Al Wilson was born 83 years ago today.
Wilson was a soul singer known for the million-selling #1 hit, "Show and Tell," and his Northern soul anthem, "The Snake."
Born in Meridian, Mississippi, Wilson showed little interest in education but performed in school plays, sang in talent shows and won first prize in a local art contest. He began his career at the age of twelve leading his own spiritual quartet and singing in the church choir. He also liked to perform covers of country and western hits.
While he was in high school, Wilson and his family relocated to San Bernardino, California, where he worked odd jobs as a mail carrier, a janitor and an office clerk. He also taught himself to play drums.
After graduation, he spent four years touring with Johnny Harris and the Statesmen, before joining the U.S. Navy. There, he sang with an enlisted men's chorus. He also developed his stand-up comedy routine in case he did not succeed as a singer.
After a two-year military stint, Wilson settled in Los Angeles, touring the local nightclub circuit before joining the R&B vocal group, the Jewels. From there, he landed with the Rollers, followed by a stint with the instrumental combo, the Souls.
In 1966, Wilson signed with manager Marc Gordon, who quickly sought his client an a cappella audition for Johnny Rivers. Wilson was signed to the Soul City label.
Rivers produced the sessions that yielded Wilson’s 1968 U.S. R&B hit single "The Snake" (U.S. Pop #27), which became popular on the Northern Soul circuit in the United Kingdom.
It also provided Wilson with his only UK Singles Chart hit, reaching #41 in 1975. The minor hit "Do What You Gotta Do" appeared that same year. In 1969, Wilson charted with his cover of Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Lodi" (U.S. #67) and Rivers' own, "Poor Side Of Town" (U.S. #75).
In 1973, Wilson he released the album, Show And Tell. The album's success was matched by the single "Show and Tell," which sold over a million copies and was awarded a gold disc in December, 1973. "The La La Peace Song," released in 1974, proved another hit although O. C. Smith also recorded a version. Wilson’s sales suffered as a result.
In 1976, Wilson recorded "I've Got a Feeling We'll Be Seeing Each Other Again" for Playboy Records which reached #3 in the R&B chart. He tried to leave Playboy Records, but was unable to get a release from his recording contract. Two years later, the label folded.
With 1979's "Count the Days," Wilson scored his final chart hit. He spent the next two decades touring clubs and lounges. In 2001, he re-recorded his hits for the album, Spice of Life. In March, 2007, many of his original master tapes were lost to a fire that swept through his home garage, which he had converted into a recording studio.
Wilson died on April 21, 2008 of kidney failure, in Fontana, California, at the age of 68.