Nickname: Mr. Excitement
Genre: Rhythm & Blues / Soul / Pop
Most Memorable Recording: "Baby Workout"
Followers: Ryan Shaw, The Sugars, Happy Puppies, The Barons, James Hunter, Howlin' Wilf, Dee Clark, Prince, Ben E. King, Michael Jackson, Rita Coolidge, The Chi-Lites
Jackie Wilson was one of the most important agents of black pop's transition from R&B into soul. In terms of vocal power (especially in the upper register), few could outdo him; he was also an electrifying on-stage showman. He was a consistent hitmaker from the mid-'50s through the early '70s, although never a crossover superstar. His reputation isn't quite on par with Ray Charles, James Brown, or Sam Cooke, however, because his records did not always reflect his artistic genius. Indeed, there is a consensus of sorts among critics that Wilson was something of an underachiever in the studio, due to the sometimes inappropriately pop-based material and arrangements that he used.
