Artist profile

Jackie Wilson

Jackie Wilson was born Jack Leroy Wilson Jr. in Detroit in 1934. He started singing with local groups before joining the Dominoes in 1953, an R&B vocal...

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Editor's note

Jackie Wilson's voice soared and pleaded.

A Detroit singer whose dramatic range and emotional intensity shaped soul music.

For the full picture, put on "Lonely Teardrops" and then "Higher and Higher". That's the range right there.

Listen to "Lonely Teardrops" and you hear the blueprint for a lot of soul pleading that came after. That voice could leap from a smooth croon to a desperate cry in a single phrase, and it's all over songs like "Higher and Higher" and "A Woman, A Lover, A Friend". He kept recording even after a 1961 shooting left him partially paralyzed, and his influence is still clear in the singers who followed.

He started with the Dominoes in 1953 before going solo in 1957. The late '50s and '60s brought a string of hits, from the driving "Lonely Teardrops" to the soaring "Higher and Higher".

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Jackie Wilson was born Jack Leroy Wilson Jr. in Detroit in 1934. He started singing with local groups before joining the Dominoes in 1953, an R&B vocal quartet where his voice began getting noticed. He went solo in 1957, signing with Brunswick Records.

His 1958 hit "Lonely Teardrops" became one of his signature songs, with its pleading vocal and driving rhythm. Other tracks like "Please Tell Me Why" and "A Woman, A Lover, A Friend" showed his range from uptempo numbers to smoother ballads. He had a string of successful singles through the 1960s.

In 1961, Wilson was shot by a fan during a performance at the Copa City Nightclub in New York. The injury left him partially paralyzed and affected his ability to perform for some time. He continued recording despite this setback and personal struggles.

Wilson was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987. His voice, with its dramatic leaps and emotional intensity, influenced many soul singers who came after him.

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Where should I start with Jackie Wilson on LyroVerse?

The Start here section opens with My Heart Belongs To Only You, A Woman, A Lover, A Friend, and Higher and Higher so you can move through the artist's stronger lyric pages first.

How many lyric pages are live for Jackie Wilson?

LyroVerse currently has 99 visible lyric pages for Jackie Wilson.

Does Jackie Wilson have photos on LyroVerse?

Yes. There are 1 photo available, and the preview gallery on this page links to the full photos section.

Does LyroVerse have an editor's note for Jackie Wilson?

Yes. The editor's note on this page is a short LyroVerse team guide, not a final verdict on the artist.

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