I mentioned the DJ Peter Young recently on social media, citing what a massive influence he was on my musical education. His Capital Radio ‘Soul Cellar’ shows were ‘not to be missed’ highlight of the week for me in the very early 80s.

On the show ‘PY the Pork Pie’ as he came to be known, mixed up black music, mainly from the 1950s and 1960s, highlighting tunes from the Northern Soul, Stax, Motown spectrum and all stops in between. I sat there religiously each week with my C90 blank cassettes taping the tunes, along with the jingles and funny banter from Peter himself.

I would then trot off and purchase many of the tunes on vinyl the following week and that is how I got the basis of a record collection to be proud of.

One artist in particular, that I distinctly remember hearing a lot on the show was Jackie Wilson. What struck me listening to him was the amazing vocal range he possessed, which ranged over three octaves I later found out.  It was a voice, which comfortably handled up-tempo dance tunes as easily as light operatic numbers.

The one track that I HAD to track down one week was ‘Baby Workout’ which sounded thrilling to my then teenage ears. I later mentioned Jackie to a fella I worked with back then, who had been an original Mod back in the 60s. ‘Blinding singer’ he said ‘but’ he continued ‘it all ended badly. Turns out he was a right rascal. Fathered ten kids by the time he was 16 or something…’

That ‘fact’ that I heard that day has stuck with me all these years. In truth, I didn’t really care I was more interested in his music, but I must admit a little curious to find out if that was an urban myth or not…

The man in question was born plain ‘Jack’ Wilson in Detroit in 1934. He was in frequent trouble as a gang member in his young teenage years. He also loved to sing and though not devoutly religious, a gospel choir gave him the opportunity to sing live.

He was detained in juvenile correction facilities twice by the age of 15 and it was whilst he was inside that he took up boxing, going on to have a decent amateur career taking part in Golden Gloves competitions.

Under maternal pressure to give the gloves up, he decided to dedicate himself to a musical career and picked up the lead singer duties, with Billy Ward and his Dominoes, taking over from Clyde McPhatter who then formed The Drifters. It was Billy that christened our man, Jackie. Going solo in 1957, ‘Reet Petite’ became his first – minor hit – the first time round.

Reports began to creep out around this time of him fathering many children, whilst in mid to late teens. He was certainly married to Freda and a father by the age of 17.

So he had an eye for the ladies and this lifestyle appeared to catch up with him in 1961, when he was shot, some say by a girlfriend, some say a crazed female fan. No one really seems to know.

Enough of that, back to the greasepaint. Wilson’s dynamic stage presentation and immaculate appearance earned him the nickname ‘Mr Excitement’. His first big hit ‘Lonely Teardrops’ followed on next. The song was co-written by Berry Gordy, as was ‘Reet Petite.’

The success of this song and the subsequent others he helped pen for Jackie, assisted Gordy to finance Motown Records. Berry would later describe Wilson ‘as the greatest singer I’ve ever heard.’ And he had heard a few good ones.

In ’63 Wilson dropped the tune that caught my ears years later, namely  ‘Baby Workout’ as song he co wrote himself.

‘I Get The Sweetest Feeling’ was another modest hit in 1966, though later of course, it returned higher on the charts on more than reissue occasion.

His last major hit came in 1967, with ‘(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher’ though subsequent songs like ‘ I’m The One to do It’ ‘Nothing But Blue Skies’ ‘Whispers’  ‘You Brought About a Change’  ‘Because of You’ ‘I’ve Lost You’ ‘I Don’t Want to Lose You ‘ have ensured a wealth of great tunes, especially for the soul contingent.

Wilson had the reputation as a heavy drinker  – it is said he took his first drink aged nine – and later a drug user, but that voice didn’t appear to be affected by any of it. He would also suffer the scourge of the record industry of the 1950s and 1960s, that of the dodgy contract. The result of which, even though earning vast amounts of money in the early 60s, meant that Wilson himself saw very little of it.

He collapsed on stage in 1975 and as a result of a later heart attack and stroke, descended into a coma. He survived but now needed constant care. After 8 years in that coma, he died aged just 49 in 1984.

Van ‘The Man’ Morrison recorded ‘Jackie Wilson Said’ in 1972 as a tribute to Jackie, a singer who had inspired a young Ivan, as Van was then known.  The song was also later covered by Dexys Midnight Runners (dart fans look away now) and The Commodores recorded the song ‘Nightshift’ in memory of both Marvin Gaye and Jackie who both died in 1984.

From a relatively short career, Wilson’s legacy can be seen in performers such as James Brown, Prince and Michael Jackson, who dedicated his album ‘Thriller’ to Jackie.

His is certainly a name that lives on.

The Mumper of SE5