Teddy Wilson was born in Austin, Texas on November 24, 1912. His parents taught at the university in Tuskegee where he studied violin and piano. He continued his college studies in Alabama. In 1929, now concentrating on the piano, he became a professional musician in Detroit, where he played in a number of bands in the mid-west, including Speed Webb's band. Subsequently, he settled in Chicago and, in the early 30s, played with Art Tatum and made a number of successful recordings with Benny Carter.

He accompanied Billie Holiday and was guest artist for Benny Goodman and Gene Krupa. He recorded with Goodman in 1936 and was a featured member of the Benny Goodman trio.

"A naturally restrained musician, Wilson's fleet playing and the elegant poise of his solos combined to make him an influential figure in the development of jazz piano. He will go down in jazz history as one of music's finest keyboard soloists, a pianist whose unflashy sophisticated approach is immediately recognizable. His delicate but firm touch only rarely strays into the realms of the cocktail piano brigade." 1

Teddy Wilson was one of Oscar Peterson's early influences. "I would fashion my style like Teddy Wilson. He was an articulate and distinctive black pianist who fueled Benny Goodman's outfits large and small." 2

Selected Recordings

The Teddy Wilson Trio (1956)
Pres And Teddy, with Lester Young (1956)
Stomping' At The Savoy (1967)
Too Hot For Words (1935)

Footnotes

1 Kernfeld, Barry.   The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz.   London: Macmillan Press Ltd, 1988..

2 Case, Brian.   The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Jazz.   New York: Crown Publishers Inc, 1978.

O.P. & Friends