Solid!

Born

• September 4, 1916
• Shelby, MS

Gerald Wilson

Trumpeter Gerald Wilson studied music while attending high school in Memphis and Detroit. He took trumpet lessons from Bobby Byrne's father. In the late 1930s he played with the Plantation Club Orchestra before joining Jimmie Lunceford in 1939, replacing Si Oliver. In 1942 Wilson moved to Los Angeles, where worked with Benny Carter, Les Hite, and Phil Moore. Drafted into the Navy in 1943 he was stationed in Chicago and while there spent time with Willie Smith's band. Upon being discharged in 1944 he worked with Lee Young's quartet in Hollywood and led a small group at the Rainbow Rendezvous room before forming his own big band. The new orchestra found only moderate success and soon disbanded.

In the late 1940s Wilson worked with Count Basie, Dizzy Gillespie, and Billie Holiday. A noted arranger, he orchestrated for many top jazz and pop performers during the 1950s and 1960s. He also scored for film and television. In the early 1960s Wilson formed another big band and found success with a series of recordings on Pacific Jazz. He has remained active in jazz and big band up to this day, teaching and recording. In 1995 he was nominated for a Grammy in the category of Best Large Ensemble Jazz Performance.