Al Wilson - Songs

ABOUT

Al Wilson (June 19, 1939 - April 21, 2008) was a highly acclaimed R&B/soul singer with an expressive style and a great deal of crossover appeal who became famous beginning in the late 1960s. Best known for the imploring romantic ballad, "Show And Tell" (1973), his many other signature songs include the upbeat and allegorical "The Snake" (1968).

Born in Meridian, Mississippi, Wilson sang in his church choir as a child and was leading his own gospel group by age 12. After graduating high school, he toured with Johnny "Legs" Harris & The Statesmen for four years before joining the U.S. Navy where he sang with an enlisted men's chorus during his two-year stint. In 1961, he formed The Rollers, a short-lived vocal quartet whose members also included his brother, Eddie Wilson. They scored their only charting song that year with a cover of the Don Covay/John Berry-penned "The Continental Walk," which made the R&B Top 40 and was also a hit for Hank Ballard. Wilson signed with manager Marc Gordon in 1966, which led soon after to a recording contract with Johnny Rivers' then-new label, Soul City Records.

Al Wilson made his debut on the Pop/Rock charts in late 1967 with "Who Could Be Lovin' You" followed in early 1968 by "Do What You Gotta Do," an R&B Top 40 hit. His fame took off later that year with the Oscar Brown Jr.-penned "The Snake" (1968), which made the Top 40 on both charts and became a longtime favorite in the U.K. among fans of Northern Soul. This smash was followed by several minor hits that included covers of Johnny Rivers' "Poor Side Of Town" (1969) and Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Lodi" (1969). Wilson had his greatest hit in late 1973 with the Jerry Fuller-penned "Show And Tell," which topped the Pop/Rock charts the following year, made the R&B Top 10, and soon after went gold. His long string of hits, which continued through 1976 on both charts, also included "Touch And Go" (1974), "La La Peace Song" (1974), "I Won't Last A Day Without You/Let Me Be The One" (1975), and "I've Got A Feeling (We'll Be Seeing Each Other Again)" (1976). Wilson had his final entry on the R&B charts in 1979 with "Count The Days."

After his peak in commercial fame during the 1970s, Al Wilson continued to perform actively through the 1990s in clubs and lounges. In 2001, he released "Spice Of Life," an album of re-recordings of his greatest hits.

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SONGS

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Al Wilson

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