Biographie
Jackie "Sonny" Wilson was born in Detroit, Michigan, and raised in Highland Park as the only son of Jack and Eliza Mae Wilson from Columbus, Mississippi. His father struggled with alcoholism and unemployment, while his mother, having lost two children previously, was deeply devoted to Jackie and became a strong influence in his life. He began singing early and formed a quartet called The Ever Ready Gospel Singers Group, gaining modest recognition in local churches.
Wilson was frequently truant and often in trouble. He started drinking at nine and dropped out of high school at 16 in 1950. He married his childhood sweetheart, Freda Hood, and their daughter was born in March 1951. During this time, he performed in local clubs alongside Levi Stubbs, who would later become famous with The Four Tops. In 1953, Wilson successfully auditioned for Billy Ward's Dominoes, taking over for Clyde McPhatter, who had left to form The Drifters. Their first releases included "You Can't Keep A Good Man Down" and "Rags to Riches." In 1956, they scored their first pop hit with "St. Therese Of The Roses."
Wilson launched his solo career in 1957, managed by Al Green, a music publisher who also managed Della Reese, Johnnie Ray, and LaVern Baker. Green secured a recording contract for Wilson with Brunswick Records but died suddenly the day before the deal was finalized. Nat Tarnpool replaced him. Working with Berry Gordy and Roquel "Billy" Davis, Wilson soon produced hits like "To Be Loved," "Reet Petite," "That Is Why," and his biggest hit, "Lonely Teardrops."
The collaboration ended due to payment disputes between Tarnpool and the Gordy/Davis team. Gordy used his royalties to establish Hitsville USA Studios, which later became Motown Records. Davis joined Chess Records as A&R manager and found success as a songwriter and producer. Tarnpool, confident he could manage without Gordy and Davis, appointed bandleader Dick Jacobs to produce most of Wilson's recordings from 1957 to 1966, resulting in frequent R&B and pop crossovers. Wilson had moderate success during this period with songs like "Night" and "Alone at Last." In 1961, he teamed up with Alonzo Tucker to write the hit "Baby Workout."
Though married to Freda Hood since 1951, Wilson was known for numerous affairs. In 1961, an aspiring model named Juanita Jones shot him twice in the stomach after discovering his affair with Harlean Harris, ex-girlfriend of singer Sam Cooke. Wilson was rushed to the hospital, where surgery saved his life but cost him a kidney. One bullet remained lodged near his spine, deemed too risky to remove, and he carried it for life.
Wilson’s naivety and trustfulness also made him vulnerable, especially to Tarnpool, who had rumored mob ties and a reputation as an unscrupulous businessman. Wilson had granted Tarnpool power of attorney. In 1962, the IRS seized Wilson’s family home due to unpaid taxes, largely because Tarnpool had been embezzling his earnings. Wilson found himself broke and homeless despite his career’s success. He eventually arranged to repay the IRS and reacquired his house at auction.
The "British Invasion" era caused his career to decline sharply. His final hit was "Your Love (Keeps Lifting Me Higher And Higher)" in 1968. Two years later, his 16-year-old son Jackie Jr. was shot and killed during a dispute with a neighbor. Wilson’s wife Freda had filed for divorce years earlier, with their marriage annulled in 1965, but Jackie continued to treat her as his wife.
On September 29, 1975, Wilson suffered a major heart attack while performing at Dick Clark's "Traveling Oldies Revue." He struck his head on stage equipment as he fell, causing severe brain damage. He remained in a coma until his death at age 49 on January 21, 1984.
