Happy Birthday to the late Jackie Wilson, born June 9th, 1934.
In the annals of black music history, Jackie Wilson remains one of the most important entertainers of the genre, a showman known as “Mr. Dynamite” who influenced artists like Elvis Presley, a recording artist with close to fifty charted hits and arguably one of America’s first black male superstars, rivaling Sam Cooke, Ray Charles and James Brown in terms of prominence and impact. With his dazzling live stage act, charisma and handsome good looks, Jackie built a solid audience for himself and tales are legendary of women fainting, crying and falling out as he would perform soulful hits like the 1960 million-seller “Doggin’ Around” and “A Woman, A Lover, A Friend.”
