Jack Leroy Wilson Jr. was an American singer and performer of the 1950s and 60s. He was a prominent figure in the transition of rhythm and blues into soul. Nicknamed “Mr. Excitement”, he was considered a master showman and one of the most dynamic singers and performers in the soul, R&B, and rock and roll history.
Wilson gained initial fame as a member of the R&B vocal group Billy Ward and His Dominoes. He went solo in 1957 and scored over 50 chart singles spanning the genres of R&B, pop, soul, doo-wop, and easy listening. This included 16 Top 10 R&B hits, six of which ranked as number one. On the Billboard Hot 100, Wilson scored 14 top 20 pop hits, six of which reached the top 10.
How many years was Jackie Wilson in a coma?
Jackie Wilson, whose hits included ″Lonely Teardrops,″ ″To Be Loved,″ and ″(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher,″ died in 1984 at age 49. He had been in a coma for nine years after suffering a heart attack and brain damage while performing. Ms. Wilson was the third of his children to die unexpectedly.
