 1950s, Wilson taught music at the famous Juilliard School. He also appeared in movies like Hollywood Hotel (1937) and The Benny Goodman Story (1955), playing himself. He even worked as a music director for a TV show called Dick Cavett Show.
Wilson lived in Hillsdale, New Jersey. He continued to perform as a solo artist and with small groups until he was older. He even played with his sons, Theodore (on bass) and Steven (on drums).
In 1979, Teddy Wilson received an honorary music degree from Berklee College of Music. He passed away on July 31, 1986, at the age of 73. He is buried in New Britain, Connecticut.
Images for kids
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Wilson at a Benny Goodman rehearsal, 1950
Select Discography
Teddy Wilson recorded many albums throughout his career, both as a solo artist and as a leader of his own groups. He also played as a sideman (a supporting musician) on many recordings for other famous artists.
As Leader (Selected Albums)
- 1955: The Creative Teddy Wilson
- 1956: Pres and Teddy (with Lester Young)
- 1959: Mr. Wilson and Mr. Gershwin
- 1967: Moonglow
As Sideman (Selected Albums)
- 1933–1942: Billie Holiday, Lady Day: The Complete Billie Holiday on Columbia 1933–1944
- 1935–1939: Benny Goodman, The Complete RCA Victor Small Group Recordings
- 1954: Ben Webster, Music for Loving
See also
In Spanish: Teddy Wilson para niños
